Tag Archives: Camp ROGA

Girl wearing sorting hat

ROGA Blog: Camp ROGA: Harry Potter World

This week at Camp ROGA, we swept off our invisibility cloak and revealed Harry Potter World with exclamations of awe. Fresh from platform 9 ¾, students gaped in wide-eyed amazement at the gym, as before their eyes it was transmuted into a magical castle. And as soon as their jaws clamped shut, they were whisked away to be draped in their robes and ushered into their magic classes. A world of polymorph potions, flying brooms, sarcastic sorting hats, and fearsome dragons awaited our students, so come, join them, and figure out if YOU too are a wizard (or witch) at Camp ROGA’s Harry Potter World.

Kids holding up broom craft

Before the students could start casting spells and make trouble on the Marauder’s map, they had to take a trip through Diagon Alley to secure themselves some school supplies. The materials needed for their classes at Camp ROGA were myriad and bizarre, and many precautions had to be taken against evil professors, nasty beasties, and wicked death eaters. So let’s go down the list. One of the things students wanted more than anything was the chance to try out for the Quidditch team, and to do that, they would need the fastest broom they could make. The master crafters at Quality Quidditch Supplies and Broomstix showed the students the ropes, and with a cry of Accio! sent them to their work. The name of the game was aerodynamics: whoever could make the sleekest broom would have the best shot at a place on the Quidditch team, so students had to tie the ends of their brooms (which were made of yarn) as tightly and as neatly as they could. Also important was the color of their broom, as all the students agreed that color determined broom speed. What they did not agree on was which color did what, and different camps were made on whether red or pink was the faster color.

kid holding messenger owl craft

While the students were in Diagon Alley, they also had to get a messenger owl, so they could receive messages from home and send Howlers to each other as pranks. To make these, we had the students choose their favorite species of owl so we could obtain a proper breed. Students got to look all throughout Eeylops Owl Emporium and pick what eyes, feathers, and other features they wanted their owls to have before returning to the shop where they could take (make) their dream owl back home with them. Each owl came with their own little messenger pouch so students could store whatever letters they wanted; magical or otherwise. 

kid playing block games

Now, after getting their school supplies, the students hopped on a train and set off toward Hogwarts proper, but look out! Even before they could get into the school, the students were set upon by the whomping willow! In this activity, Students had to guard their luggage and school supplies from the whomping willow, who was determined to destroy them. To do this, students had to pile up their luggage in a protective stack away from the whomping willow and shield it with whatever charms they had learned before school started (let’s hope they studied up!). Of course, the cunning and magic-resistant whomping willow saw through the apprentices’ tricks and found the gaps in their defenses, so after escaping its wicked grasp, there was much repairing to do! (You wouldn’t want to go through the year with a broken wand!)

people wearing the sorting hat

But before they could magic their wands and broom back together and hit the books (literally!), students had to take a turn below the Sorting Hat to decide their houses! They steeled their hearts and gathered their wits about them to ensure they got the house they wanted. Nerves were high, but you should always remember that if you ask the sorting hat for something, it will always respect your wishes. For this exercise, your house determines what exercise you would be doing. Ravenclaw would be doing airplanes, Slytherins, the worm, and so on. Students could go up to the hat as many times as they wanted to change their exercise, though what they would be doing was up to the sorting hat to decide. 

Kid's participating in potion class

Now that the students were sorted into their houses, it was time to head into class. Taking a trip down to the dungeon had the students finding themselves in potions class, with the menacing Professor Severus Snape looming over them, watching their every move. Potion making is a precise craft, and one misstep could have your cauldron going Boom! Right in front of you. Students carefully mixed bezoars and eye of newt (water and glue) under the watchful eyes of their instructors, stirring precisely and evenly, before adding one last super secret ingredient (glitter). After which they were inspected with discerning eyes and house points were distributed to the instructors’ favorite potions (we gave points to everyone). 

