Girls Camps

One of the best places to sit at camp is on the dining hall porch. The red rocking chairs on one side are arranged to take in the whole view, there’s usually a little breeze moving through, and enough people wander past that a conversation is never far away. That’s where I found two of our Hi-Ups this morning, just after muffin break, enjoying a pocket of free time. One is spending her ninth summer at Rockbrook, the other her tenth. One was sitting with a book, the other was knotting a friendship bracelet tied to her water bottle. I sat down in the chair beside them and asked a question I already knew the answer to, but I wanted to hear how they would put it. I asked, “What is RBA?”

They had a lot to say.

If you spend even a day at Rockbrook, you’ll hear it. A counselor gathering her cabin for a skit rehearsal might say, “let’s keep it RBA.” A camper weighing a joke might pause and admit, “that sounds a little RBI.” RBA stands for “Rockbrook Appropriate,” and its opposite, RBI, for “Rockbrook Inappropriate.” Nobody seems to know who coined the terms, and you won’t find them well defined in any handbook. Yet everyone here understands them, and they carry real weight. Three letters, invoked on the fly, and a whole shared ethic snaps into focus.

The first Hi-Up put it this way: “RBA is all about community. It’s anything that keeps our community together.” Her friend looked up from her bracelet and added the definition that seems both spot-on and insightful: “RBI is something that happens out in the real world. RBI is a lot more selfish, while RBA takes into account other people all the time. The difference is in how we treat each other.”

I love these responses! These two sixteen-year-old girls, with nearly a decade of Rockbrook experience, were drawing the boundary of camp along a moral line. Out there, in their experience, selfishness is the default setting, the thing you can expect. Most people in the “real” world are positioning themselves, in their heads comparing themselves to others, likely taking the last cookie. In here, at camp by contrast, what’s normal is first considering other people, being supportive, offering to share the last cookie. They drew this contrast the way you’d state a fact about the weather. Obvious if you’re there experiencing it. They have lived in both places long enough to notice the difference.

This is why I think the notion of “RBA” has stuck at Rockbrook. It condenses everything we hope camp will be… the kindness, the caring, the generosity, the habit of noticing how your choices affect the people around you… into a three-letter shorthand quick enough to use in the middle of ordinary life. It gives girls a ready way to recognize the culture they are helping create and to protect it when something begins to pull in another direction. Instead of a complicated set of rules listing what is not allowed, a joke, a prank, or a comment made to a cabin mate can be measured by one familiar question: Is this RBA?

The girls told me one more thing worth passing along. “Sometimes people slip up and might say something that is RBI, like making a mean comment,” one of them said, “but everyone here, counselors and even campers, is quick to shut it down and remind people that we’re at camp.” We’re at camp. I love that the correction they described comes from everywhere at once, from campers as readily as from staff, and that it arrives as a reminder rather than a punishment. Everyone here has a hand in caring for the culture at Rockbrook. Slip-ups still happen, of course, because camp is full of real children exploring the complexities of the world. The difference is what happens next. Someone leans in, gently, and the community rights itself. RBA shows the direction to steer.

Their free period ended the way free periods do here, with the bell echoing from up in the tree. Both girls gathered their things without hurry, the book closed around a scrap of paper, the bracelet left for later. They thanked me for the conversation and headed off toward whatever came next. The rocking chairs kept moving a little while after they left, and I sat there thinking that I had asked a question I already knew the answer to, and just as I expected, they had answered it better than I could have.

The campfire caught slowly, and as we all gathered on Vesper Rock in our red and white camp uniforms, the way Rockbrook girls have for more than a hundred years, the woods around us grew darker, from green, to grey, to black, with nothing but firelight left. Sitting on rough log benches, cabin mates tucked tightly together, we began with singing. Soon we were arm in arm, swaying a bit, listening to campers and staff talk about their time at camp. Like so many things over these last few weeks, we were there together and that’s all that seemed to matter. And it occurred to me, hearing the speeches and seeing the emotion of it all, that what we were really doing at this Spirit Fire was recognizing a kind of love.

