Through the Eyes of a Child

This past summer, at our spirit fire, a beloved Hi-Up counselor delivered a beautiful speech. The message was summed up as this,”You ladies may wonder if Rockbrook is changing, but girls, I can assure you, it is you who is actually changing.” Returning to the place of our girlhood dreams summer after summer with an ever-evolving eye may suggest a transformation of place. The brush may grow thicker and directors come and go, but the spirit of camp remains constant. Just as Rockbrook changes lives, life changes Rockbrook.

The Place of Our Girlhood Dreams

Camping in the Mountains

Check out this great page from a 1941 Rockbrook Catalog.  Campers had the opportunity to go on lots of different adventures including overnight camping trips.  Camping trips now follow the principles of Leave No Trace, but back in the 1940′s you can see that the camp outs were quite elaborate.  Don’t you know those S’mores tasted delicious?!

Rockbrook Catalog Excerpt, 1941

Register now for the Rockbrook Reunion

Legacy group, Reunion 2009

Calling all Rockbrook Alumnae… It’s time for Rockbrook’s 90th Anniversary Reunion! Join us the weekend of August 26-28, 2011 for a celebration of 90 summers.  Dust off those camp uniforms and start planning to return to the land of your girlhood dreams for a fabulous weekend.

Online registration materials are now available at the Alumnae Reunion section of our website.  Register now as spaces are limited.

Horseback Riding History at Camp

Since the founding of Rockbrook in 1921, Horseback Riding has been a perennial favorite  for many of our campers.  Our program is based on the forward seat style of riding and we have always had horses and instructors to work with all skill levels.  In a Rockbrook catalog from 1926 the Horseback Riding program is a featured activity.  Here is an excerpt:

“A string of well broken horses affords every girl an opportunity to enjoy this wholesome sport.  In an enclosed field each camper is instructed by experts in the arts of horsemanship.  She is taught how to bridle, saddle and mount a horse; how to care for it on trip; how to feed and groom her mount as well as how to ride gracefully and securely.”

Here is another featured comment of the 1926 catalog:

“The horse show of Event Week attracts spectators from the neighboring country and cities and Rockbrook has been referred to as “The Camp where the girls are taught to ride so well.”

Riding the jump course at the Rockbrook Horse Show, 1971

Rockbrook Horse Show, 1971

So as you can see from the 1920′s or 1970′s up to today, our riding program continues to offer girls a wonderful place to learn the skills and joys of horseback riding.  If you have any great horseback riding stories from your time at camp we would love to hear from you.  We would love to know more about some of the overnight trail rides and any of your favorite horses.  Some of the horses we often hear stories about are Sambo, Peaches, April, Be Good and Druid.  Please help us add to our horseback riding archive!

Visit our website to learn more about our current horseback riding program.

Rockbrook Reunion 2011

Calling all Rockbrook Alumnae… Mark your calendar and SAVE THE DATE for our upcoming Alumnae Reunion!

Rockbrook Alumnae Reunion 2009

Join us for the weekend of August 26-August 28, 2011 for a fabulous weekend filled with friends, activities, singing and stories.  Registration materials and a reunion schedule will be posted soon on our website! In the meantime, spread the word and save the date!

Rockbrook Party in Charlottesville, VA

Sarah, McKenzie, Mercer and Mandy enjoy a visit in VA

During the fall and winter we travel around the country sharing Rockbrook with potential campers, current campers and their families.  We always love it when Rockbrook Alumnae are able to join us at the parties and share their camp memories and stories.

Just a few weeks ago we had a great show in Charlottesville, VA and were thrilled to be joined by McKenzie Harper Inigo and Mercer Reeves.  McKenzie and Mercer were both campers and counselors for many years.  Mandy and Sarah enjoyed getting to catch up with both of them! Those Rockbrook friendships sure are special no matter how many years it has been since you were at camp together!

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

The Biltmore Train, Summer 1968

One of our favorite and long standing Rockbrook traditions is the special treat known as “The Biltmore Train.”  It is an all you can eat ice cream extravaganza that has been happening at Rockbrook for many years.  It is a Rockbrook  “Surprise” and is announced with a special “choo choo” train song and skit.  When the tradition started the actual Bitmore Dairy Truck would drive up to camp and serve the ice cream (as seen in the photo above).  The Biltmore Dairy is no longer in business but we sure still enjoy it’s namesake activity.  “Biltmore, Biltmore” can often be heard being chanted around camp as the campers hope for the surprise ice cream day to arrive.

See the Rockbrook History Movie

See the new Rockbrook History movie that was filmed at camp last summer.  It is a wonderful glimpse into the traditions and history of RBC. A special thanks goes out to alumna Joy Sloan from Columbus, GA,  who shared with us a film that her family had in their archives.  Joy is a third generation Rockbrook girl and her daughter Shannon enjoyed her first summer at camp in 2010. Part of their footage included some amazing shots of Rockbrook  in 1926.

While you are on our website also take a moment to view the new camp video.  Watching these movies sure gets us excited for summer 2011!