Kids making monster book

After the students had finished the dreaded potions class, they headed up and outside to Hagrid’s class, Care of Magical Creatures. Many magical creatures were there for the students to meet, but first, they had to manage their textbook, The Monster Book of Monsters. This was a tricky book to handle, as careless roaming fingers had to watch out or the books might try to have a nibble! Luckily (or unluckily for the books), these books were some of the books caught by the whomping willow, so students had to repair and rebind the books before they could use them. The normally monstrous books became really quiet under the care and attention of their new owners. With new bindings, eyes, and teeth in place, these Monster books purred lovingly under the hands of their owners, and only snapped about when their owners turned them on other students, seeking to chomp on the arms of their rivals.

Snack Collage

After all the tiring class work, students were excited to stop by the great hall and stock up on all the food from their wildest imaginations.

A specialty offered up by Professor Pomona Sprout—a veritable Vegetable Garden for all of the students’ nutritional needs, including carrots, celery, and a variety of other healthy vegetables.

The students also enjoyed a variety of “House Snacks.” Depending on the house you received from the sorting hat, you could get Ravenclaw Grapes, Gryffindor Bugels, Hufflepuff Puffs, and Slytherin gummy worms. You should remember, though, that the sorting hat always respects your wishes (and you can choose whatever you want). 

We also offered feed for the weary messenger owls in the form of vegipuffs and pretzels, and other things which owls crave.

water day collage

Finally, with tensions between houses high and many spells learned, the students were ready for dueling class and the chance to throw their nastiest hexes at their rivals. A great battle for Camp ROGA was fought on the school grounds with spells (water balloons) flying everywhere, but when the dust settled, there was plenty more magic to enjoy for the rest of the water day. Students even had the chance to ride on magic carpets and brooms across the lake at the edge of Hogwarts. 

various gymnastics activities

As the train departs back for Platform 9 ¾, students are left with fond memories of their camp as they return once again to their normal lives. But camp this week taught us even the most mundane of moments could be magical, and that there is always a spell for any situation. Until the next adventure coming up with Camp ROGA Artful Antics weekstay magical, and remember, everyone’s a wizard (or witch) at heart.

group picture
bridges featured

ROGA Blog: Camp ROGA: Beach Bash

Sunshine, adventure, and a whole lot of seaside fun rolled in with the tide this week as Camp ROGA waded into our Beach Bash week. This week’s campers turned to surfers as they rode waves, built sandcastles, and scarfed down some beachside snacks, soaking up every minute of fun. So grab some shades and take a peek at some of the splash-tastic moments from this week’s camp by the sea.

kids building "sandcastles"

No beach day is complete without building a few sandcastles, and Camp ROGA had it covered. With foam blocks standing in for sand, our campers crafted and shaped their own personal sandcastles, forming them into whatever shape their heart desired. However, much like their sandy counterparts, these castles had trouble staying upright for long, and campers had to build them up quickly before the tide would take them down. With materials in mind, making something that would last was not an easy task, and campers wanted designs that were beautiful, not just durable. Thankfully, half the fun of building something is taking it down, so campers got to experience the fun of creating their sand castle, and also the fun of being the tide that took them down. 

kids performing gymnastics

After building their castles, campers headed to the water and into an underwater obstacle course. The gym was transformed into an underwater paradise, with seaweed streamers, palm trees, and little fishies that our campers could swim alongside through the ocean. Campers got to experience life as one of numerous sea critters this week. To start with, we had them experience the world through the eyes of the many creatures who dwell on the sea floor, like crabs and blobfish. To do this, they had to crawl down low beneath stones and shelves of coral reefs (mats and beams), hiding from the creatures above them (coaches and other students). They also had to remain very still when the bigger fish passed over them, or else the carnivorous fish would notice and swallow them whole! (send them back to the start).   