It’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t lived it, but something special grows in us after three weeks of being at Rockbrook. I’ve called it closeness before, and that’s certainly true, but it’s more than that. The campers themselves call it love, and by that they mean a deep, special friendship. It’s an affection between people who delight in each other’s company and want good things for one another. When a camper tells her cabinmate she loves her, she means it. She means “I like being with you, you matter to me, I feel safe and happy when we’re doing things at camp together.”

One of our CITs named Audrey stood up by the fire tonight and put it like this. She told us that her friends back home always ask why she would willingly spend three weeks without her phone, and that she never quite knew how to answer until now. “I came first for the activities,” she said, but “I came back to be with the people.” She described arriving worried on the first day, not sure the campers would like her, but soon was proven wrong. As she got to know the girls, they gave her silly nicknames and, in her words, taught her more than she could ever have taught them. “Even though I’m leaving tomorrow,” she said, “the one thing that I’ll never leave behind is my love for the people here.”

You don’t say a thing like that unless it comes from somewhere deep and true. And what makes it true is exactly what camp provides: the rare conditions that allow genuine connection to grow… extended time together, repeated kindness, relaxed laughter, and a stack of shared memories tall enough to lean on. Give children that much time, trust, and freedom in one another’s company, and affection becomes almost inevitable. Of course they love each other. We’ve watched it blossom all session.

I find myself enormously grateful, grateful in so many ways. To the campers who gave themselves so fully to it. To a staff of young people like Audrey who showed up, enthusiastically, caring from the start. And to you, the parents, who trusted us with your daughters and made all of it possible. We don’t take that trust lightly.

Now that the trunks are packed and the cabins are quiet, what I want most to stay with these camp girls is the discovery that this kind of friendship love is real and theirs to make. They experienced it here, but that same openheartedness can be planted other places too. Start with kindness and trust will follow. The more you care, the deeper you’ll connect. Rockbrook has proven… they can do it.

As the fire burned down and we stood around the lake singing the last of the songs, we all walked back up the hill in the dark by candlelight. There is always something a little aching about that walk. But I think it’s just the love turned around to face the leaving. It’s just part of the experience and I wouldn’t trade it. It’s the people that’ll bring us back.

We were chatting the other day in the red rockers on the dining hall porch, a CIT and I, about how camp opens up a space for girls to try new things, and not only to try them, but to lean in to things that otherwise seem a little scary. New encounters and experiences that might feel uncomfortable, beyond what they think they can do, or even just plain “awkward.” Between us we could think of countless examples: girls who, despite being wary of something new, despite worrying they might not be “good” at it, despite all the uncertainty, find themselves meeting a challenge and surprising themselves in the process.

We decided that camp girls know how to lean in. Or better, that camp life teaches girls they can lean in. And better still, that being at camp proves something to all of us— that leaning in to an experience, rather than shrinking away from it, is rewarding, enriching, and fun. In fact, we thought, maybe having fun requires us to lean in. If fun means fully embracing the moment, immersing yourself in the game, the conversation, the feeling of it all, then guarding yourself against it is clearly un-fun. That’s why a sure way to ruin an experience is to stand outside it, distracted by thoughts of what might happen, or what “people might think,” or even what it all might “mean.”

Instead, at camp we sing as loud as we can no matter how it sounds. We put on silly costumes and dance wildly. We paint and weave even though we’re certain we’re not artistic. We climb onto a horse having never touched one before. We flip our kayaks upside down and learn to “wet exit” without panicking. We meet all sorts of new people, try strange new foods (Gumbo!), and take care of a hundred small things without our parents there to smooth out the bumps in the road.

Eventually we landed on a neat little phrase: “If you’re not leaning in, you’re not doing anything.” Hold back, and you’re certainly not getting all you can from an experience— you’re watering it down, skimming the surface, settling for a weak sample of something that could be wonderfully more full. To truly get it, to feel its impact, you have to go beyond what you already know. You have to venture out, to lean in to whatever lies past the edge of your “comfort zone.” And once you drop that “boulder from your shoulder,” you just might find— as Bruce reminded us long ago— that “that’s where the fun is.”

