About School Year Programs

The CYO Camp School Year Programs are based on the Catholic values taught and modeled in Catholic environments. This values-based ministry is an integral part of each program offered: Outdoor Education, Community/Leadership Building, and Retreats.

We also host Recreation Weekends and Guest Groups.

Our programs provide that unique Catholic component that participants will not experience in any other outdoor program. We have developed a set of outdoor program opportunities that are designed to provide enriching experiences for the participant. Programs are based on our camp values.

• Catholic
• Inclusive
• Stewards of the Earth
• Staff Development
• Participant Centered

We strive to offer the highest quality experienced based programs and can travel to you to extend the value of your time at camp. Character building is an integral part of all our programs. Participants utilize leadership, teamwork, and individual expression, personal confidence, and grow in faith during their time at camp.

Each program schedule offers time for spiritual activities, classes, free choice recreation, and programs for each group. If you'd like to facilitate activities or have Mass with your participants, we can provide support for your program. Classes in our Outdoor Education programs meet Indiana State Curriculum Standards. Standards are listed alongside class descriptions in this site when applicable.

All programs are interactive & fun but your group’s goals will determine which programs and activities or classes will work best for you. Please note that most programs have a suggested age group but we can extend programming beyond those ages for any interested group. School Year Programs run from mid-August to mid-May; they are one, two, or three days in length.

Outdoor Education:

History

Indiana History: For groups who would like to experience a variety of hands-on outdoor classes; to learn more about Indiana History; to learn outdoor skills; to grow closer as a group;
Suggested age group - 4th, 5th & 6th grade

Available Classes:

• Pioneer Living: Take a trip back in time to the early 1800's and experience a day in the life of a pioneer by doing some of their daily activities such as: building a log cabin, making soap, and cutting wood! Meets IN State Standards: 4.4.1, 5.1.5, 5.3.11
  
  
• Native Americans of Central & Southern Indiana: Bring the culture of the historic Delaware & Miami to life through a fur trade game & other activities in this exciting class. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.2, 4.1.15, 4.1.16, 4.4.3, 5.1.2, 5.1.17, 5.4.1, 6.1.18, 6.4.1
  
  
• Living from the Land: Participants will learn how the early people of Indiana survived and lived from the land by replicating shelters, planting food, and searching for wild edibles. Meets IN State Standards: 3.1.1, 4.1.2, 5.3.4, 5.3.11
  
  
• Blast from the Past Dinner: Dinner in the 1800's was not as easy as popping it in the microwave. Participants will help build a fire & cook a settler dinner in cast iron pots, while playing period children's games. Meets IN State Standards: 2.1.4
  
  
• Early Arts & Crafts: Participants will learn the history of the pioneers' crafts & their importance in every day living. Here they will learn the basic skill of making crafts & putting them to use. Meets IN State Standards: 2.1.4
  
  
• Folklore & Pioneer Games: Play games from the 1800's while learning tales that have been told for hundreds of years. Meets IN State Standards: 2.1.4
  
  

Additional Programming: Spiritual Growth, Outdoor Skills, Team Challenge, Evening Programs & Recreation.

Science

Environmental Stewardship: For groups who would like to experience a variety of hands-on outdoor classes; to learn about environmental stewardship & helping the earth; to learn about earth & life sciences; to grow closer as a group; to grow spiritually.
Suggested age group - 5th & 6th grade

Available Classes:

• Ecosystems: Students experience the interconnectedness of our camp ecosystem as they take on different roles from deer to water to shrews in this exciting & engaging class. Meets IN State Standards: 4.2.7, 4.3.14, 4.4.3, 4.6.1, 4.6.4; 5.4.2, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 5.4.9,5.6.1; 6.3.8, 6.3.13, 6.3.16, 6.4.1,6.4.8, 6.4.9, 7.4.6, 7.4.8, 7.4.14, 7.4.9, 7.7.2, 7.7.3; 8.4.4, 8.4.5, 8.4.8, 8.7.2
  
  
• Forest Ecology (Plant Power): Students will explore the CYO Camp forest while learning about succession, identifying trees, & discovering the role of decomposers. They will take a short hike through the woods, play a few games, & discover the complexity of a common ecosystem. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.3.14, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.5, 4.4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 5.1.3, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 5.6.1, 6.3.16, 6.4.1, 6.4.8, 6.4.9, 7.4.2, 7.4.7, 7.4.8, 7.4.9, 7.7.1, 7.7.3, 8.7.5
  