Campers also explored what it would be like to swim through water (the air in this case). To do this, they would hold tight onto rings and ropes with their hands and feet and then swing out over the (heavily cushioned) floor, floating just above it. There, they would rocket through the air, swimming as fast as they could to their destination, while still taking care to wave at other fishies who were swimming along with them.

Surfing image

Coming out from under the waves and moving to the surf, campers grabbed their surfboards and fins and got to work coasting on some gnarly waves. With lifeguards right below, campers competed to see who could catch the biggest wave. Sprinting and leaping, they fought the imaginary swells as they scrambled up our version of a towering wave (the warp wall). Climbing the face of the giant breaker was no easy feat, though. The waves easily dwarfed the determined little campers, and even hard work and grit were not enough to stop many wipeouts (all safely cushioned by foam mats). Many stopped halfway, trying to ride the wave as long as they could before it puttered out against the beach. Others climbed higher, reaching just below the white foam lip of the thundering wave. And a couple even managed to create the wave itself, if only for a short time, staring out over the beach as they stood proud over the conquered wave. Regardless of how high they got, each camper showed remarkable determination and athleticism as they all reached for the summit together. 

For those little campers having trouble, coaches made sure they were still able to catch some waves, thanks to some specialty surfboards (mats) which thrust into the roaring waves. On these surfboards, even little beachgoers caught a glimpse of the beach viewed from the sky.        

kids swinging in imaginary palm trees

Moving on, the campers and the gym got tropical as they climbed up the many palm trees (ropes and rings) within the gym and practiced their best Tarzan impression as they swung from palm tree to palm tree, avoiding the dangers of the blue lagoon below them (the foam). Up within the palm tree, campers also searched for coconuts to relieve their thirst, and twisted and turned while they dodged errant seagulls flying between the trees. After they tired of monkeying around across the branches, they made their daring dismounts onto the sand beaches below and stepped out of the way so the next camper could have their turn.

a collage of crafts

With all the hot work being done on the beach, campers had to find a way to keep the sun at bay as they played, and what better way to commandeer some on-the-go shade than a wide-brimmed hat?! These hats were the pinnacle of engineering, with their wide floppy brims promising ultra protection against the burning rays of the sun. These crafts were also an expression of the creativity and forward-thinking of the campers as they tie-dyed their designs on camp day 3. With a bevy of colors to choose from, campers had a variety of choices in how they wanted to make their hats. Some wanted simple designs, others wanted a splash of every color possible in every possible spot on their hats. Part of the fun, too, was rolling the dice on what they would look like in the end, as tie-dying is always sure to produce an unexpected result.

a second collage of crafts

To go along with their hats, campers designed some fish friends to keep them company by the water. Equipped with paper scales and sometimes a toothy grin, their little fish friends were sure to keep the campers entertained all day long. 

a collage of snacks

Finding some shade is well and dandy, but campers also needed fuel to keep on splashing around, and Camp ROGA had them covered. Starting off, we spent some time designing miniature parts of the beach in food form. For one snack, we had a section from the beach, the sandy seafloor (rice crackers), topped with ocean blue frosting and granola. Another snack displayed a comfortable beach towel, covering a Rice Krispies beach, held down by M&M stones, and an umbrella to remind the campers to relax now and then. And when they were done with their rest, campers could don their Jello flip-flops and be ready to go right back out onto the beach.

water day collage

The sun was out all week, and energy was high; all that was missing was a splash! That is, until Water Day arrived.  With beach towel islands and palm tree decorations shaking in the breeze, campers hit the shoreline for a day of seaside fun. After they practiced on the warped wall, campers were eager to show off their surfing skills as they slid across the slip and slide and the splash pads on mini surfboards for real this time (although still filled with air). The water slides were also sure to provide campers with an authentic beach spray every time a surfboard hit the water, or a water balloon whizzed past them. Water Day gave everyone the chance to relax and soak up the sunny spirit of our little gymnastics camp by the sea. 

large group photo

As the sun sets on Camp ROGA Beach Bash week, we’re left with salty hair (maybe just wet ponytails), sandy dreams, and memories that sparkle. We’re so proud of our campers for diving into every moment with joy, courage, and a whole lot of heart. Until the next adventure coming up with Camp ROGA Harry Potter weekstay sunny, stay strong, and keep riding the waves!