I should add that leaning in is not the same as jumping in. Jumping in throws all caution to the wind; leaning in understands potential risks and takes them into account. It isn’t reckless; it’s prepared and measured. That’s exactly why our adventure activities, like climbing the Alpine tower, depend for their thrill (and their fun) on specialized safety equipment and careful training. To climb without a solid belay would be terrifying, not fun. We should always consider risks and manage them as best we can. But since we can never fully erase the chance that something will feel awkward, or end in embarrassment or even failure, learning to lean in despite the uncertainty turns out to be essential to doing much of anything at all.

Fortunately, no camp girl has to find that courage by herself. Rockbrook is built to help everyone lean in— to notice the camper who’s shrinking back from something new, and to stand beside her until she’s ready to try. So much here is unfamiliar, and that’s just the point: a place where nearly everything is new is a place where leaning in becomes the ordinary thing to do. What makes that possible is the culture of kindness and non-judgment underneath it all, the quiet assurance that nobody is keeping score of who looked silly at dinner, struggled climbing the Alpine tower, or sang off-key at the campfire. Cheered on like that, a girl tends to discover she is stronger than she thinks, more capable than she knows, and braver every day. In ways large and small, Rockbrook en-courages courage.

One more thing I’ve been meaning to pass along: back in March, Rockbrook was selected by Cliffs Living Magazine as a featured camp in their article “Camp Summer.” The piece celebrates how, for more than a hundred years, the camps in this corner of North Carolina have prized “exploration, independence, and time outdoors.” It’s true— there really is a “formative power of place” that summer camps enjoy, and Rockbrook is a wonderful example of it.

We might call it a “regular” day around here, but for the girls who just arrived, today’s first full day of Rockbrook activities was anything but ordinary. Today was the first day to jump feet first into camp life and all that it offers. And compared with life at home, this meant jumping into all sorts of new experiences.

New places to wake up— in a rustic wooden cabin, cooled by mountain air, and filled with the sounds of forest birds and drowsy cabinmates stirring. New things to eat— the warm bowl of secret-recipe oatmeal with fresh berries, nuts, granola and brown sugar for breakfast, and the surprise mid-morning snack, a freshly baked cookies and cream muffin. New creatures to find on your walk down to the lake, like the tiny ring-neck snake dashing off to hide under some leaves. New smells— the earthy leather saddles on horses, the smoky campfire ready for marshmallows, and fresh mint growing in the garden. And so many points of natural beauty all around us— the bright granite face of Castle Rock high above camp, the sparkling creek tumbling behind the weaving cabin, the massive trees, delicate ferns, and blooming wildflowers popping up, just to name a few. Camp life is new and wonderful.

It’s also packed with action, with nearly 30 different activity options. After making their selections, every corner of camp seemed to hum with the energy of girls flipping in gymnastics, climbing the alpine tower, and zipping through the trees on the zipline. They were smacking tennis balls, bouncing basketballs, and swinging tetherballs. They were swimming and paddling kayaks in the lake. They were weaving on looms and stringing colorful beads onto necklaces. They were shooting arrows and aiming rifles. They were painting, gluing, and collaging paper, exploring what they might make with simple materials. They were hugging horses and chickens, jumping off the diving board and gliding down the waterslide during the free swim period. At other times, they were simply relaxing and soaking it all in.

Most remarkable, and wonderful, is all the laughter of the day. Being surrounded by all these new experiences and activities, and being joined by so many easy friends, we can’t help but laugh and smile. We’re chatting all the time, telling stories, and whooping at every success (nice cartwheel!). We’re enthusiastic about wearing a costume whether it’s diamonds or denim. When kindness sets the tone— and it does at Rockbrook —it’s easy to be silly and find yourself having fun in the moment, laughing and singing, clapping along to whatever the group is doing. Meals in the dining hall are a daily example of this with hilarious cheers, dance numbers, and songs with hand motions. Yes, we’re eating, but it’s also a party, three times a day.

By the end of the day, camp life is already feeling good, less new and more familiar. The girls seem to understand better that this place is different. It’s beautiful and relaxing, thrilling and silly, playful and friendly, here for them to explore.

