Summer Camp

It’s easy these days to sense that something special is happening at camp. Now as the session has “matured” a bit, it’s even more apparent. By “matured” I mean there’s a greater sense of ease in the air, a feeling of relaxing into the rhythms of camp life, a normalizing of sorts. The girls have made more friends, opened up to the new experiences offered in the activities, and become more comfortable in our rustic outdoor environment. They’ve begun to feel included, treated with kindness and respect, brought closer by a community spirit that’s enthusiastic and supportive. As they become more familiar with camp, their confidence has grown tremendously. They’ve adopted a “camp mindset” of sorts, a way of being colored by all these wonderful qualities.

This maturing, however, takes some time. When they first arrive at camp, girls are generally more hesitant. They’re usually a little nervous about their place in the group and how they’ll do away from home. Even for seasoned campers, there’s a different mindset that takes a few days to fade.

I wonder if we can attribute this to school. Perhaps these campers are arriving with a “school mindset,” a way of thinking, or a collection of assumptions that’s clashing with what camp represents. As you know, for many kids, school can be a grind, something that requires careful steps, regular effort with competitive undertones, and often includes guarded engagement out of a fear of peer judgment. It requires a great deal of individual work, pressures to perform, and evaluations. While there may be certain legitimate educational goals this mindset serves (though that’s debatable), it’s also a burden.

With school occupying so much of their lives, it’s no wonder girls arrive at camp a little out of sorts. They’re being trained to approach the world in ways that don’t apply at camp. In a way, this is the project of camp— to unwind some of the habits and assumptions taught in school, to encourage a more genuine, playful and joyful approach. Camp is here as a form of relief.

We might be running around camp painted in colors searching for counselors. We might be dressed as Greek gods and goddesses. We might be sleeping in the forest in hammocks, or just floating in the lake in a tube. In all these activities and more— throughout our days— we’re building a “camp mindset,” a way of authentic connection, a freedom to explore, and a lightness everyone finds refreshing.

When you pick up your camper at the end of the session, I bet you’ll notice this change. In addition to the memories of camp being fun, and the many friendships they’ve made, my hope is that your girls will return home carrying their camp mindset with them. And while the pressures of school will inevitably creep back in, I hope they can move through the world with more camp confidence, camp values, and Rockbrook spirit.

Today, we woke up to a cool misty fog dulling the greens of the forest. It was only about 58 degrees, so as the girls made their way to the dining hall for breakfast bundled up in all sorts of fleecy long-sleeved things, they were clearly not at home. No climate controlled room, but instead the moist smell of crisp mountain air. No clatter or buzz from an alarm clock, but rather the ringing of Rockbrook’s 100-year-old bell. Conversation in the cabin, friendly calls of “good morning!” between cabin mates, spurred everyone along. No school, or swim practice, or carpool to reach on time, but instead a day with friends filled with different activities to look forward to. Today was when we would really dig in to camp life.

A Regular Day Packed with Action

The first thing to notice about what we might call a “regular day” at camp is that it is packed with action, completely filled with girls busy doing things in the many activities. Out in nature, together with other girls of varying ages, they’re deeply involved being challenged in sports, being creative in the arts, and being thrilled by adventure. And the variety of these experiences is incredible. They’re riding horses, shooting arrows, and climbing our Alpine Tower. They’re weaving on looms, sawing through wood, and zipping along high among the trees. They’re hitting tennis balls, and rolling out balls of cool, moist clay. They’re learning too! Learning about some of the local birds, about how to aim a target rifle, about the parts of a whitewater kayak, and about how to do a cartwheel, for example.

Cool Mountain Air and the First Real Day

But they’re also learning something else that could be even more important. They’re learning to relax into whatever they’re doing, even when they aren’t in a group activity (a “class” with a “teacher’). Our “regular days” have three dedicated blocks of free time for the girls when they are not in a scheduled activity: a “free swim” before lunch and dinner, and a chunk after dinner we call “Twilight.” These are true free times when they can be with friends, visit the lake, play a game like tennis or gagaball, or just relax on the hill. Different from the regimen of school where each minute is “on task” for the most part, camp life provides time (and space!) to explore, discover, connect and meander no matter what a camper’s inclination. Combine that with an almost endless supply of friendly companions and we’ve got something really special. It’s both relaxing and compelling at the same time. Hmmm… is that a definition of fun? Maybe. No matter what, I’d say it’s the perfect combination to help kids grow.