Siblings playing rabbit in the hat

ROGA Blog: Camp ROGA: Magic and Illusion

A little mystery, a dash of misdirection, and a whole lot of magic filled the air this week as Camp ROGA conjured up its Magic and Illusion week! Whether we were practicing levitation and wall-climbing spells, or pulling rabbits out of hats, our little magicians were pulling out all the stops for a grand magic show! So come one and come all as we give you a peek behind the curtain and show off just a couple of the spellbinding moments of this week!

Of course, before the magicians could cast any spells, they needed to craft their magical focuses. When making their magical implements, our magicians had a lot of options, and not just about what kind of spells they wanted to cast. On the one hand, you can not go wrong with a good old-fashioned wand. A quick implement, meant for speed of light casting, these wands were embedded with the powers of shooting stars! Made from popsicle sticks and sticker stars, these wands fit easily into the magician’s hands and would imbue them with abilities wrought in starlight. All they needed was a couple of magic words and a little belief to set them off. Of course, this also made for a lot of loud noise and flailing arms, as the magicians cast battle magic at each other, speaking gibberish and wildly gesticulating. Truly, it was a sight to behold.

kids holding up spinning disks
Campers using seashell telephones

Aside from just wands, campers would also come across two other tools to add to their arsenal. One was the Spinning Disk. This magical instrument was meant to beguile their foes and audiences alike with its rapid and mysterious spinning, and strange, arcane symbols carved on each side. The campers got very creative with this one. Some designed their Disks with spirals on one side to hypnotize any unwary passersby and get them to do their bidding. Some drew “terrifying” creatures on the sides to drive off any annoying mortals in fear. One student I saw also drew some actual Norse runes they had looked up before class on their disk, which were so far beyond my comprehension they made my head spin (he wouldn’t tell me what they meant). Another student would also use the seashells in the Camp ROGA flower bed to commune with the creatures of the ocean and ask for their wisdom. When they answered, though, the sea creatures sounded suspiciously like the Camp ROGA staff (who were whispering over their shoulders).     

Campers doing gymnastics and playing

When it came down to practicing magic, we decided to stick with the classics, and you don’t get any more classic than levitation spells. We are also, luckily, very well acquainted with airtime. Above, you can see some of the magicians’ early attempts to get themselves up in the air and flying around. One technique we practiced was the classic flying broom. This involved campers mounting up on one of the bars, usually the ones near the rec floor, and using them to fly through the air. This magical, propelled flying required focus and a great deal of dexterity, as well as the ability to avoid falling off their brooms mid-flight. When that happened, they had to hang on tight with their arms or legs to stop themselves from plummeting off their broom!

Campers "levitating" gym equipment

Another spell our campers practiced was levitating objects instead of themselves. This technique was not as intuitive, and our magicians had to explore a couple of different pathways to success. In one method, they switched out their wands for magic staffs, using them to propel balls through the air in a mighty display of magical prowess. These worked by using air spirits hidden within the staffs to suck the balls in then spit them out with great force. Other campers tried using telekinesis to hold up objects in the air with nothing but their minds. While initially unsuccessful, after much practice using the power of their minds, the magicians figured out that they could use their minds to control their bodies to go and pick up the objects, so we called it a win. And finally, one magician decided to conjure up some rings to hold up his objects. This was very successful, but required an incredible amount of patience and dexterity to accomplish. Above, we can see him in the depths of concentration on his levitation ritual, working with the skill of a long-practiced master to give the power of flight.