It’s very different from home. But that’s entirely the point.

As we launched into our first full day of activities at camp, it’s marvelous already. Literally, there are marvels everywhere. Girls are dancing and laughing, already singing as loud as they can, cheering with abandon. They’re stomping and skipping all over these Rockbrook hills making their way between shooting archery and rolling slabs of clay. They’re down at the barn tacking up horses and over at the Alpine tower climbing on belay. They’re swimming in the lake and playing in the sun. Looms are clicking and ukulele strings are being strummed. It’s astonishing how over there tennis balls zoom over the net, while over here girls zoom through the trees on the zipline.

With so many activities all happening simultaneously, it’s not surprising a typical day at Rockbrook is busy in this way. Everybody is involved. Everyone is switching gears between sports and the arts, between adventure and a surprise encounter with a friend. You might find it surprising, however, just how effortlessly your girls are taking to all this camp action.

It’s only the first day of camp, and they’re showing a natural openness to the challenges of new activities. It might be aiming her target rifle, or steering her tandem canoe, or cutting a piece of wood accurately. It might be mustering the nerve to join a square dancing line, or to “wet exit” after flipping upside down in a kayak. They’re not shrinking away from any of this, not giving in to perhaps little doubts or worries. No, instead they’re feeling the pull of supportive, caring friends, and giving everything a go. Along with simply being away from home, these girls are proving they’re strong.

I think that’s one of the best lessons kids learn while at camp. Around here success follows challenges, realizing “I did it!” follows “I’m not sure I can.” Let’s put it this way… Camp proves for kids, “You’re stronger than you think.” The result of realizing this strength is greater confidence and courage, both qualities we all hope kids can embody as they grow. Another way to say it is “camp is empowering.” It’s the perfect recipe for a young person, nowadays more than ever as uncertainties and worries seem all too common.

I’m sure you can tell from the photo gallery, but let me reassure you. Your girls are doing great. Truly marvelous.

I hope you’ve had a chance to scroll through today’s photo galleries because the photos do a great job of capturing just how much goes on in a single day at Rockbrook. There are about 950 photos total, and that might seem overwhelming, but every area of camp was filled with activity today and there was a lot to see!

Take a look and you’ll find girls riding the zipline and riding horses, shooting arrows and shooting rifles, hitting tennis balls and tetherballs, weaving baskets and friendship bracelets. Girls were swimming in the lake and climbing the Alpine Tower. They were cutting wood, shaping clay and twisting yarns. Girls were doing cartwheels in the gymnastics area, dancing in one lodge, and doing yoga in another. Everywhere in camp groups of girls were enjoying something different.

The Social Magic of Camp

It’s neat to see all this action at camp, but there’s something else happening too. The girls are constantly socializing while they are busy with these activities. They’re chatting and laughing, telling stories and asking questions. While their fingers are working a loom or rolling out a slab of moist clay, they’re finding it easy to just hang out and talk. Simply being together like this and enjoying each other’s company is a huge part of camp life.

Rockbrook’s open and caring spirit, our values of kindness and acceptance (no judgment), and our philosophy rooted in exploration and play make this simple and natural. In this kind of positive environment where there’s no real pressure to be a certain way, where everyone is supported and valued right from the start, the girls seem to know instinctively that they can relax and feel less self-conscious. Of course, this is also why it’s so easy to make friends at camp. When you’re not afraid to be yourself, and you’re sharing so much real world experience with others who are also being genuine like that, it’s no wonder that campers feel connected, both to each other and to camp.

A friend of mine, a former teacher, who was visiting camp put it this way. He was amazed that at camp there seemed to be “no awkwardness.” He didn’t see what he thought was common among young people, that uneasy feeling of social uncertainty (especially around newly met people). Instead of shrinking away, these Rockbrook campers were easily leaning into social situations, which as we saw, is everywhere at camp. Instead of worrying about being included, campers were enthusiastically joining activities, confidently trying new things and enjoying the process more than any sort of measured result. It’s really a remarkable difference from the social anxiety that’s more common in school and online environments.

