Lindsey in St. John

Just heard from Lindsey’s Mom:

“Lindsey traveled to St. John USVI after leaving Rockbrook where she learned to snorkel, spent some time Geocaching on the island, explored old sugar plantations, practiced Kung Fu with her Dad, and spent time exploring for sea shells! I believe Lindsey was so adventurous for our family trip to St. John because of confidence she gained at Rockbrook! She can’t wait to return next year! We are all addicted to Rockbrook and she’s taught us many songs that we sing in the car!”

So cool to see how a first grader’s first camp experience can really make a difference! Thanks!

Hannah Margaret in Italy

Look who traveled to Italy after camp and who proudly wore her Rockbrook T-shirt on the trip. It’s Hannah Margaret, from the 2nd July mini session. Click the photo to see a larger version.

Here she is climbing an Italian Alp nearby Lake Como (Lago di Como) in the Lombardy region of Italy.  These Rockbrook girls are on the move!

Where did you travel after camp? Send us some news!

2011 Staff Arrive !!

Today marked the official start of Rockbrook’s 90th summer as we welcomed our cabin counselors and a few special staff members for the 2011 summer season. We all were very excited to welcome back so many former counselors (almost 80% returners) and to see such eager staff members newly hired for this summer. Throughout the afternoon, many old friends were reunited just as we enjoyed making new friends among the staff members.

We have a full week of orientation and training sessions planned, as well as some fun surprises to keep things lively. It’s an important week as we all focus on preparing for next week’s opening day of Rockbrook’s first camp session, and a great summer. We can’t wait!

Counting Down to Camp

Have you noticed the camp countdown lately? It’s clicking right along and is now showing only 12 days left until the first session of camp opens for the summer. Only 12 days! That’s very exciting because it means at last the staff and cabin counselors will be arriving, and everything at camp will be set for another great summer at Rockbrook. We look forward to this all year long, so it’s great to have it just around the corner.

Better start packing! There are only 12 more days!!!

Camp is the next 'High School Musical'

Did you see that the next “High School Musical” might be about summer camp? It’s true! Peter Barsocchini, the main writer for our favorite Disney Channel show with Zac and Vanessa, is set to begin filming in Malibu a pilot TV show about sleepaway camp. It’s supposed to be a comedy and will air on Nickelodeon. Beyond that, we can only guess what the show will be about and who will be starring in it. No doubt, though, there will be plenty of funny camp situations that the characters find themselves in— pranks, daily silliness, and the sort of camp crushes that happen at co-ed summer camps. As you know, camp is one of those places where you tend to laugh your head off, so this could be good!

Barsocchini is using the slogan, “Camp is why kids invented summer.” Well, we could also say, camp is what makes summer for kids. If you’ve been to Rockbrook, it’s just not summer without it.

RBC in the Press

We bumped into this article the other day by Anne O’Connor entitled, Is Summer Camp Good for Her?  It’s a great discussion of why traditional overnight summer camps offer so much, and how many “specialty” camps (e.g., computer camp, soccer camp, etc.) often lose track of important social benefits.  The article quotes Dr. Chris Thurber. He says camps are not about “the equipment or specific attractions— it’s the friends.” He claims, “it’s much more valuable to have social skills and a friendship base than to be an expert soccer player.”

What caught our eye was the quote in the article from a Rockbrook dad describing the value of the camp friendships his daughter made over the years. He also describes the skills she developed as well. “When they have to be independent, when they have the responsibility for planning their days, their self-esteem goes through the roof,” he said.

Camps— so good in so many ways!

Katie's Community Service

More excellent camper news from down in Charlotte! Katie M. just completed an awesome community service project at her school, the Community House Middle School. As part of her service work for the National Junior Beta Club, she decided to run a coat drive. She announced, organized and promoted the project to the whole school and was fabulously successful collecting 128 donated coats for needy families in the Charlotte area.

Great job Katie!

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!