Rabbit in hat collage

Of course, no magic show would be complete without mastery over one of the most classic tricks of all: pulling a rabbit out of a hat. In order to accomplish this, our magicians felt it was best to get into the mindset of a rabbit. Above, you can see the magicians’ efforts to understand their little furry companions, as they transmute themselves into rabbits and conjure themselves out of hats. One game where the magicians did this was called “Rabbit in the Hat,” where the transmuted rabbits would run underneath a hat, trying to escape before it came down around them. When the hat was lifted back up again, any rabbit still trapped had mysteriously disappeared, and the hat seemed to have gotten a little bigger. One pair of siblings decided to take the experiment a step further. They procured a mat and, with a wave of their wands, transformed it into a hat! Then they hopped in and made themselves disappear (from where the coaches could see them). 

snack collage

Even magicians need food, so Camp ROGA conjured up some healthy and energizing snacks to keep their mana bars full and ready to keep casting spells. Here are just a few.

For one of the snacks, we decided to give the magicians another wand. The only difference was that this one was made of fruit, and the only spell it could cast was Power Word: Hunger be gone. For another snack, we designed a couple of magic carpets using fruit, yogurt, and Graham crackers to fly the campers all the way to Flavortown and back. 

Water day collage

This week, some wicked witches cast a weather spell on us and told us to BEWARE THE IDES OF–Thursday, so we had water day on Tuesday instead. This did not stop our magicians from taking control of the elements, mainly water, and harnessing them to their whims. They used their power over water to accelerate their magic carpets, riding them at breakneck speeds while still letting them off safely when they were done flying. They also harnessed their water elements into Battle magic, tossing compact balls of water to and fro, determined to hunt down the evil witches who had cursed the camp with inclement weather, though, they might not have gotten the right people in the end.

group photo magic week

And with that final spellbinding spectacle, Camp ROGA’s Magic and Illusion week drew to a magical close.  From the magic wands to the sleight of hand tricks, it’s weeks like these that remind us that summer is truly magical. We hope you’ll join us next week for Camp ROGA Beach Bash week!

A coach and camper pose for a picture with craft

ROGA Blog: Camp ROGA Amazing Race Around the World

This week, Camp ROGA transformed into a high-energy global adventure. From obstacle courses to creativity challenges, campers raced across continents, tackling strength tests in every nation on Earth. Each day brought new destinations, skills, and nonstop action. Whether our racers were climbing through the Alps or on a stealthy trek through the jungle, they embraced the thrill of the journey. Here are just a few highlights from this whirlwind week around the world.

For Camp ROGA’s Amazing Race Around the World week, many preparations had to be made by our racers to ensure they were ready for the journey ahead. One of the biggest needs was transportation, so throughout the week, they prepared vehicles for every occasion, whether it was by land, air, or sea.

Kids Constructing Paper airplanes

Here we see our racers in the beginning stages of constructing their racing airplanes. These airplanes would be made from sturdy straws, construction paper, and tape, all designed to have the minimum possible weight to ensure maximum airtime. In designing these airplanes, the name of the game was aerodynamics. Before any vehicle construction began, the racers knew that Camp ROGA would be holding a race for each of the vehicles they made during the week to see just how fast the ingenuity of our racers could take them. This lit a fire within the competitive spirits of the racers, and every effort was made to increase the flying capabilities of their aircraft. Many designs were tested, with test flights occurring regularly, to see which design would give the racers that competitive edge. Under the advice of the coaches, racers attempted to reduce the drag of their aircraft as much as they could. Racers discovered that many small things made a big difference – rapidly rubbing at the tape of their aircrafts to try and sand away any creases in the adhesive, meticulously straightening any crumpled paper, folding the paper edges of their craft to make a more rounded and less air resistant front end. All these micro adjustments would prove to be for good reason as the coaches would have a surprise for our precocious racers come racing day.  

