The Madden Open Hearts Camp eight-week camp season is divided into four age specific camp sessions.

The Madden Open Hearts Camp has a structured program, involving campers in up to five activities each day. The program blends instruction in sports, recreation, arts and environmental activities. There are two rest periods built into the day, and a daily evening activity.

Programmed activities at the Madden Open Hearts Camp include:

• Instructional 'non-contact' sports and athletic challenges
  swimming/soccer/volleyball/relay races/basketball/capture the flag
• Arts / crafts / drama / music
  visual arts/theatre/talent and variety shows/trips to cultural events in the area
• Outdoor education
  low ropes challenge course, hiking, camp crafts, environmental awareness
• Recreational play
  frisbee/ping pong/bowling/fun tournaments/cooperative group games/miniature golf

The program is flexible and designed to accommodate a wide range of children's interests and skills. There are many opportunities for children to choose their favorite activities, as well as plenty of opportunities for staff to encourage children to try something new.

The facility at the Madden Open Hearts Camp is well maintained in accordance with Massachusetts safety codes. Separate boys' and girls' dorms are spacious, have plenty of natural light and are equipped with bathrooms and showers. Campers eat all meals in the dining room, located in the main house (the old Madden home), which is well ventilated, and comfortably accommodates all campers and counselors in one sitting. On-site programmed activities take place at various locations around the camp property, such as the recreation room, the swimming pool, the low ropes course, the sports playing field and the campfire circle The camp infirmary is located in the main house, close to both the boys' and girls' dorms and to the main centers of daily activity.

The Madden Open Hearts Camp facility is also equipped to cater to the special needs of children who are sensitive to hot or cold weather temperatures. The swimming pool is heated and is kept as warm, or as cool, as is necessary to make swimming a safe and enjoyable activity for all campers. If the weather becomes particularly hot, campers can comfortably enjoy a variety of programmed activities in any of the camp's air conditioned spaces.

Outdoor Focus

The Madden Open Hearts Camp includes an outdoor focus to its program. The fresh country air and beautiful scenery in the Berkshires provides the perfect opportunity to get a little closer to nature and enjoy activities in a serene environment. Majestic hikes, challenges on our wooded low ropes challenge course, and camp activities performed outside whenever the weather allows provides a great escape for children who don't always have the chance to experience the great outdoors.

• The low ropes challenge course at the Madden Open Hearts Camp consists of 8 different elements of cables attached to trees or poles, very low to the ground. The purpose of such courses is for participants to safely work together as a team to figure out solutions for how to get all team members from one side of each element to the other. Although participants experience some sense of 'risk-taking' during these activities, they are physically safe and secure at all times. The magic of such courses is that participants have to work together, trust and support each other to be successful. Experience with such activities, including at other heart camps, has shown that they can boost participants' confidence and sense of self. Working together, learning to trust and to support is what camp is all about. The low ropes/initiative course has been a terrific addition to the Madden Open Hearts Camp.

Along with the new outdoor focus, The Madden Open Hearts Camp has expanded the program space and offerings in the arts. In 2002 the old milk shed was converted into a theatre space, and in 2003, a new, bigger and brighter arts & crafts space was another addition. The arts program has been expanded by adding drama activities, increasing additional opportunities in arts and crafts, and hiring staff who have experience in the arts.

HEALTH, SAFETY & NUTRITION
The Madden Open Hearts Camp's favorable staff-camper ratio reflects our utmost concern for safety. A fulltime registered nurse is on site at all times, dispenses all medications, and is available to provide any necessary medical care for campers 24 hrs a day. In recent years we have been fortunate to recruit nurses from schools and hospitals in our region and beyond, all of whom are well versed in pediatric care.

The camp has a special relationship with local pediatric doctors, at Macony Pediatric in Great Barrington. Two hospitals that provide excellent medical care are nearby.

The Madden Open Hearts Camp also places emphasis on healthy eating. The menus strike a balance between nutrition and kid-friendly camp food favorites. Our 2010 dining hall was a lively and enjoyable place to be at mealtimes. This was in great part due to a menu loaded with variety and using only high quality ingredients. Snacks are provided at several different points throughout the day, and water and beverages are continuously flowing given the importance of keeping well hydrated for our cardiac campers.