Camp is great like that. It fosters so many positive personal developments, from making friends to the kind of self-confidence that sprouts from new experiences in a supportive environment. There lots more to be said about that!

For now, I hope you’re enjoying the online photo gallery we update everyday. The photos provide just a glimpse into our days at Rockbrook, but they do convey some of the action, the delight, and the spirit we all enjoy. They’re fun to see, but I bet you’re jealous you can’t enjoy it too!

Now that we’ve finished up our last session of camp, and we find ourselves reflecting on the summer, it’s again a challenge to describe it all. Friends will ask, “How was the summer?” And, I’ll stumble through an attempt to describe it by saying “Great! So many happy people, wonderful!” That’s all true, but it barely scratches what it was really like at Rockbrook this summer. There’s so much more.

Beautiful

Camp was beautiful, beautiful to see children laughing and playing. Beautiful to witness girls relaxing into the rhythms of camp life, being free to explore, play, create, and discover. It was beautiful to see kindness, budding confidence, and willing enthusiasm color whatever we were doing. It was beautiful to hear easy silliness and laughter everywhere at camp. It was beautiful to feel so close to so many people.

Magical

The summer was magical too. It was full of delightful surprises, moments when we embraced the wonders of Nature. It was magical how the simplest things were fun, often hilarious, and ended up being a source of deep comfort. It was magical how everyday was both exciting and worry free, filled with new experiences.

Refreshing

Camp this summer was also refreshing. Our drier and cooler weather was refreshing, but so was the feeling of being a part of the Rockbrook community. It was refreshing to connect with the people so easily, to make almost instant friends with everyone, and to be embraced for our authentic selves. For many, it was refreshing to simply be away from the allure of their electronic devices.

Emotional

Camp was emotional, packed with experiences that we felt deeply. We cheered for each other almost everyday. We were thrilled by all the novelty and adventure of the activities and trips. There were so many hugs, smiles, and sweet moments of affection. Sharing this much, being this open and genuine, made even the challenges we faced both manageable and meaningful.

The third session Spirit Fire brought all of this into focus. Dressed in our red and white uniforms and gathered around the blazing campfire, we couldn’t help but realize that the friendships we’d formed at camp, the experience of it all, were in a way miraculous. The speeches reflected this too. The girls talked about felling lucky to have been at camp, to have found Rockbrook. They expressed such heartfelt gratitude, and marveled at how they’d grown and “become who they are” at camp.

Yes, camp was beautiful, magical, refreshing and emotional —altogether miraculous. It was for everyone, campers, staff and directors alike, an experience that’s hard to describe, but one that we’ll cherish. We’ll remember it fondly, seek its spirit throughout our days, and yearn for its return sometime soon.

So thank you! Thank you for helping make this special experience possible, for your support, and for sending your girls. We miss everyone already. We look forward to seeing you next summer when we can come together at Rockbrook and rekindle the camp spirit we love.

Over the winter, I learned about a concept called the “third place.” This is a social setting in our lives separate from our “first” and “second” places – home and work/school, respectively. They are anchors of community life where we exchange ideas, relax and have fun, and most importantly, build and maintain relationships. A “third place” place is where people from diverse backgrounds are welcomed, people know your name, and shared experiences are had. Examples of third places in modern life include libraries, parks, theaters, bowling alleys, and bookstores. Your community’s living room, if you will.

Upon learning about third places, Rockbrook immediately came to mind. Community is a word I hear time and time again when describing Rockbrook, and for me it’s the word that I think of first when I bring to mind this magical oasis in the heart of the wooded mountains. It is where I learned how vital being a part of a community is. Rockbrook has become a catalyst for me seeking other communities outside of camp, communities where lasting friendships- like at Rockbrook -are sure to be made. We are, after all, social creatures who need community.

Why We Need Third Places

For many, camp may be the only place where we experience what it’s like to live in and be a member of a community. In a society that is chronically online and addicted to screens, social media has become our third place. Yet social media provides a false sense of a social life, ultimately leaving us more isolated than connected. Not to mention, we then are too tired to meet IRL because not only are our schedules busier, but we are fatigued from interacting with people via group texts, comments, and DMs. Online, we simply don’t get the same exhilaration that comes from true connection. Sadly, this applies to children too. And for many of our campers, camp may be the only physical third space they inhabit.

