The most magical moments at Camp Lakota often happen after sunset. While our daytime activities and water sports create skill-building opportunities and physical challenges, our evening programs forge the emotional bonds that transform a two-week camp stay into a lifetime of cherished memories.
At Camp Lakota, every night is an opportunity for the community. From intimate cabin traditions to all-camp gatherings under the stars, our events create the traditions that returning campers anticipate all year and remember for decades. Many of our most beloved events have been passed down through generations, parents who attended Camp Lakota now watch their own children participate in the same traditions they experienced 20, 30, even 40 years ago.
Our evening philosophy balances structure with spontaneity. We maintain core traditions that anchor our camp culture while continuously innovating with new themed nights and activities that keep the experience fresh and exciting. Whether your child is experiencing their first camp summer or returning for their fifth, the evenings at Camp Lakota create the magic that defines sleepaway camp.
Some of our most special traditions have been central to the Camp Lakota experience for decades. These aren’t activities—they’re rituals that connect past campers, current campers, and future generations in shared moments of joy, connection, and meaning.
The summer begins with intention and magic. On the first night of camp, the entire community gathers at our lakeside fire circle as the sun sets over Masten Lake. The Opening Campfire Ceremony officially welcomes campers to the Camp Lakota family and establishes the values, sharing, integrity, responsibility, and respect that guide our summer.
Directors welcome returning staff and first-time campers alike. Returning campers lead favorite camp songs, introducing newcomers to the music and traditions they’ll be singing all summer. We light the “Summer Flame” a symbolic fire that burns throughout the entire session, representing the light of community and connection.
For many campers, the Opening Campfire is when camp feels real. One moment they’re nervous newcomers; the next, they’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with new friends, singing songs under the stars, and feeling a sense of belonging they didn’t expect to find so quickly.
On the final night of camp, the sense of ending is tangible as everyone gathers for one of Camp Lakota’s most meaningful traditions: the Burning of the Numbers. Instead of a typical campfire, the focus is on a special ceremony that marks the close of another unforgettable summer together.
In the days leading up to this night, each girls division writes and performs its own end‑of‑summer song, capturing the inside jokes, milestones, and memories that defined their time at camp. Our CITs then take on a beloved responsibility: they create the year’s numbers (20__) out of cotton on a large mesh board, carefully crafting the symbol that will represent their summer forever.
During the ceremony, the director or a special member of the camp community lights the numbers, and the entire camp joins together to sing the camp song. As the glowing numbers fade into the night, campers feel the weight of the moment: pride in how much they have grown, gratitude for the friends who now feel like family, and a quiet promise to return to Lakota’s shores again.
Each cabin develops its own identity with a unique cheer, inside jokes, and traditions. Cabin cheers are performed at meals, campfires, and special events with a short song or chant that represents that specific group of campers and counselors.
Cabin traditions might include a specific way of greeting each other, a particular cabin song, a mascot, or a ritual performed during rest hour or before bed. These cabin-specific traditions create a sense of belonging within the smaller group while still being part of the larger camp community.
New campers quickly learn their cabin cheer and are often moved by how their cabin rallies around them during challenging moments. Returning campers teach the tradition to newcomers, passing the culture forward and deepening their own sense of ownership and leadership.
Beyond the nightly traditions, Camp Lakota schedules special events and themed nights throughout each session that add variety, excitement, and opportunities for different types of participation.
Throughout the summer, Camp Lakota hosts large-group games and competitions that bring the entire community together in friendly, high‑energy rivalry. These events are designed for maximum participation, loud cheering, and the kind of shared excitement campers talk about long after the summer ends.
Battle of the Campuses: One of Lakota’s most anticipated nights, Battle of the Campuses pits boys and girls camps against each other in a fast‑paced series of “minute‑to‑win‑it”–style challenges. Think relay races, goofy physical stunts, quick‑thinking puzzles, and team tasks that demand cooperation as much as competitiveness. Everyone has a role, whether they are competing on the field, timing events, or leading cheers from the sidelines, and the spirit is intense but always good‑natured.
In addition to Battle of the Campuses, the summer is filled with other group games and relays that rotate by age group and interest level. These might take over the main field, the waterfront, or the entire campus, giving campers the chance to explore, strategize, and celebrate wins together. No matter the format, the goal is the same: build teamwork, create inside jokes, and give campers a chance to see themselves as part of something bigger than their cabin.
Evenings at Camp Lakota also spotlight creativity and performance, giving both campers and staff the chance to shine in front of the community in ways they might not at home.
