If you’ve been to camp, you’re not surprised when you hear about the benefits of summer camp. Experiencing life at camp yourself as a child, you know the profound positive effects that still matter to you as an adult, and you also know that you want the same thing for your own kids. But if […]
Let’s not forget whitewater rafting, probably the most popular adventure activity with the teen girls who attend Rockbrook. Everyone who attends our camps, and who have finished the fifth grade or higher, can go on a whitewater adventure trip to the Nantahala river. As you can see in this photo, it’s a very fun river […]
I spotted an article discussing how parents can understand why residential summer camps are worth their cost. It’s true; sleepaway camps are usually expensive and can cost between $1000 and $2000 per week. And while it’s also true every summer activity (e.g., other educational opportunities, extracurricular activities, family vacations, trips, and entertainment) costs something significant, […]
No matter what set of activities you sign up for at camp, there are two times each day when the lake is open for “free swim.” These are right before lunch and right before dinner. It’s up to you how you spend this free time, but it feels really great to jump in the lake […]
It just wouldn’t be camp without making a lanyard. That flat colorful cord, twisted and tied, seems to be a part of every girl’s summer arts and crafts. Even camp alumni speak fondly of learning to make decorative lanyards. There are lots of patterns to tie also. Have you seen these four? That first pattern […]
Looking over the listing of girls attending Rockbrook, this summer and in the past, it’s interesting to see how many campers are from South Carolina. It’s not too surprising if you realize a couple of things about RBC. First of all, camp is located only about 8 miles from the South Carolina border. You have […]
Spotted a nice article about summer camp in the American Way Magazine. It’s called “Summer, Unplugged.” The author, Winston Ross, interviews several camp directors and camp kids to find out what’s so attractive about being at camp. There’s a lot of good stuff to read, so you should go check it out. One thing that […]
Why do kids love horses so much? Certainly they enjoy the fun of riding. They like the freedom of being up high, the challenges of learning how to work with such a large powerful animal, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from perfecting different gaits. It’s easy to understand how being able to ride […]
Today the word of the day is neoteny. It’s really a term from evolutionary biology, but it describes the retention of childlike attributes in adults. You might think of a grown up who has a “baby face,” or is generally “cute.” When you are talking about these kinds of physical features, we tend to think […]
The American Camp Association, the national accrediting organization for summer camps (including RBC!) and camp professionals is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. It was back in 1910 that it was founded under the original name of the “Camp Directors Association of America.” As part of their celebration, the ACA has published a nice collection of […]
Head on over to the Chicago Tribune web site and read a fantastic article by Josh Noel entitled: Making a case for camp: This summer institution is old-fashioned — and as relevant as ever. Describing a camp in Michigan, the article reminds us of why camp is so important to kids. As we’ve mentioned before, […]
You’ve probably heard that “balance” is one of the most important skills to have for rock climbing. It’s true; a lot of the technique involves balancing on your feet, and usually one foot, as you move up the rock. But it’s not only that simple. It’s also important to learn how to hold yourself still, […]
My daughter’s experience at camp was so positive that she actually expressed appreciation to me and her grandparents for sending her to camp, and that’s a welcome change.
Mandy had another fantastic Rockbrook summer camp party in Virginia recently. She was in Charlottesville, VA on her way home from Washington DC. The Zenkers hosted the party, and as you can see, had a nice turn out of campers and new families interested in camp. It’s an easy drive from Charlottesville, Virginia (about 6 […]
Parents often ask whether Rockbrook provides programs for certain aged children, whether it be really young ones, middle school aged kids, teenagers or girls of a certain year in school. It can be a little confusing so we thought a summary of our summer camp’s age categories and overall school year range would be helpful. […]
