A Week for the Kid Who Would Rather Be Outside
Anglers and Archers is built for the camper who has been asking to try archery since they were old enough to hold a bow, or who grew up on the edge of a pond with a fishing rod. This week combines both skills into a single, specialty program, with enough camp community and enough time at the lake and on the archery range to turn dabblers into real beginners and beginners into confident hands.
Three hours of archery instruction across the week. Dedicated lake fishing from boats. Early morning devotions that set the tone before the first cast of the day. It is a quieter, more focused kind of Gretna Glen week, and for the campers who thrive in that rhythm, it is the one they ask to come back to year after year.
Three Hours of Archery. Real Lake Fishing. Full Camp Community.
Skill-building at the range and on the water, alongside the full Gretna Glen experience.
Three Hours of Archery
Instruction and practice across the week. Form, stance, aim, and follow-through, taught by trained staff. Beginners learn the fundamentals. Returning archers work on tightening their groups.
Lake Fishing from Boats
Dedicated time on the Gretna Glen lake, fishing from boats with staff and fellow anglers. Casting, knots, bait, and the patience that makes the difference between a good day and a great one.
Early Morning Devotions
Quiet starts before the range opens. Devotions on the dock or at the edge of the woods, set to the rhythm of an outdoor morning rather than a crowded room.
Classic Camp Around It
Swimming, boating, campfires, hiking, sports, singing, and Bible Discovery all fit around the specialty focus. The rest is the full Gretna Glen experience.
Why This Program Works
Anglers and Archers is built for a different kind of camper than the ones who thrive on high-energy variety weeks. This is the program for the kid who would rather spend an hour on the archery line than twenty minutes at each of six activities. The kid who is content to wait for the fish to bite because the waiting is half the point.
The pace reflects that. Mornings start quietly. The range opens after devotions. Fishing happens when the lake is still. By the end of the week, campers have picked up real skills and real friendships with other kids who love the same kind of slow outdoor rhythm.
WHERE YOU'LL STAY
Anglers and Archers is based at the Wilderness Ridge Outpost, Gretna Glen's rustic outpost. There is no electricity. Campers sleep on cots in canvas platform tents or rustic cabins with bunk-style beds. Water and bathrooms are close by.
This is an unplugged experience by design. It matches the tone of the week: simple gear, real connection to the outdoors, and a small crew that feels like a fishing camp rather than a summer camp.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW
All archery instruction is led by trained staff. Equipment is provided. Fishing gear is also provided, though campers are welcome to bring their own if they prefer.
Gretna Glen is ACA-accredited, meeting over 300 health, safety, and quality standards. Staff are Ministry Safe and UMC Risk Management trained. All skill levels are welcome, from first-time archers to experienced youth anglers.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
- Campers 12 to 15 who love archery, fishing, or both
- Beginners ready for a patient, skill-focused introduction
- Returning anglers and archers who want dedicated time to practice
- Kids who prefer the quieter, more focused rhythm of a specialty week