a collage of all the different crafts made during the week

All the focus on the speed of the aircraft left each airplane sorely lacking in endurance, but never fear, we had just the solution for the long rides over open water. For the next leg of their journey, racers needed to outfit a boat to take them across the many oceans they would need to cross during the race. Here, style and elegance took precedence over speed (at least for the body of their boats). Racers chose between a variety of gemstones they found on their journey to decorate their bows, trophies of lands seen and conquered as they went, and reminders of fond memories. When it came to the sails, though, the racers’ competitive spirit rose again. An intense discussion was held over the benefits of stickers covering the sails of the ships. One side suggested that by using stickers to cover the sails of the boats, racers would be weighing and slowing down the mechanism by which their ships were meant to speed along. The other side claimed that putting stickers on the sails was cool, and that lamer ships would travel slower. The debate wore on, along with a promise to settle things on racing day. 

A collage of camper "training" in preparation for the races

Beyond vehicle readiness, preparations extended to the skills racers would need to pick up to brave the perils of whatever stood in their way. This meant much jumping and climbing of ropes, obstacle courses, and assorted blocks to ensure they had the strength and agility to climb over the mountains and through the jungles along their journey. Some concerns were also raised about what would happen should their airplanes malfunction while in the sky, so the coaches decided to run them through a practice simulation about how to use their parachutes. The procedure was taught, and the coaches made sure to run them through the gauntlet of what they should do if debris fell on their parachutes (foam blocks) and also taught them how to hide from any dangerous jungle cats they might encounter during their travels (played by their teammates).

Campers constructing a foam block fort

The racers were also taught how to set up shelters for nightfall along their trek. Here we see a few of our racers using foam blocks to construct a fortified base camp at the center of the gym, which they would use to run a simulated defence of their fort against intruders. Many a woe and a foam block would befall any unlucky enough to step within range of their beloved fort. These temporary shelters would eventually need to be demolished and moved elsewhere in the gym, from the front floor, the TumblTrak, and into the red pit to simulate how the racers would need to move along as the race progressed. Eventually, the racers would come to love kicking down their forts as they prepared to move along, and it became somewhat of a competition to see who could do it the fastest.

image of camper guessing the flags on a wall

Also important for any journey was knowledge of where you are journeying to. Set up around the gym were various walls full of flags of all the countries of the world. The coaches would periodically quiz the students on every flag in the gym to make sure the racers would know where they were, wherever they might find themselves. Racers were initially hesitant to join in and do a little homework outside of school, but when coaches began offering them 10 seconds of extra free time for every correct guess, the race was on to see who could name as many flags as possible. It wasn’t long before the racers began quizzing the coaches on the flags, and it became a point of pride for the racers if they could trip a coach up on a particularly difficult flag. 

A collage of all the snacks given out by Camp ROGA during the week

Racers worked up an appetite with all their preparations. Among the Camp ROGA snacks this week were banana sailboats, race car fruit, wafer airplanes, and cheese and apple pirate ships.

a collage of all the different race tournaments done during racing day

At last, it was race day. Racers geared up and readied their crafts for a day of nonstop racing and competitions as they each tested the ingenuity and mettle of their designs against each other. Lots of cheering was heard across the gym as racers goaded on their teammates as they competed in mini-tournaments against each other. But the racers were also in for a surprise as the coaches had made preparations of their own. When the time came for the vehicle races, the coaches unveiled massive behemoths of their own, vehicles made to crush the competition – airplanes made out of a hundred straws and with conical heads, and ships made with many masts. Our little racers had to team up against this threat and take them down for good. In the end, the plucky engines made throughout the week by the racers dominated the larger, slower engines made by the coaches, which sank or plummeted far too fast to outpace the light and agile engines of the racers. 

Collage of campers participating in water day

When the racers finally eked over the finish line, with the race over and won, they had time to relax on the beach (ROGA Lawn and water slides) … and also to pelt the coaches with water balloons for ever daring to try and beat them at their own game.

Group photo of all the campers

And with that final climactic battle, the Amazing Race Around the World came to an end. Join us next week for Magic and Illusion week at Camp ROGA!

