Shadows stretched across the dojo as a new mission began, Ninja Challenge Week at Camp ROGA! One by one, eager recruits tied their headbands and stepped onto the training grounds, ready to unlock their inner warriors. Each day brought new trials: weaving through obstacle courses with speed and stealth, balancing with precision high above “danger zones,” and testing strength in challenges that demanded every ounce of focus. Between missions, ninjas crafted their own gear, sharpening not just their skills but their spirit. With every relay, every leap, and every perfectly landed move, the recruits grew stronger, braver, and more determined. By week’s end, the dojo was filled not with campers, but with a new generation of Ninjas, trained, tested, and triumphant.

The one thing that Ninjas need most is agility, so in order to foster and grow the ninjas’ abilities, their Masters threw them into a frenzied all-or-nothing competition! In this game, the Ninjas had to compete against their fellow trainees in a game of never-ending tag. As opposed to normal tag, in this game, everyone is “it,” and it’s a free-for-all to see who can tag the most people and still be standing. Anyone tagged must sit down or do exercises, but if the person who tagged you was tagged, then you were back in the game. This was not only an ultimate exercise of dexterity and agility, as tagging without also getting tagged in the process was a fraught and complicated affair, but also the ultimate exercise in perception and judgement. As more people were tagged and sent from the game, more and more people waiting to come back in were scattered like mines across the playing field. At any moment, a Ninja waiting in the shadows (out of the game) could leap out from behind the young Ninjas in training and end their time (in the game).

Ninjas had to look out for hidden threats, take out their enemies, and dodge their retaliation at the same time, making the whole game incredibly competitive and high-stakes. Many times, standoffs ended with both combatants being tagged from behind by sneakier and opportunistic Ninjas, so it was important to always keep an eye on your surroundings. The further the game went on, the more teams formed, people making pacts with each other to only tag those around them. But be careful! Some Ninjas might promise not to tag you, then tag you from behind when you are not looking. By the time the dust had settled, the Ninjas were left exhausted but with many new skills and experiences for the times ahead.

To get themselves equipped for the challenges ahead, the Ninjas had to assemble their equipment. One piece of equipment they procured was the pocket snake. This snake was meant to be hidden in the robes of the ninjas, waiting for the perfect moment, when the ninja would send it out as a distraction or a weapon. Campers would have plenty of ways to customize their snakes for whatever situation they needed them for. Some campers gave their snakes camouflage for stealthy infiltrations, and some made them as flashy as possible to attract as much attention as possible to make for better distractions. Whatever their design philosophy, the snakes provided plenty of menace, silliness, and cool factor depending on what was needed. 

The Ninjas also put the craftsmanship learned here to use in creating a number of other crafts, such as picture frames and paintings. For the picture frames, Camp ROGA decided to take pictures of each of the little Ninjas the day before and develop them, ensuring that each Ninja would have a photograph to start their physical albums off.    

Agility and perception are all well and good, but all good Ninjas know that stealth is a Ninja’s best friend. To train this, the Masters of the Ninjas in training devised another training activity. In this game, the Ninjas would be tasked with infiltrating a base and sneaking up on an enemy samurai. The Ninjas would have to stay out of the Samurai’s sight while they approached them, and if the Samurai turned around to look at them, they would have to run out of their line of sight or remain very still to fool the Samurai. In order to achieve victory, Ninjas would have to tap the Samurai on the back without getting noticed. The ninjas had to be sneaky, but they had to be fast, too! If the samurai got to their destination without all the Ninjas sneaking up on them, all the remaining Ninjas would be out. During the game, the person playing the Samurai would be switched out frequently, and each would have different strategies to catch the Ninja. Some would walk quickly to the objective, some would turn around constantly trying to catch the Ninjas, and some played it somewhere in between. Ninjas had to rely upon the knowledge they had of their teammates to know who would do what in order to choose the optimal strategy for victory. Sometimes, people who constantly rushed the Samurai would come out victorious; sometimes, those who played slowly would prosper. It all relied upon the stealth and judgment of the little Ninjas, both of which would constantly grow with every round.

To better get across buildings (and to pull off some stylish tricks), the little Ninjas also dedicated themselves to the study of acrobatics. One set of students decided that what they wanted, more than anything else, was to learn how to do a front handspring. These students had some gymnastics experience, but had thus far never done one before. To help them, their Masters (coaches) helped them prepare by using mats, barrel mats, and other preparatory exercises before sending them off to the Tumbl Trak. It took the Ninjas many tries and several rounds of advice, but eventually everyone in that group had managed to pull off a front handspring. With a round of cheering from their fellow Ninjas and coaches, the athletes left the Tumbl Trak on the top of the world with a valuable new skill acquired.

Even the fiercest ninjas need to refuel, and Camp ROGA made sure our warriors-in-training had plenty of stealthy snacks to keep their energy high. Here’s what was on the menu during Ninja Challenge Week:

Banana Sushi – With a quick slice and roll, bananas became “sushi” wrapped in crunchy cereal. Sticky, sweet, and just the right amount of silly—this treat had ninjas lining up for more.

Ninja Sword Mix – Veggie straws, pretzels, and Cheetos joined forces in a crunchy mix that looked like a bundle of Ninja swords. Our recruits crunched their way through this snack like true warriors, defeating hunger one bite at a time.

Ninja Pudding – Hidden in plain sight, this pudding came in clever disguises—just like a Ninja! Campers enjoyed uncovering the secret treat before devouring it.

Popcorn Power – No mission is complete without popcorn, and our Ninjas munched their way to victory with bucketfuls of this classic camp favorite (plus plenty of seconds for the hungriest warriors).

Fresh off their refueling, the Ninjas were sent to one last training session, tying together all the skills they had gained along the way. The obstacle course tested their agility, dexterity, and stealth as they leapt through hoops, high-stepped across the ladder, and crept beneath the detection ropes. All the while, they raced side by side, determined to prove their speed and sharpened instincts. The competition was fierce, but by the time the last Ninja crossed the finish line, the cheers and high-fives showed that victory was shared by all.

This week’s Water Day gave our Ninjas the perfect chance to put their stealth training to the test. Usually, Water Day is all about splashing, relaxing, and cooling off under the sun—but not this time. Our clever recruits had a mission: turn the tables on their coaches. Armed with buckets in hand, Ninjas crept up behind their unsuspecting targets and unleashed surprise attacks that sent water flying. Chaos erupted in a storm of shrieks, laughter, and soggy reprisals, but when the splashing settled, the coaches were drenched head to toe. Victory, at last, belonged to the Ninjas!

With their training complete and challenges conquered, our Ninjas slipped back into the shadows tired, proud, and armed with new skills, sharper instincts, and unforgettable memories from the dojo. While their missions may pause for now, the adventure is far from over. Next week, the dojo transforms into a kingdom of wonder as Camp ROGA dives into Disney Magic Week, where imagination takes center stage!