Camp, but Make It Random
At Totally Awesome Random Fun (TARF), every day is a surprise. This program takes all the usual camp activities and adds a "TARF Twist" that keeps campers guessing, laughing, and wondering what's coming next. Gaga with a football. Boating with rubber duckies. Bible Discovery in the most unexpected places. Snacking in a treehouse. If it sounds wonderfully unpredictable, it belongs at TARF.
TARF has been a Gretna Glen tradition for decades, and it's one of the most beloved programs on the calendar. The zany games, random acts of kindness, and daily surprises create an energy that's hard to describe until you've been there. Campers come home unable to stop talking about what happened, mostly because they still can't believe it happened themselves.
All the Camp Fun, with a TARF Twist
Classic camp activities meet zany surprises, random kindness, and decades of tradition.
The TARF Twist
Every activity gets a random upgrade. Regular gaga becomes gaga with a football. Regular boating becomes rubber ducky races. Regular s'mores become... well, you'll have to come and find out. The twist is the point.
Surprises Every Day
Cow Appreciation Day with a real Highland cow. Snacking in a treehouse. Creek play when nobody saw it coming. TARF is built on the joy of the unexpected, and the staff plan surprises that keep campers wide-eyed all week.
Random Acts of Kindness
Woven into the week are intentional moments of kindness. Campers learn to look out for each other, encourage one another, and spread joy in ways that are as creative as they are genuine.
Faith in Unexpected Places
Bible Discovery happens wherever the randomness takes it. By the creek, in the meadow, under a tree. Worship and reflection are part of the week, but at TARF, even faith gets to be an adventure.
Why TARF Keeps Campers Coming Back
TARF works because underneath all the randomness is a program built on genuine community. The zany games and daily surprises break down barriers fast. Kids who might normally take a few days to warm up are laughing together by the first evening. When you're chasing a rubber duck across a lake or playing gaga with ridiculous rules, there's no room for shyness.
That's the real magic of TARF. The randomness is the vehicle, but the destination is always connection. Campers build friendships, grow in confidence, and experience the joy of being part of something delightfully unpredictable. It's been working for decades, and every summer brings new TARF moments that become part of the legend.
WHERE YOU'LL STAY
Campers stay in the Raab Retreat Lodge, a two-story lodge on Gretna Glen's main campus. The Lodge has bunk-style housing with restrooms in the building. It feels more like home than traditional cabins, which is ideal for the 6-9 age group.
This is a mainsite program. Campers eat meals in the Dining Hall and have access to all of Gretna Glen's main campus facilities.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW
This is a shortened week running over the July 4th holiday weekend. Campers can arrive Sunday evening (5-7 PM) or Monday morning (7:30-9:00 AM). Pick-up is Thursday, 5-6 PM.
Gretna Glen is ACA-accredited, meeting over 300 health, safety, and quality standards. Staff are trained specifically for the 6-9 age group. The Lodge setting with in-building restrooms is chosen for this age group's comfort.
Flexible Drop-Off
Because this session starts over 4th of July weekend, families can choose Sunday evening (5-7 PM) or Monday morning (7:30-9 AM) drop-off. Pick whichever works best for your holiday plans.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
- Kids ages 6-9 who love surprises, silliness, and spontaneous fun
- Returning campers who already know TARF is the highlight of their summer
- First-time campers who need a program so fun they forget to be nervous
- Families looking for a shorter session that fits around the July 4th weekend