Camp as the Ultimate Third Place

Camp, unlike other third places, provides a complete and total separation from social media and screens. It allows children to be immersed in a more intentional version of a third place— a home away from home where they feel carefree, included, and connected. At camp there is a feeling of belonging and identity as we are a collective who share common values and culture. Trust, solidarity, and empathy are built from our constant interaction with one another— vital social skills we can’t develop through social media. Campers feel rooted to Rockbrook, rejuvenated by spending time here.

Within the world of camp itself- where cabins serve as the home and activities serve as a second place of sorts -there are endless amounts of third places scattered throughout. These third places allow campers and staff alike to gather with others who they may not interact with in their cabin or activity settings. It provides opportunities for connection with campers from other age groups, counselors they don’t know yet, and the other adults that help keep camp running. There’s the dining hall, where a junior cabin may give a shout out and pass along a song to a senior cabin. A lodge, a great meeting spot for a club like Rockbrook Readers or to play a board game. The lake, which sees campers and counselors alike during a Free Swim. The creek by Curosty, a place where those of any age or role congregate who love to witness all the natural wonders that Rockbrook has to offer. The Hill, camp’s most central location, always buzzing with activity, and the main place we all assemble for, well, Assembly on the Hill. Even the paths that meander around camp serve as a third place, where small but meaningful moments of connection occur via a wave or a smile or a name called out in greeting.

In The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg explains that “third places thrive best in locales where community life is casual […] Attachment to the area and the sense of place that it imparts expands with the individuals’ walking familiarity with it […] These [places] are not only safe, they invite human connection.” What community life is more casual than that of camp life? Where children are encouraged to rest for at least one hour each day, can wear whatever they wish, and have the freedom to choose what they want to do with their time. Oldenburg characterizes third places as having a playful nature, and at camp unstructured real-world play and silly fun is highly valued. Rockbrook’s rustic, cozy feel where kids of all backgrounds are embraced align with another quality of Oldenburg’s third places. The casual nature of camp makes connecting with anyone easy.

Regular contact is one of the greatest requirements in any relationship. Third places flourish through the connection of the regulars who inhabit them because they set the tone of the community. Because third places offer availability with zero effort, they are key in helping to foster reliable, supportive, and lasting friendships. If you know Rockbrook, you know how much friendship is valued here. It’s in our songs, a tenant of our mission, and a subject of countless heartfelt Spirit Fire speeches. If the word “community” somehow doesn’t come to mind when you think of Rockbrook, then most definitely “friendship” does. A strong community breeds strong friendships, and community really thrives in these essential third places like Rockbrook – where we’re free to be ourselves, face to face.

This is the time of the year when we are commonly busy giving tours of camp. We get tour requests all year long, but we encourage families to come during the summer when camp is in session. It’s not unusual to have a tour scheduled each week, and multiple before the end of the summer. I think families hear about Rockbrook and then try to squeeze in a visit before we finish up for the season and school takes over.

It’s a delight for us to show people around and provide a first-hand glimpse into camp life. For people who haven’t seen Rockbrook, a tour is nothing short of marvelous, even magical. That’s because it’s easy to see how special this place is, how it differs from most other places in fascinating ways.

The Feel of Rockbrook

The Rockbrook facilities is one unique difference. Right away most people are taken by the woodsy feeling of camp— the towering trees, babbling creeks, large boulders, and very little “lawn.” Unlike the overly landscaped environments found elsewhere, Rockbrook feels more organic, like something that’s emerged within Nature on its own. There are points of natural beauty around most corners. Look up and you’ll see a shining rock cliff. Look right and there’ll be a waterfall, and left the swimming lake. Even the buildings seem to blend in— the simple, rustic sleeping cabins, stone meeting lodges, dining hall, and the two 19th-century log cabins used for craft activities, for example. Even our newer structures, like the Rockbrook Riding center with its modern barns and covered arena, carry this same aesthetic. There’s a certain feel to Rockbrook that generations of alumnae recognize when they return years later.

Activities Everywhere

Beyond the facilities, touring in session clarifies aspects of camp life that are special to Rockbrook, the activities and the pace of it all. You’ll see campers weaving on vintage floor looms, firing arrows at colorful targets, and rolling their kayaks in the lake. Mornings are a particularly exciting time, with everyone visiting the dining hall for muffin break. You might even catch a glimpse of a girl zipping past the office on the final leg of the zipline course. You’ll bump into all kinds of artistic creativity— girls working with clay, colorful dyes, yarns, paints, wood, and wax. At the Riding Center you’ll see beautiful horses and girls learning to walk, trot, canter, and jump in their riding lessons. At the same time, you’re bound to see girls relaxing with a book, or just chatting with a friend as they soak their feet in the creek. It’s nearly impossible to follow it all, but it’s clear campers are having the time of their lives.

