Directors Dress Up!

An Intergalactic Preacher, a Zombie Bride, Elmo and Cookie Monster? Wait, who are these people? It’s Jeff, Sarah, Mandy and Jessi!

Being a Camp Leader

One important mark of leadership for the staff at Rockbrook is their ability to model personal character for the girls at camp. We strive to hire cabin counselors and activity staff members who exemplify good character and thereby can serve as role models for the campers. It means a lot to children to see others they admire make good decisions. It’s just a crucial part of building character— having positive relationships with others who embody exemplary habits and attitudes. When we talk about “leadership” at camp, this is what we mean: being that sort of exemplary person.

But what is exemplary character, how do you recognize it, and how do you encourage its development? We’ve found the approach taken by the Josephson Institute to be extremely articulate and practical. It’s “Six Pillars of Character” is a well thought out resource. Essentially, the “pillars” are fundamental principles and values that serve as a core for ethical decision making. They are: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.  Without appealing to religion, politics or ideology, we strive to realize these six values in our camp community.

There’s a lot of good stuff in all of this, so go learn more.

Is Camp Employment for You?

There are so many things a college student can do in the summer; camp employment is just one option. So why choose to work at a summer camp? Well the most obvious reason is a camp job is way more fun than most other short term jobs. You’re outside a lot, you’re goofing around with kids pretty much all day, and you get to live in a beautiful part of the country. It’s also true that being employed as a camp counselor helps you develop leadership skills, communication and organization skills. As you help the campers grow and learn new activities and personal skills, you do too. Working to make a difference in the lives of children, makes one in your own as well.

But perhaps the best thing about working at a summer camp is joining the tight-knit community of people that makes Rockbrook so special. It’s just so easy to make friends, you end up enjoying everything that much more. Sure, camp is employment and you’ll earn (and save!) some money, but it’s so much more. Rewarding, definitely rewarding, all around.

Spotlight on Jeff

Jeff Carter began his Rockbrook career in the 1980s. Over the years he has served camp in more capacities than most staff members. Hired by previous owner Jerry Stone, Jeff planned and led hiking and climbing trips in his first summers at camp.

During this time he pursued many education opportunities including his degree in comparative religions from Davidson College, where he was also an All-American high jumper on the track team. Then he received his masters degree from Harvard followed by his doctorate at the University of Chicago. He spent a year living in Nigeria on a Fulbright Fellowship completing his studies.

After marrying Sarah (at Rockbrook!) and teaching at Davidson College, he returned to Brevard to help Jerry start the Castle Rock Institute (a college humanities program run at camp). During this time, Jeff continued to work behind the scenes at camp leading trips, keeping us technologically up-to-date, and fixing everything!

While Rockbrook is in session, Jeff continues to be our “Jack of all Trades.” Combining his outdoor knowledge with his goofy sense of humor, he is always up to something new. During the off-season, he works on key staff hiring, website maintenance, health and ACA standards, camp improvements, and the list goes on. Also, when Jeff isn’t busy with camp director duties, he enjoys being outdoors: biking, hiking, and climbing. Typically he brings his two daughters, Eva and Lily, along for an adventure!

Greetings From the Future!

Last week when Jessi and Mandy were in Orlando, they spent a day at the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” (or EPCOT) in the Walt Disney World Resort. We were all down in Florida last week for two different conferences: The Association of Independent Camps and the American Camp Association. These are annual events where camp professionals gather to explore issues relating to camp programs, staffing, health and safety, and youth development research. They are held in different cities each year, so part of the fun is exploring the local sights. Looks like Jessi and Mandy did just that!

Spotlight on Sarah

Sarah Reed Carter is the Director of Rockbrook. She grew up in Winston-Salem, NC and began her Rockbrook career in 1985. Sarah thought it would be fun to be a CIT (Counselor in Training) while her older sister was a cabin counselor. So at 16, she had her first camp experience not realizing what a big part of her life Rockbrook would be years later.

Sarah returned to camp year after year while attending Trinity College in Connecticut and until starting graduate school at Vanderbilt University for her Masters of Education degree. She taught drama, worked as a lifeguard, and served almost every age group as a cabin counselor. Along the way, she met her future husband Jeff, who at the time worked as a hiking and climbing guide for camp. Sarah and Jeff were married at Rockbrook in 1996.

For the next 8 years, Sarah taught elementary school in Nashville, TN, Concord, NC, and Asheville, NC.  After returning to Brevard, she became the director of a local preschool for 2 years before returning to Rockbrook to be a full-time director with Jeff.

While camp is in session, Sarah oversees camp life and communication with parents.  During the off-season, she works on camper recruitment, communication with Rockbrook’s camp families, and child specific issues.  She also loves spending time with Jeff and her two daughters Eva and Lily.

Ellen Hume Jervey

Here we have a photograph taken sometime in the 1960s of Ellen Hume Jervey (in the foreground), fondly remembered at camp as “Jerky.”  A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she was Rockbrook Camp’s Director following Mrs. Carrier, the camp’s founder. For more than 25 years, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, she ran Rockbrook in the summer while she taught at Ashley Hall, a private girls school in Charleston, South Carolina.  One last interesting fact about her… before directing camp, she enlisted and served in the Navy!

P.S. Here’s a photo of her when she attended Rockbrook as a camper.

Nurse Jenny's Getting Married!

It’s official! Nurse Jenny (Jenny Kay Jakubcin) announced her engagement to Nathan Gillard Emerson! As you know, Jenny has been our head Nurse at Rockbrook for 9 years and is loved by everyone at camp. She’s originally from Florida, so she’s planning the wedding down there this coming May. We’re so exceited for her and Nathan. Congratulations Jenny!

2008 Returning Camp Staff

We have an absolutely fantastic camp staff lined up for this summer! It’s a great mix of returning counselors and campers, plus new faces that have heard about Rockbrook. You’ll see Callie, Christine, Elizabeth-Anne, Kelly, Katie, Beth, Elise, Eva, Cadey, Katy, Devon, Whitney, Michelle, Kathleen, Brooke, Lexie, Kasey, Lillian, Cara, Bridget, Lori, Bianca, Jenna and Emily —to name just a few of the old RBC folks. In fact, more than half the overall staff are returning to camp with previous Rockbrook experience! That’s another important way that all those great Rockbrook Camp traditions live on— through an excellent group of counselors.

Need a Summer Job?

What about an outdoor summer job, one that gets you “out of the office,” one that has adventure, keeps you active, and, most days, simply thrilled? Being a summer camp counselor is it! If you really enjoy being outdoors (plus all the excitement of working with kids ) —perhaps you feel antsy being cooped up inside at school— then there really aren’t many other summer jobs like working at camp. Want to learn more about working at Rockbrook? Read more about our outdoor summer jobs.