  
• Pond Ecology: Students will explore the CYO Camp pond to learn about what lives in the water and what happens when we pollute. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.2 4.2.7, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.6.1, 5.2.4, 5.5.7, 5.5.9, 6.1.3, 6.2.3, 6.2.5, 6.2.6, 6.3.8,*6.4.2,*6.4.9, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.4.8, 7.5.4, 7.4.9, 8.1.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.2, 8.2.3, 8.2.7, 8.2.8 8.5.8, B1.37, B1.38, B1.39 B1.40, B1.41, B1.43, B1.45, B1.46
  
  
• Environmental Hearing: Through acting out various roles in a town hall hearing, participants work to see the larger picture when dealing with environmental issues. Meets IN State Standards: 6.7.1 , 7.7.2, 7.7.11, 8.7.13, 8.7.1, 9.7.18 & 10.7.18
  
  
• Sustainable Living: How do daily actions affect the world around us? Students discover their global affects of their local actions in this engaging class. Meets IN State Standards: 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 6.4.8, 6.3.16
  
  
• Living Green: Every day is a new day to work to protect the environment. In this class, participants learn to implement easy routines to be better stewards of the earth.
  
  
• Environmental Stewardship Hike: Through activities and reflections on a solo nature hike, students will learn about being stewards of the Earth’s natural resources and their fellow human beings.
  
  
• Eco-Initiatives: Participants must band together to be steward of the earth on the low challenge course. Meets IN State Standards:
  
  

Additional Programming: Spiritual Growth, Outdoor Skills, Team Challenge, Evening Programs & Recreation.

Earth & Life Sciences:For groups who would like to experience a variety of hands-on outdoor classes; to learn about environmental stewardship & helping the earth; to learn about life & earth sciences; to grow closer as a group; to learn more about Indiana History.
Suggested age group - 5th & 6th grade

Available Classes:

• Ecosystems: Students experience the interconnectedness of our camp ecosystem as they take on different roles from deer to water to shrews in this exciting & engaging class. Meets IN State Standards: 4.2.7, 4.3.14, 4.4.3, 4.6.1, 4.6.4; 5.4.2, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 5.4.9,5.6.1; 6.3.8, 6.3.13, 6.3.16, 6.4.1,6.4.8, 6.4.9, 7.4.6, 7.4.8, 7.4.14, 7.4.9, 7.7.2, 7.7.3; 8.4.4, 8.4.5, 8.4.8, 8.7.2
  
  
• Habitat Investigation: How many bears can live in these woods? To investigate limiting factors of a habitat, the participants become bears trying to survive in the habitat of our woods. Meets IN State Standards: 5.4.2, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 6.4.8, 6.4.9
  
  
• Animal Adaptations: How do beavers keep from choking on splinters & what are their tails used for? Find out this & more as we explore the awesome world of animals & their adaptations. Meets IN State Standards: 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7
  
  
• Forest Animals: Through hands-on investigation of skulls & furs, students will explore animal identification, classification, & food chains. Meets IN State Standards: 4.4.4, 4.4.6, 5.4.7, 6.4.9
  
  
• Forest Ecology: Students will explore the CYO Camp forest while learning about succession, identifying trees, & discovering the role of decomposers. They will take a short hike through the woods, play a few games, & discover the complexity of a common ecosystem. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.3.14, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.5, 4.4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 5.1.3, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 5.6.1, 6.3.16, 6.4.1, 6.4.8, 6.4.9, 7.4.2, 7.4.7, 7.4.8, 7.4.9, 7.7.1, 7.7.3, 8.7.5
  
  
• Pond Ecology: Students will explore the CYO Camp pond to learn about what lives in the water and what happens when we pollute. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.2 4.2.7, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.6.1, 5.2.4, 5.5.7, 5.5.9, 6.1.3, 6.2.3, 6.2.5, 6.2.6, 6.3.8,*6.4.2,*6.4.9, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.4.8, 7.5.4, 7.4.9, 8.1.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.2, 8.2.3, 8.2.7, 8.2.8 8.5.8, B1.37, B1.38, B1.39 B1.40, B1.41, B1.43, B1.45, B1.46
  