Counselor Talent Show (First Week): Early in the session, campers are treated to a counselor talent show that has quickly become a first‑week favorite. Counselors sing, dance, juggle, perform skits, or lean into pure silliness, revealing hidden talents and a fun side campers may not see during daytime activities. Because the performance is entirely staff‑led, campers can simply relax, laugh, and get to know their role models in a new way. It is a perfect early‑session event: high on energy and connection, low on pressure for nervous first‑timers.
Cabin Skits and Camper Performances: As campers settle in, each cabin has the chance to create and perform its own skit or routine for the camp community. These might be parody songs, comedy sketches, lip‑sync battles, or original stories dreamed up during rest hour. The focus is not on perfection but on participation and shared creativity. Counselors cultivate an atmosphere where every attempt is met with loud applause and genuine support, which helps campers take risks, try new roles, and discover confidence on stage.
Across the session, camper performances and staff‑led shows work together to build a culture where it is normal to be a little silly, to cheer loudly for others, and to celebrate every personality in the community.
Western Night: Campers and staff come to dinner dressed in western attire. The dining hall is decorated with hay bales, wanted posters, and cowboy-themed decorations. The menu includes BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and s’mores for dessert. Staff might be dressed as outlaws or sheriffs, and silly announcements are made in western accents. After dinner, campers participate in western-themed games like lasso practice or a saloon-style dance.
Decades Night: Campers and staff choose a decade and come dressed accordingly. One summer session might feature the 1950s, while another features the 1970s or 1980s. The dining hall is decorated with period-appropriate items, music from that era plays during dinner, and the evening activity is a dance featuring that decade’s music. Campers get creative with costume pieces, and the visual celebration of a particular era creates hilarity and fun.
Beach Party Night: Even though we’re at Masten Lake, we can bring beach vibes to the dining hall! Campers wear beach attire, the dining hall features beach decorations, and the menu includes beach-themed foods. The evening activity might include beach games, a bonfire, or waterfront activities.
International Night: Camp Lakota celebrates global diversity with an International Night where different cuisines are featured, countries are celebrated, and campers learn about cultures around the world. This themed night aligns with our values of respect and community while expanding campers’ perspectives.
Movie Night Under the Stars: On select warm evenings, Camp Lakota hosts outdoor movie nights on the main lawn or beach area. Campers gather with blankets and pillows to watch a camp-appropriate film. The dining hall provides popcorn, candy, and drinks. The experience of watching a movie with 200+ friends under the stars is quintessentially camp.
Weekly Socials: Throughout the session, the camp hosts casual dance events where campers get together for music, dancing, and socializing. The DJ or sound system plays a mix of current hits, classic camp songs, and silly novelty songs that get everyone moving.
For many younger or introverted campers, our dance socials represent their first experience with group dancing in a low-pressure environment. Counselors participate enthusiastically, modeling that dancing is about fun rather than perfection. By mid-summer, even the shyest campers are often on the dance floor having a great time.
Special Music Events: Some sessions feature visiting musicians, jam sessions where campers and staff collaborate musically, or special concert-style events. The dining hall might be transformed into a concert venue for an evening, creating excitement and variety in the nightly program.
Beyond major events, each evening also includes free activity time where campers have choices in how they spend their time, building agency and allowing for both social connection and quieter engagement.
Daily Rest Hour (typically 12:30-2:00 PM): While technically not a “night activity,” rest hour is a crucial part of evening preparation. During this screen-free quiet time, campers might write letters home, read, journal, play quiet games, actually rest or nap, or reflect and process.
Rest hour prevents the exhaustion that would make evening activities chaotic rather than joyful. It also provides the space for reflection that makes camp transformative. Many campers report that their most meaningful thoughts about camp happen during quiet rest hour moments.
Each night, campers return to their cabins with counselors for a wind-down period before sleep. This cabin time might include reflection circles, storytelling, cabin songs, gratitude sharing, quiet meditation, or special surprises that counselors create.
This intimate cabin time builds the trust and connection between campers and counselors that makes camp safe and emotionally supportive.
Our events aren’t designed to impress parents or create perfect Instagram moments. They’re designed for authentic connection and joy. Cabin skits are intentionally silly and imperfect. Campers’ performances are celebrated for enthusiasm rather than polish. Campers feel permission to be genuinely themselves.
Every camper participates in events. There’s no audience/performer divide, everyone sings at campfire, everyone cheers for cabin skits, everyone dances at socials. We deliberately create experiences where participation feels natural and belonging is guaranteed, not earned based on talent or social status.
Many of our traditions span decades. Parents who attended Camp Lakota 20+ years ago now watch their children participate in the same Opening Campfire, sing the same campfire songs, and perform in the same Talent Show. This continuity creates something profound, a sense of belonging to something larger and more permanent than any single summer.
Staff members who were once campers often return as counselors, saying, “I want to create the same magic for others that was created for me.” This creates an unbroken chain of tradition and values across generations.