Camper holding water balloons and roaring fiercely at ROGA summer camp

ROGA Blog: Camp ROGA Ninja Warrior Week

Summer rolled on this week at Camp ROGA, and our Ninjas in training rose to every challenge for Ninja Warrior week! From climbing ropes to crafting gear, every activity helped build strength, focus, and confidence. Whether they were swinging through the air or creating something by hand, these Ninjas were learning, growing, and having a great time along the way. Here are just a few highlights from another awesome week at Camp ROGA.

Activities and games at Camp ROGA summer camp.
Activities and games at Camp ROGA

This week, our Ninjas took on a different kind of warrior, the Samurai. Samurai Coach Payton faced the Ninjas during one of our end-of-day group games, playing Samurai and Ninjas. In this game, the Samurai stands in the middle of the team floor, guarding his treasure from any would-be thieves. The Ninjas would then try to sneak past the Samurai without being seen, standing still, or hiding behind a block or another Ninja whenever the Samurai turned to look at them. Any Ninja caught would have to return to their base to regroup and try again, but they had to hurry! There was only so much treasure to go around, so Ninjas who were caught had to make up the distance they had lost before other Ninjas beat them to their prize. This game was action-packed and was one of our campers’ favorites this week.

Two girls building a block tower at Camp ROGA summer camp.

After their theft of the treasure, the Ninjas had to find a place to hide their ill-gotten gains. To do so, they engaged in one of our other games for this week, Build The Secret Hideout. Here, the Ninjas would take blocks from the ROGA foam pit and use them to build a tower to hide their treasure, racing to see who could build the tallest and sturdiest fort before the Samurai came to take their treasure back. Our precocious Ninja teams employed numerous different strategies. Some opted to build tottering single block spires as high as they could, to hide their treasure away from the prying eyes of the Samurai. Some built stocky and sturdy towers, many blocks wide, within which they would hide their hidden hoards. One of the more successful strategies involved a combination of these methods, where campers would first construct a sturdy base, then make the tower gradually more narrow as it went up. Regardless of tower-building strategy, though, when it came time to relocate, the Ninjas had a lot of fun tearing them down.

Two boys climbing the Ninja Rig at Camp ROGA summer camp.

While agility, stealth, and speed are the classic traits of any great Ninja, true warriors also need courage, determination, and a strong grip. Enter Theo. One of the training stations our ninjas participated in was a rope climb, which stretches up 25 feet to the ceiling of the gym. All our Ninjas gave the rope a good attempt, and some made it impressively high, but Theo wanted to outdo them all. Hand over hand, and foot over foot, Theo moved steadily upward, slowly at first, but gaining speed and confidence all the way. Theo’s feat of endurance did not go unnoticed either, as a crowd of spectators would gradually form at the foot of the rope to watch him make his climb. At one point, every camper in the gym was waiting with bated breath as he reached towards the ceiling, and when he slapped it, there was a thunderous cheer. Theo then slid down from the rope to the floor in a truly gracious motion, where his friends waited to say congratulations.

A girl on uneven bars and a boy practicing handstands at Camp ROGA summer camp.

Theo’s accomplishments were the talk of the dojo, but other Ninjas would not let him hog all the spotlight. Earlier in the week, another camper, Jordan, set before herself the task of jumping from one uneven bar to the other. She has seen athletes perform similar tasks in the Olympics, and confirmed with the Coaches that it was possible, but she had never tried it before the week had started. However, the fear of the unknown had no sway over Jordan, and she fought past her initial nervousness of the task day after day, until finally, on the third day, she succeeded. What made Jordan’s moment of accomplishment legendary wasn’t just the leap itself; it was also the patience, persistence, and the absolute confidence of a Ninja who never gives up. Jordan and Theo weren’t the only campers who accomplished something truly wonderful during camp; they were just a couple of those that I saw. Many more students this week took a step forward into the unknown, seen or otherwise, that might have changed them more than they knew. We hope to keep giving this opportunity to more campers as the summer barrels onwards.

