**REVISED REVIEW** Camp Carysbrook: A Summer To Remember
Written: Jun 30 '01 (Updated Nov 02 '02)
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Pros: Variety of Activities
Personalized Attention
Enthusiastic/Warm Staff
Beautiful, private location
Cons: No computers/TV. However, this is really a "pro" in disguise (smile).
The Bottom Line: Camp Carysbrook's motto is "A Summer to Remember" and I'm greatful to have had 10 memorable summers. It offers a unique experience for a growing girl. Very highly recommended.
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| jeannegrrl's Full Review: Camp Carysbrook |
I spent 10 summers of my life (from age 8 to 18) at Camp Carysbrook. 8 years as a camper and 2 as a counselor. My time spent at Carysbrook has given me some of my most fond and cherished memories.
Carysbrook is for girls from age 6 to 16. It was established in 1923 and is the oldest camp for girls in Virginia, making it very rich in tradition. Carysbrook offers a variety of activities including swimming, synchronized swimming, canoeing, tennis, dance, fencing, drama, archery, horseback riding, riflery, arts & crafts, nature, outdoor living skills, rock climbing, rapelling, hiking and caving. Campers can stay 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks.
When I first started going there (way back in 1981), my father told me I had to stay at least one week (I was signed up to stay the minimum amount - at that time, it was 3 weeks) and if after a week I wanted to come home, he'd come get me. Well the term was coming to a close and I was having such a good time, I called and asked to stay full-term. For the next 9 years, I would be spending summers at Carysbrook.
There is a strong value placed on both the individual and working as a community. In action, this takes place through friendly group competition (there are two teams at Carysbrook, the Green Team and the Awesome, Mighty Brown Team ;-)) and the skills development/personal achievement offered through the myriad of activities.
A typical day looks like this:
7:45 a.m. Reveille
8:10 Flag Raising
8:15 Breakfast
9:00 Cabin Clean-up
9:30-12:00 Activities
12:00 Free Time
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Rest Hour
3:00-5:00 Activities
5:00 Free Time
6:00 Dinner
7:15 Evening Program
~9:30 Taps
The only activities that are required and scheduled are swimming, and horseback riding. Otherwise a camper is free to go to whatever activity she's interested in attending.
Free time is spent, swinging in the hammocks, reading books, playing tetherball, writing home, planning for evening program, snoozing....
One neat way a parent is assured of getting letters from their daughter is through the "Ice-Cream Letter" - a wonderful piece of bribery. Every Saturday's lunch features ice-cream for dessert. If a camper wants ice-cream, she has to write home. Now admittedly, when I was younger, these letters looked something like: "Dear Dad, This is my ice-cream letter. I have to write it so I can have ice-cream. I'm having fun. Love, Jeanne" but they got more detailed as I got older! LOL
Also, a parent gets a weekly postcard from their daughter's cabin counselor(s) giving them a little more information about their daughter's activities. When I was a counselor, I would let parents know when their daughter got an award, or achieved a new level at an activity, or in general what she enjoyed doing at camp. I was told by my girl's parents that they really appreciated this weekly note letting them know how their kids are doing.
When I went to camp, parents could come up and visit whenever they wanted, as long as they made arrangements ahead of time with the Camp Director, but it became tough to manage. So today, I believe there are two visitor days for friends and family to spend the day at camp with their daughters.
It's difficult to articulate what makes this place so special to me and many other girls who've been campers there. I think the director Toni Baughman said it well: "There is a place at Carysbrook for all girls - bold, shy, athletic, artistic, musical and those who can't carry a tune. Camp Carysbrook encourages campers to believe and trust in themselves and discover their unique abilities."
Special note:
Carysbrook also accomodates girls with special dietary needs(e.g. vegetarian) and certain physical disabilities (though it is not wheelchair friendly)
Tip for the frugally minded
After my Dad realized he had a "hit" with Carysbrook, he realized it would be a good idea to get whatever financial aid he could since summer camps are not cheap. SO he signed me up for the "campship" program (think scholarship) which offered a 15% discount on tuition. In exchange, I set tables before meals. This took about a half hour before each meal and did not at all take away from my enjoyment of camp (although if you had asked me at the time, I would have much rather been in my cabin reading or swinging in the hammocks :-))
There is an additional fee for the riding program so depending on the length of a camper's stay, it will cost anywhere from an additional $150-$500 if she is signed up for riding. While I loved riding, I think I would have enjoyed camp just as much without it.
Finally I believe there is a small discount for early registration, and multiple registrations (e.g. sisters). This can be double-checked by contacting the Director at tmoose@aol.com.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2000
Type of Camp: Outdoor
Best Suited For: 13 to 17 years
Camper to Counselor Ratio: Fine mix of campers and counselors
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Epinions.com ID:
jeannegrrl
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Location: Baltimore Area
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Mom to Jacob 7/7/2002, Mali 3/22/2005, Alexander 1/11/2006, and Sarah 11/6/2007. At-home Web Developer/Database Programmer.
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