While we plan major events and maintain beloved traditions, there’s always room for spontaneity, an unexpected dance session because the mood is right, a late-night campfire story that goes longer than planned, a new game that counselors invent based on camper interest.
This balance prevents the experience from feeling overly corporate or manufactured. Camp feels like a place where joy and fun are prioritized, even if it means slightly bending the schedule.
Our events are inseparable from our location. The Masten Lake waterfront creates the iconic setting for campfires and lakeside gatherings. Our expansive campus allows for large-group games like Counselor Hunt and Capture the Flag. The natural beauty of our setting enhances every outdoor event. Being in nature, away from urban distractions, creates an openness to connection and community that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere.
We schedule at least one major event or themed night per week, plus nightly canteen trips and specialty snacks a few times a week. Evening activity periods occur nearly every night (6:00-9:30 PM), meaning campers experience structured programming or free choice activities most evenings. The frequency ensures there’s something to look forward to while maintaining a sustainable balance.
Most campers participate enthusiastically in group events because they’re designed to be genuinely fun and inclusive. Attendance at major events like Opening Campfire and Closing Campfire is expected as part of the camp community experience. However, for smaller activities during choice periods, campers can select their level of involvement. Counselors gently encourage even reluctant campers to try events—usually they end up having fun!
Our culture of radical acceptance means that performing is about participation and fun, not perfection. Many shy campers gain confidence through the supportive environment. For those who truly don’t want to perform in front of the group, there are always options—joining crew (helping behind the scenes), participating as an audience member and cheering enthusiastically, or finding smaller group activities that feel safer. By mid-summer, many shy campers have gained enough confidence to participate more actively.
Major all-camp events like Opening Campfire and Closing Campfire include everyone. However, we also schedule age-group specific activities that are developmentally appropriate. Younger campers might participate in different themed nights or games than teenage campers. This allows us to create programming that resonates with different developmental levels while maintaining a sense of camp-wide community.
We maintain core traditions that many families return specifically to experience (Opening Campfire, Closing Campfire, specific camp songs, Color War dynamics). However, we also introduce new themed nights, new games, and new entertainment based on staff creativity and camper interests. This balance ensures the experience feels both wonderfully familiar and freshly exciting.
Most events are designed specifically for campers and create the “magic” of being away from parents. Our Visiting Day (mid-session for 4+ week sessions) provides an opportunity for parents to observe some camp traditions and activities. This creates a clear boundary between camp being “theirs” while parents still get a glimpse of what their child is experiencing.
Our counselors are trained to support campers with varying emotional states. A homesick camper might sit quietly at campfire with a counselor’s arm around them rather than singing enthusiastically. That’s completely acceptable. If a camper is ill or genuinely needs rest, they might stay in the cabin with quiet cabin staff or health center supervision. We never force participation when a camper is struggling emotionally or physically.
All evening events, programs, activities, and entertainment are included in tuition. There are no separate charges for attending campfires, themed nights, talent shows, or any other regular programming. View our current pricing and what’s included.
Events are intentionally designed as bonding opportunities. Cabin skits require teamwork and vulnerability. Campfires create moments of shared joy and singing. Group games encourage cheering for each other. Themed nights give campers reasons to dress creatively and express themselves. These shared experiences accelerate friendship formation beyond what happens during individual activity time.
Some homesickness is normal and healthy. However, our event programming strategically addresses homesickness by creating strong community connection, which is the antidote to missing home. When a camper feels deeply connected to their cabin group, their camp friends, and the camp community, homesickness becomes less intense. The supportive, joyful environment of group events actually helps campers adjust to being away from home.
We’ve successfully supported many campers with social anxiety at Camp Lakota. Our counselors work with these campers to find their comfort zone—maybe sitting toward the back of campfire, or participating in smaller group activities before attempting larger group events. The non-judgmental, accepting culture of camp often helps anxious campers gain confidence. Contact our office before camp to discuss your child’s specific needs—we have strategies for supporting different personality types and anxiety levels.
Some instruments can come to camp depending on type and size. Contact our office for specifics, as we need to ensure instruments can be safely stored and that campers have appropriate practice space. Many campers bring guitars or ukuleles and enjoy jam sessions with peers. We love that music is a way campers express themselves at camp!
The truth about sleepaway camp is that it’s impossible to fully capture the magic in descriptions. Campfire singing, cabin skit laughter, the moment a shy camper finds their courage to dance, the bittersweet joy of the Closing Campfire, these experiences must be lived to be understood.
Over our 100+ year history, Camp Lakota has created traditions that continue year after year, generation after generation. Your child has the opportunity to become part of this heritage—to sing songs that their children might sing someday, to make friendships that might last a lifetime, to discover capabilities they didn’t know they possessed.
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