Meeting the People

The true highlight of a camp tour, though, is meeting the people of Rockbrook. In each interaction with campers and staff members, you’ll sense their incredible enthusiasm for camp. You’ll notice the caring and friendly way the girls treat each other, the kind way they pay attention to one another. You’ll hear them chatting easily with each other and laughing at the littlest things. Meeting the girls at Rockbrook is a joy because they’re refreshingly silly, genuinely comfortable, cheerful and happy. You can tell camp is their favorite place. It’s this vibrant community spirit that makes Rockbrook special and the most delightful part of every tour.

If your daughter already attends Rockbrook, you don’t need a tour to appreciate the beauty, fun, and community of Rockbrook. You see it everyday in the photo gallery, and will no doubt hear more about it when she returns home. For those who haven’t experienced it yet, we hope they’ll hear about Rockbrook from current families and alumnae, and if possible come for a visit.

Today was a big day of whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River for our Seniors. It was a perfect, warm and sunny day and the girls had a complete blast bumping and splashing their way down the river. Here are just a couple of photos from the day. So fun!

It’s one of the most beautiful moments of camp. The setting is certainly beautiful with a bright, glowing campfire in the center and towering trees protecting us all around, with the sounds of crickets and peeping frogs, of falling water in the creek, and the soft singing of traditional camp songs. There’s the smell of woodsmoke, and the fading light of the evening turning everything from blue to grey. Of course, there’s also beauty in the people too— the clean red and white uniforms, freshly braided hair, and the shoulder-to-shoulder closeness as the whole camp attends.

There’s also an incredible beauty to the emotions of the moment, to the wonderful feeling of being together like this. Here is a special community of caring friends, of people who know each other deeply, having shared countless experiences and relaxed into mutual habits of kindness toward each other. We feel the bittersweetness of loving Rockbrook, yet knowing that our time together is coming to a close for this summer. There are tears and smiles, laughter and sadness, love and joy —all made more poignant as the evening unfolds.

There’s beauty in what’s said as well. After a camp session, gathering like this evokes heartfelt reflections on what camp has meant to each of us. We can’t help but share how we’ve found unexpected friendship, felt completely at home at camp, how we’re now certain we belong at Rockbrook, and how we ache to return to camp life and our camp friends the rest of the year. Camp has encouraged us, supported us when we weren’t sure, and allowed us to connect so profoundly with each other. Together, we’ve sung songs and forged memories we’ll always treasure. Reflecting back, we’ve found a marvelous spirit in it all.

It’s the Spirit Fire, the century-old tradition at Rockbrook where we gather around a campfire for a program of songs, camper and counselor speeches and a candlelight ceremony to mark the end of each session. Tonight’s Spirit fire was indeed beautiful in all these ways.

As each camper shared their memories and thoughts of the session, and as we sang together favorite traditional Rockbrook songs like “In the Heart of a Wooded Mountain,” there was an extraordinary intimacy to the setting. The beauty of the moment was undeniable, almost unbearably emotional, yet somehow perfectly suited to how we all felt after such an amazing camp session. We all realized that we were part of something special, something deep, enduring and important. When Sarah talked about being grateful, it made perfect sense.

We closed by lighting candles from the Spirit Fire. As small flames were passed from person to person, symbolizing how the spirit of Rockbrook is shared, we felt even more connected, both to each other and to something larger than ourselves. We stood lined up around the lake singing softly, the flickering candlelight reflecting off the water. We felt the abiding magic of this special place, of these very special people. It really was beautiful.

Thank you for a wonderful session. It’s been a pleasure beyond what we imagined, and a joy we’ll cherish. Until next summer, be well and grow in the spirit of Rockbrook.

A few days ago I wrote a piece that described camp as a haven, as a “sanctuary” free from various detrimental forces and challenges common to modern life. I argued that Rockbrook’s goal is to create a special place where kids can escape the pressures of, for example, being too busy, being judged by peers, being inside and online too much, and so on. Creating this haven is our goal because we know that once girls are protected from these various harmful forces, they experience deeply important opportunities to grow in the most joyous ways. Campers develop different instincts and understandings when they find this unique kind of freedom and relief at camp. It’s marvelous to witness.