Girls showing off their Ninja pouch craft at Camp ROGA summer camp.

In the quieter parts of the Dojo, our Ninjas were hard at work crafting new gear to add to their stealth kits. One of these pieces was the Bottomless Ninja Pouch, each of which was crafted to resemble its Ninja users. Above, you can see one camper in the process of putting the final touches on her own pouch, readying it to carry important other parts of her Ninja gear. Designs like pictured were quite popular, but were far from the only ones that campers made. One design I made note of had 9 eyes, and another had three scarves. One camper even decided to seal her pouch and its contents away forever (with glue) so that none could ever glimpse her secrets again. 

Campers showing off their Substitution Dolls at Camp ROGA summer camp.
Campers showing off paper ninja stars at Camp ROGA summer camp.

The pouches were a good start, but what use was infinite storage if you had nothing to fill it up with? Luckily, Camp ROGA had a steady stream of gear to fill the pouches to the bursting. Two such pieces were the Ninja Stars and the Substitution Doll. First, the Substitution doll. This craft was one of the more difficult ones of this week for the campers, as they had quite a few parts (beads, hollow straws, pipe cleaners, etc.) and a lot of directions on how they should be put together. However, our campers’ diligence and patience paid off, as by completing their doll, they could use the Shadow Substitution technique. This technique calls for great speed and misdirection abilities, as Ninjas used the dolls as a distraction, throwing them before vanishing in a flash, leaving only the doll where they stood. This technique mystifies coaches and delights campers with their newfound abilities of evading detection. Also pictured are some of the Ninja stars our campers made, throwable objects requiring great precision and skill (and needing to be aimed away from other Ninjas). Camp ROGA provided one design for campers to decorate as they please, but some Ninjas decided to spend some long hours in the workshop and create their own designs in a stunning display of ingenuity and creativity. 

Ninja themed snacks at Camp ROGA summer camp.

All of these activities were hard work; even Ninjas need refueling every so often, and we made sure they got it. During our themed snack break, campers were treated to two fun, camp-favorite creations that brought a little extra excitement to the day. First up: Ninja Clementines. These peeled oranges had faces drawn on the rinds and little black bandanas (made with fruit by the foot) wrapped around them, turning each one into a sneaky citrus warrior. Even Ninjas have to get all their vitamins, and dressing them up can make a healthy snack a fun experience. Also pictured was our ROGA Camp “Sushi”. This treat was made from Rice Krispies bars rolled in fruit by the foot, with a Swedish Fish tucked inside to look just like a piece of sushi. Campers loved how they looked, but even more how they tasted.  

Camper holding water balloons at Camp ROGA summer camp.

After a week spent training and arming up for battle, our Ninjas were raring for a battle of the ages, and the opportunity came on Thursday with our weekly end-of-camp Water Day. Camp ROGA always keeps a large stockpile of reusable water balloons, but this week the Ninjas were playing for keeps. Alliances were formed, and sides were chosen as Ninjas scrambled to stockpile as many water balloons as they could for their own armies. As supplies grew scarce, raids were mounted on opposing camps to claim their water balloons for themselves. Pictured above is one warrior as she prepares to charge into an enemy camp along with all her brothers and sisters in arms. The battle would be long, gruelling and filled with uncertainty, with betrayal taking place regularly, and with both sides claiming victory in the end. But one thing remained clear as the dust settled: everyone had a lot of fun.

Group photo of campers at Camp ROGA summer camp.

And with that final climactic battle, Camp ROGA Ninja Warrior week came to its conclusion for the 2025 season. Many memories were made and challenges overcome. The energy and teamwork we saw this week reminded us why summer at the gym is such a unique experience. We are proud of our Ninjas and hope you will join us next week as we take on an Amazing Race Around the World!