Why Kids Need This Kind of Experience

I believe kids need this kind of experience. They need to prove to themselves that they are stronger than they think, that being who they really are offers much more reward, and that being kind helps every relationship. Camp, I’m happy to say, helps prove exactly this everyday. It’s also super fun, and your girls love it, but it makes a big difference too.

If you think about it, one of the core aspects of coming to an overnight camp is all the newness. New experiences fill every camper’s days. They’re sleeping in 100-year-old rustic wooden cabins with eight or more people. They’re walking down the path at night with a flashlight to visit the restroom. Instead of air-conditioning, they’re feeling the cool night air and hearing crickets and frogs as they drift off to sleep. They’re trying new foods, meeting new people, hearing new stories, and of course, trying all kinds of new activities. Each of those activities provides a new experience, like shooting a real gun or bow and arrow, or riding a living, breathing creature in horseback riding, or zooming down a 50-foot waterslide, for example. It’s one new thing after another at camp. The list could go on and on.

Active Novelty vs. Passive Exposure

At home young people experience new things too— subjects in school, for example —but all too often this novelty is more passive than active. Like watching something on a screen, or glimpsing things out the window when on vacation, what’s new often passes by without really engaging. At camp, the girls actively live this regular novelty. Being away from the familiarity of home and spending the night away from parents, this kind of engaging newness is inevitable. We might say “habits at home and novelty at camp.”

The Power of Making Your Own Decisions

A clear example of how actively engaged in new things camp girls find themselves is all the decisions they make on their own. Without the prescription, intervention, and instruction that flows freely from mom and dad, kids are automatically considering options, looking to friends for advice, and deciding for themselves how best to proceed. It can be about personal hygiene (shower in the morning of before bed?), about what to wear (do I need another layer this morning?), or whether to sign up for a canoeing trip, for example. When away from parents, girls naturally figure a lot of things out for themselves. They’re empowered to fill their own free time, meander however it suits them, and consider their own solutions to problems. Of course, camp is filled with helpful counselors and other adults to guide this new freedom, but we also know that giving girls the opportunity to decide things on their own plays a crucial role in developing valuable confidence later in life.

Belonging Enables Authentic Self-Expression

Another new experience that arises at camp is the feeling of belonging and support that permeates a close-knit community like Rockbrook. Unlike the competitive atmosphere of school and the inherent judgment and common insecurities it breeds, camp is defined by compassion, kindness and generosity. Instead of being left out, at camp girls are included. Instead of feeling criticized, girls here are respected and affirmed. At camp, nobody cares if you’re “good” at a particular activity or even notices if your hair is messed up. In this kind of trusting and supportive community, girls are empowered to let their true personality, spirit and character shine through. More confidently, they can express their true self in surprisingly new ways. They’ll tell you; “At camp I can be the real me.” That kind of newness feels really good.

Earlier in the summer, I wrote about how camp is educational in the best sense of the word. This makes good sense if camp is also a life filled with new experiences. We might say it’s this engaging active newness that gives camp its educational power. It’s a place for girls to grow because it provides these kinds of new experiences that are hard to replicate elsewhere.

Put this all together and you can see how camp is incredibly special and valuable for these Rockbrook girls. It all wraps together into something new, something educational, and something definitely fun. The resulting friendship and joy make it truly marvelous.

A strawberry, two clouds, a concerned citizen and a newscaster are all racing around in the Mountainside Lodge at Rockbrook. They stop twirling long enough to host a pretend newscast about the weather, which seems to involve strawberries falling from the sky and a cloud-dance. And a LOT of giggles. After five minutes of zipping back and forth, blurting out lines, and more giggling, they dash back to their seats, basking in the applause of their audience. 

An uninformed observer would be completely baffled as to what just happened. But here at Rockbrook Camp, cabin skits are a staple of camp life. They’re an opportunity for campers to try out life skills, be completely silly, and make memories with their new friends. 

Evening programs begin as the sun sets behind the mountains and the crickets warm up for the night. Each age group of campers gathers in its respective lodge around camp. This brings campers together to meet new friends and touch base about the day they just had and talk about the new day ahead. Cabin skits also play a big role in the evening activities. The “themes” for skits may vary, but they generally involve each cabin getting their “assignment,” racing off to their respective cabins to self-organize, and then coming back to deliver their big performance to the group.