  
• Geology: Thousands of years ago, glaciers covered much of Indiana, but they left Brown County virtually untouched. Come study how the glaciers formed the landscape of Indiana through games, activities, & observing first h& the geology of Brown County. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.2, 4.3.6, 4.3.7, 4.6.4, 5.1.1, 5.1.3, 5.3.8, 5.3.9, 6.3.14, 6.3.15, 7.3.3, 7.3.4, 7.3.7, 7.3.8, 7.3.9, 7.3.10
  
  
• Meteorology: "What's the weather going to be like tomorrow?" is a tough question. In this class, participants will use various measurement tools to predict the weather & answer that timeless question. Meets IN State Standards: 4.1.1,4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.5,4.3.2, 4.3.4, 4.3.11,4.3.13, 4.5.4, 5.1.1,5.1.2, 5.2.3, 5.2.4,5.2.7 5.2.8, 5.3.4, 5.3.5, 5.5.1,5.5.2,5.5.3 5.5.5.5.8,5.5.9,5.6.1, 6.1.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.6, 6.2.8, 6.3.9, 6.3.10, 6.3.11, 6.3.12, 6.5.6, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3, 7.1.4, 7.2.3, 7.2.5, 7.3.3
  
  

Additional Programming: Spiritual Growth, Outdoor Skills, Team Challenge, Evening Programs & Recreation.

Kindergarten-3rd Grade Day Programs

Available Programs:
Choose from 1 of 3 Themed Day Field Trips:

The Science of the Seasons
Why do leaves turn colors? What do animals do in winter?

• Animal tracking (tracking & camouflage activity)
• Plant scavenger hunts (bingo, edible plants)
• Predator/prey games (speed, thinking, adaptations)
• Nature crafts (fall= frames, spring= nature frames)

Living History
How did people live before electricity?

• Pioneer cooking (homemade butter and biscuits)
• Native American lore (storytelling and performance)
• Native American games (speed, agility, concentration)
• Candle making (dip method, multiple colors)

Faith and Art in Nature
How does God reveal Himself in what He made? Why do we create?

• Walk in the woods (sensory hike through forest)
• Storytelling and songs (collaborative, interactive)
• Parable Players (learning faith thru acting)
• Nature crafts (fall= wreaths, spring= nature frames)

Leadership Programs

For groups who would like to practice leadership & team work skills for life; to recognize their roles as leaders in their community (school/church); to develop leadership skills; to understand a Christian’s call to be a servant leader as Christ & to learn to live that calling.
Suggested age group - 7th grade through adult

Additional Programming: Spiritual Growth, Outdoor Skills, Team Challenge, Evening Programs & Recreation.

Community Building

For groups who would like to recreate together; practice various aspects of Christian Community; to grow as a group.
Suggested age group - 7th grade through adult

Additional Programming: Spiritual Growth, Outdoor Skills, Team Challenge, Evening Programs & Recreation.

Retreats

Under construction; please check back soon!

Recreation Weekend

For groups who would like to recreate together.
Suggested age group - 7th grade through adult and Families with children younger than seventh grade.

Available Programming includes options from Recreation.

"On Your Own" Activities also available: Fishing, Nature Hiking, Sports, & Game (Areas are designated and supplies are provided). Evening activities area also offered: Campfire, Night Hike, Mass or Prayer Service.

Guest Groups

For groups who would like to "rent" the CYO Camp facility. See CYO Camp Facilities for more information on our grounds and buildings.

CYO Camp Facilities

CYO Camp Rancho Framasa, established in 1946, is located on 296 acres. The site is very rural with steep hills, many trees, a 2 acre pond, hiking & nature trails, pastures, and fields. Buildings include 8 rustic cabins (5 winterized); health care center, the 14,000 sq. ft. Outdoor Program Center (OPC); The Pines Amphitheater; a covered activity pavilion; summer, administrative, and program staff offices; and 2 staff residences. CYO Camp also has a climbing wall & high ropes challenge course; lighted basketball courts; sand volleyball court; campfire circle; archery range; swimming pool; athletic field & indoor chapel.

The OPC houses meeting/classroom spaces, restrooms and the dining hall. This multi use building offers space for multiple meetings to be happening at once.

Additional Equipment/Supplies are available.

Date Availability, Fees & Registration Details

School year programs run from mid-August to mid-May; they are one, two, or three days in length.

For current availability or to register your group contact: Shelle Hertz, Camp Registrar, at registrar@campranchoframasa.org or 888-988-2839, x 22.