Overview
Our motto is “Always in pursuit of adventure.” Every boy craves adventure. To explore uncharted territory, to test our limits–it’s what we’re made for. The Dangerous Camp for Boys provides Middle Schoolers the opportunity to learn new skills and develop their potential to shape the world around them through daily adventures.
Why “Dangerous”?
The Dangerous Camp for Boys was developed from “The Dangerous Book for Boys”, an international best-selling primer on the skills that every boy should know. After your son experiences The Dangerous Camp, he will have learned a battery of skills that he will use into adulthood.
Skills include:
- Knot-Tying
- Boating
- Land Navigation
- Archery
- Fire Building
- First Aid
- Tin Smithing
- Fishing
Field Exercises & Other Details
To facilitate the building of friendships and the development of leadership abilities, campers are divided into six “Companies”, each of which competes in different sports, teamwork challenges, and field exercises throughout the course of the camp. Field exercises include:
- Nerf Wars
- Capture the flag
- Treasure hunts
- Strategic water balloon battles
Stories of Great Adventure
To inspire campers to pursue their own adventures in life, each Company will hear stories of the “Dangerous Men of History”, or heroes who have dared to strive for greatness and made positive impacts in the world. Dangerous Men of History include Charles Lindbergh, Robin Hood, Desmond Doss, and many others.
Camp Counselors
Northridge Summer camp counselors frequently develop friendships with campers that last from year to year. The team consists of Northridge High School and Alumni college students. Counselors serve as leaders within each of the camp’s “Companies,” and are engaged in each activity of the camp. They are handpicked for their strong characters, fun & cheerful demeanor, and ability to be role models for campers.
Dangerous Camp FAQs
Are all sessions of Dangerous Camp the same?
The activities for each session will mostly be the same, but feel free to sign up for multiple weeks! There is tremendous variety in the day-to-day activities, so we have had boys in the past come for multiple weeks and love every minute of it!
What’s the schedule of an average day of Dangerous Camp? Where does the camp take place?
Camp drop-off begins at 8:30 AM at Northridge and extends to 9:00 AM. Shortly thereafter, buses will take campers to Big Bend Lake Park in Des Plaines, where they will engage in sports, field exercises, and teamwork challenges. The buses will return to school around 2:45 PM, and parents may pick their campers up from 3:00 to 3:30 PM.
What should my son wear to camp?
Campers should dress in comfortable, warm-weather athletic attire and bring a bag lunch and drink from home.
What does my son need to bring with him to camp?
As we will be outdoors for much of the camp, campers should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray!
Do Dangerous Camp t-shirts cost extra?
The price is included in the camp fee. Each camper will receive a Dangerous Camp t-shirt upon the camp’s conclusion.
Camp Leadership
- About:
Mr. Mike Stangel, High School Math Department
Mike teaches precalculus and physics at the high school level and Algebra I to all middle school students. With a background in engineering and an emphasis on critical thinking, he challenges students to think outside the box while using fundamental rules and principles in approaching problems. Teaching at both the high school and middle school levels has given Mike insight into approaching complex topics in an easy to understand manner. You can contact Mike Stangel at mstangel@northridgeprep.org.
Camp is now sold out. Click "Register Now" below to reserve your son's spot on the camp's waitlist. Questions? See the FAQ page here.
Camp fee: $475
Session 1: July 7 - July 11
Session 2: July 14 - July 18
Session 3: July 21 - July 25
Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Entering Grades: 4, 5, 6
Enrollment cap:
Camp location: Northridge and Big Bend Lake