There are dozens of different types of cabin skits, and new ones are always being created by enterprising counselors. Things like creating silly advertisements, hosting a pretend TV program, building a plot based around a random cabin item are performed regularly. After campers dash off, costumes come out of trunks, items in the cabin are put to creative use, and imaginations run wild. “Scripts” are jotted down on scraps of stationary, and “rehearsals” involve heated discussions and occasional flashes of emotion as campers decide on a plot, roles, and props for the big show.

Hidden Life Skills in Every Performance

Being at camp is an opportunity for campers to learn and hone all kinds of life skills. Cabin skits are one such opportunity, and counselors deliberately stay hands-off during the planning. Each group is assigned a “director,” a role that rotates over the course of the camp session so everyone can have a turn. Beyond that structure, it’s up to them to self-organize, plan, and create. This can sometimes be difficult or frustrating, especially for younger age groups and different personality types. Listening to the ideas of others and compromising, especially when you believe YOUR idea is “best” can be a tough skill, even for adults! There’s also a fixed amount of time to plan, and as the clock ticks down the voices from cabins grow more intense.  

As they say in show business, the curtain doesn’t go up because you’re ready; it goes up because it’s time! Counselors summon cabin groups back to the lodge, with excitement and anticipation crackling in the air and an assortment of wacky props hidden behind backs. To nervous giggles and shuffling, the first group takes the stage in costume, and the skits begin. 

While minor details like “plot” and “dialogue” are not always clear, what is clear is how much fun the campers are having, and how they’ve come together as a group for each performance. Together, they face the experience of public speaking, acting, singing, and producing. They learn how to work together, listen to each other, and respect different opinions. The final result is always magnificent, even if the casual observer leaves confused why the strawberry ran off stage and the clouds jumped up and yelled “tah-dah!” and the newscaster put a cowboy hat on and started singing a Taylor Swift song. The only thing that matters is that campers are learning and growing and creating. They know it, and their cheering audience knows it too. 

Each cabin takes their turn, with each performance growing more exuberant and costumes more outrageous. Meanwhile, unnoticed, the sun quietly slips behind the mountains and the volume of the crickets begins to compete with the actors. The air temperature drops a bit, and evening softly descends on camp.

Our actors take a final bow, to the cheers of the fellow campers. After a round of the goodnight circle and milk and cookies, it’s time for teeth-brushing, pajamas, and a good night’s rest. After all, tomorrow is another day full of new skills, new friends, and more wild imagination. And definitely more wacky costumes.        

Miranda Barrett
Camp Mom, former camper and counselor 

In just a few weeks, Rockbrook will be welcoming girls back to camp for the 2023 summer season! All of us are excited and looking forward to the fun of getting together in the “heart of a wooded mountain.”

We want to share with you our current plans for maintaining the health of our camp community with respect to the coronavirus. Things have improved since last summer, and while there is still a chance that an infection can occur at camp, this summer we plan to treat the coronavirus like other infectious diseases.

We will emphasize the importance of everyone arriving at camp healthy.

Questions!

Here are the answers to many of the questions we know you have about how camp will run this summer. This is what we know at this time.

Please read through this important information to help you prepare for your session at Rockbrook.

What pre-camp health guidelines will we have?

10 days of pre-camp caution:
We ask that each family follow common sense precautions during these few days before camp. Please limit your exposure to anyone outside your household, and with anyone who is feeling sick or has symptoms. We want you to do your best to avoid contracting any communicable disease. Please consider avoiding large gatherings of people (e.g., parties, playdates, weddings, etc.), and unnecessary travel.

Recommended pre-camp COVID-19 Test:
At this time, we are not requiring pre-camp testing, but we still recommend that campers complete a COVID-19 test within 48 hours before arriving at camp. This is particularly important if there has been any recent exposure.

Please contact us immediately if your camper tests positive, is not feeling well, has signs of any illness (i.e., fever, rashes, cough, or vomiting), or is exposed to anything contagious in the days leading up to camp. We will discuss the possibility of late arrival or switching sessions.

