Homesickness at Camp

A new study by Edward Walton and Christopher Thurber on homesickness is getting some press. The study provides statistics about campers being homesick, but also shows that educating both parents and children about homesickness greatly reduces the problems some campers have when they arrive at summer camp. There are also a number of great tips parents should keep in mind as they help their children prepare for camp.

Here is a summary of the study.

Kids Dance Camp Picture

The second in our series of old camp photos is this picture of a dance performance from the 1930s (we think!). It’s taken on the lawn of the Carrier House. Styles have changed a bit, but dance is still popular, and we still have a performance for the whole camp at the end of each session.

Best Girls Camp

What is the best girls summer camp in North Carolina? That’s really hard to say, of course. There are so many great traditional overnight girls camps out there, ones with beautiful facilities, outstanding counselors, and a diverse program of activities, the differences can be subtle and often boil down to what’s emphasized and what stands out as a strength at any particular camp. Many do consider Rockbrook (at least “one of”) the best girls camp(s) in the south, with its equestrian program, ceramics program, adventure activities, and historic wooded setting. In fact, Rockbrook was just featured in a newspaper article for its traditional architecture.

Another way to put it is to say the best camp is the camp you love. It’s the camp for you, the one where you feel at home with good friends and fond memories. For a camp with a long history like Rockbrook, it’s easy to understand why so many consider it the best.

Summer Camp for Young Girls

How old do you need to be to attend Rockbrook?

This question comes our way quite a bit, and some parents are surprised to hear that we have a group of campers we call the “Juniors” who are as young as 6 years old. These are girls who have finished kindergarten through the fourth grade. That might seem pretty young for a sleepaway camp, but the Rockbrook program is well designed for this age group, providing these young campers wonderful opportunities to try new things, explore the outdoors, and become more self-confident while away from home.

Here’s seven-year-old Lexi (one of our movie stars!) tubing on the Davidson River.

Noncompetitive Activities for Kids – Drama

Drama has always been a popular activity at Rockbrook. Throughout the week, the drama activity periods involve improv situations, puppet shows, charades, and other games, but during each main session the campers and drama instructors also produce a full-blown play. Costumes, scenery, music, choreography, and of course characters presenting a story— it’s an elaborate production performed for the whole camp at the end of the session.

The camp play brings together so many different campers and staff members, all in a cooperative and noncompetitive spirit.  It’s a wonderful example of our kids camp philosophy, a great opportunity to create something together, and for all of us to marvel at the results.

P.S. This photo is from last summer’s production of Alice in Wonderland.

Summer Camp Traditions

One of the oldest summer camp traditions at Rockbrook is the final campfire known as the “Spirit Fire.” It’s when the entire camp gathers for a ceremonial campfire. We sing traditional camp songs, recognize campers and listen as people share their thoughts about what Rockbrook and their time at camp means to them. At the end of the presentations and songs, each camper has a candle they light from the central campfire, symbolizing a shared spirit of the camp. It’s a very beautiful event, and a great way to close each camp session. It’s also quite amazing to think that every girl who’s attended Rockbrook since 1921 has shared that same experience.

Fun Crafts for Girls

Rockbrook has so many arts and craft activities for girls— drawing, loom weaving, fabric painting, beading, candle making, and basketry, to name a few. But one of the most popular is pottery. The girls learn both hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramics techniques and have a great time making dishes like cups and bowls, and sculpting animals and other figures out of clay. With everything glazed and fired, we really see some amazing work!

Kids Camp in North Carolina

Here are a few of our “seniors” up on Cascade Lake. It’s just a few minutes from our North Carolina kids camps near the Dupont State Forest, and is a wonderful place to bring the sea kayaks. We put in on one end of the lake and paddle to the other end to see Hooker Falls, an awesome waterfall. For some, sea kayaking has become their favorite outdoor adventure activity at camp!