Frampton Becomes Program Director

Everyone at Rockbrook is thrilled to announce that Catherine Frampton, affectionately know around here as simply “Frampton,” has accepted the full-time position of Program Director. She worked as the Assistant Program Director last summer, as a cabin counselor for several summers before that, and came to Rockbrook as a camper as well. With this solid camp experience, and with a freshly minted liberal arts degree from Sewanee, Frampton is bringing great skills and experience to her new job.

Frampton replaces Mandy Horton, who after holding this position for five years, has accepted a job working for Agnes Scott College in Atlanta as one of their student recruiters.

Here is a press release announcing Frampton’s new position. The news has spread far and wide!

Congratulations Mandy and Frampton!

NC Camps Impact the Economy

There’s big news coming out about western North Carolina summer camps. Back in March, the North Carolina Youth Camp Association and the American Camp Association, commissioned researchers at North Carolina State University to study the economic impact of summer camps in this region. Using online surveys, Dr. Michelle Gacio Harrolle and Dr. Samantha Rozier-Rich led the effort to measure all of ways camps contribute to the local economy. Certainly the camps themselves purchase local goods and services and hire regional employees, but camps also bring to the area staff members and families who likewise stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and visit local attractions.

How much does all this add up to? There are approximately 50 summer camps in Buncombe, Jackson, Henderson and Transylvania counties, so how much do they collectively add to the local economy? Or put differently, if the summer camps were hurt, how much could the economy be hurt?

Back in 1998 a similar study (same counties in North Carolina) showed summer camps generating, each year, almost 100 million dollars for local communities.

Today, the results of the economic impact study show a dramatic increase. The total economic impact of summer camps on these four NC counties is 365 million dollars. This is the total of direct, indirect and induced spending by the camps, their camper families and employees over one year, and reflects just how vital the summer camps are for the people in western North Carolina.

The full results of the study will soon be reported on the North Carolina Youth Camp Association’s Web site, but here are a couple of points from the executive summary.

• 53,238 families were surveyed for the study
• $33 million in annual tax revenues are created by camps
• 49,665 families visited the region specifically for camp
• $2,096 is the average expenditure per non-resident family while in the area

The effect of summer camps on local economies is far greater and more significant than most people would likely guess. With this study, we can finally quantify the crucial role camps play in western North Carolina.

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.

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.

Camp Jobs

This is the time of year when we start announcing our summer camp jobs. Each summer part of our camp staff return to be counselors, trip leaders, and activity instructors, but we also accept applications from new people who would like to work at camp. With 200 girls at camp each session, we need lots of people to help with the program. In fact, we’ll have almost 100 employees during the summer helping! So if you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about our camp jobs, get in touch with us (or fill out this form) and we’ll send you an information packet.