Healthy campers = a healthy camp community! Please help us start off on the right foot.

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How will Opening Day work?

We will again stagger Opening Day arrival times by grade. This helps us prevent long lines of cars and make the arrival of cabin groups go more smoothly.

Grade Completed:
K-3rd grade – 8:30am
4th grade – 9:00am
5th grade – 9:30am
6th grade – 10:00am
7th grade – 10:30am
8th grade – 11:00am
9th grade – 11:30am
Hi-Ups – 3:00pm-4:00pm on the prior Saturday.

Horse Camp – 9:00am (all grades)

These arrival times are according to the grade your child has just finished. If you have more than one camper in different grades, please arrive at either assigned time.

Once you arrive at Rockbrook, you will first enter the Rockbrook Horseback Riding Center, located just south of the main camp entrance. This is the same as last year.

This will begin a “drive through” check-in procedure that will include stops for meeting the directors, office staff, and nurses.

After checking in at the riding center, you will then drive into camp through the main entrance to meet your counselors and unload your luggage. This will be the last stop, and will be the time to say your goodbyes.

We know this may be a difficult time for families, but rest assured, our counselors will take extra care helping your daughter get settled into her cabin and begin the fun of meeting her bunk mates. We have found that this drop off method helps children feel more connected to their cabin mates and adjust to camp more quickly.

Don’t worry parents! You’ll be able to tour camp on closing day with your personal tour guide. 🙂

We will distribute pre-ordered camp gear, and do our regular head lice check after parents depart. Camp will launch into action right away!

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How will activities work this summer?

Campers will select their individual activity schedules after they have arrived at camp. Every 3 days, there will be a rotation where each camper selects a new set of activities. We will operate our regular daily schedule with its activity periods and blocks of free time.

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What about out-of-camp trips?

All of our regular out-of-camp outdoor adventure trips will operate normally. Girls will be able to sign up for canoeing trips, whitewater kayaking trips, backpacking and day hiking outings, and rock climbing trips. These trips are optional. When girls choose to go on a trip of some kind, it means they will be skipping their scheduled activities for the duration of the outing. Girls who are 5th grade and older can go whitewater rafting if they choose.

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And masks?

More good news! This summer we will not require campers to wear masks. Campers can wear a mask if they choose.

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What if my camper feels sick while at camp?

As always, we will do our very best to keep your daughter healthy and safe while at camp, and will be ready to care for her medical needs if she feels ill. If a camper presents symptoms (e.g., fever, cough) that suggest a contagious disease (Flu, Strep, Coronavirus), our medical team may conduct a diagnostic test. They will notify you of the results of any test, as well as discuss treatment plans.

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What if my camper tests positive for COVID-19 while at camp?

We will contact you immediately if your camper tests positive. We will ask that you come pick her up as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours). We are unable to quarantine campers for extended periods of time.

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What if someone in my child’s cabin tests positive for having Covid-19?

If we verify that someone in your daughter’s cabin has COVID-19, we will notify you right away of that exposure. Our medical staff will then monitor any exposed campers for signs or symptoms of illness, and perform a rapid antigen test if symptoms do arise.

If we do have a positive COVID-19 case at Rockbrook, we plan to let our greater camp community know as well. Without discussing the specific camper infected, we will identify the cabin group exposed, and any other relevant contact tracing information.

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What is your refund policy?

Rockbrook does not offer refunds for campers who arrive late or must leave early from their camp session. For this summer of 2023, we still cannot guarantee anyone attending Rockbrook will not become exposed or infected with the coronavirus.

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Wow! That’s a lot!

Yes it is! We are committed to reuniting as a camp community and doing our best to assure everyone is healthy throughout their stay.

This summer Rockbrook will again get girls outside, give them loads of fun activities to try, allow them to laugh and play like kids, and relax with friends in a truly caring and supportive community.

Thank you again for the support and confidence you have shown as we prepare for your daughter’s camp experience. We’re excited to see everyone back at Rockbrook!

If you have questions not covered here, or you need something clarified, please let us know.