One comment I received about that post was from a parent who said, “I wish we adults could experience that sort of haven too.” I’d have to agree! It would be nice to be outside more, doing more real-world things, taking a break from screens and having more time to pay attention to everything around us. It would be nice to be free of social pressures, prejudices, competition and criticisms. We know it feels good to be physically active, to be creative, and to connect more with other people from a place of kindness. An environment offering all of this would be amazing for everyone!

Can We Bring Camp Home?

I just have to ask, “Why don’t we?” Why don’t we put in some effort creating at least hints of camp life the rest of the year? If we know what camp is doing— establishing a haven from various negative forces —can’t we oppose those forces at home and at school too, and thereby realize some of those same benefits? To some extent, I think the answer is yes.

A few of the ways Rockbrook creates a haven for girls are structural and could be implemented outside of camp. For example, families could be intentional about spending time outside when they can. Parents could make a conscious effort to slow down their family’s schedule, building in “down time” and other opportunities to relax with each other. We could all make an effort to moderate our consumption of news and other forms of media. We could remember to prioritize physical interactions with the world, not exercise or “working out” per say, but rather exercising all our senses among real-world phenomena.

The Smartphone Problem

Perhaps the most consequential way Rockbrook is a haven, yet also a way that could be copied at home, is the absence of smartphone use. At camp we all can ditch our phones and happily carry on, but it probably sounds absurd to suggest doing the same at home. After all, ordinarily your phone is your constant companion, always willing to fill your time at the slightest hint of boredom. You might even agree that most of us are on our phones too much, and you too would prefer we instead had more face-to-face communication and other real-world interactions.

Plus, the evidence is staggering how phone use, especially the role played by social media, is doing significant damage to our physical and mental health. Jonathan Haidt’s new book, The Anxious Generation, makes the case for this quite clearly for young people, and Jaron Lanier makes Ten Arguments for Deleting your Social Media Accounts. For both of these authors, there’s unhappiness built right into how we use our phones, plenty of negative consequences, especially for kids.

Of course, putting down our phones is not easy, even if you wanted to. They’re too powerful and too ingrained in our lives, and most importantly, too widespread. If you tried to add restrictions to your teenager’s phone use, the resistance would most likely be epic, the least of which would be her cries, “but all my friends have their phones!” Without some kind of collective or institutional support, the amount of solo effort required to even moderate phone use would likely be too much. By the way, this is one reason Haidt recommends schools be phone-free. Schools have the institutional clout to align opinions on this.

Community Is the Key

This highlights a powerful advantage camp has— we’re a community. We’re foremost a tight-knit group of people who live (eat, play, make) together, who experience so much together, and who recognize that how we treat each other (with kindness, care, generosity, compassion) makes a crucial difference. At camp, whenever we have to do something that challenges us individually, we can count on encouragement and support from those around us. And if there’s something that would be hard to do on our own, we are more capable when we do it together, whether it be tackling cabin chores, braving uncomfortable weather, or severing the tether we have with a smartphone.

It’s this community spirit that anchors Rockbrook as a haven for girls. Being a community with shared values, but also with regular shared time together, makes most of what we do possible. We focus on the people around us, building amazing positive (friendly) relationships with them all, adding in a few structural elements— tech-free, outdoor experience, playful silliness, a relaxed pace, etc. —and almost like magic we have a beautiful haven.

My hope is that Rockbrook can provide a positive vision of what life can be. I think it does for those lucky enough to experience it. I also believe that if we want to extend the lovely benefits of camp, we need to first find (or build) a sense of community. Camp proves how powerful it is to bring people together like this. Meeting that challenge would be a good place to start.

“In the heart of a wooded mountain,
Circled by silvery streams,
Is a dear old place called Rockbrook,
The scene of our girlhood dreams.

The rosy mist of the morning,
Veil it anew at dawn,
Like a fairyland of beauty,
Where friendships so true are born.”

It’s true that the beauty of camp can be seen in the gorgeous greens of the trees and the sparkle of the cool, crisp lake, but it can also be seen in the true friendships born out of being our authentic selves. At camp, we are encouraged to choose clothes based on how it will allow our bodies to move, shoes designed to support our selected activities, and activities that intrigue us! Our days revolve around activities and out-of-camp trips we have chosen for ourselves, and our friends have done the same. Gone are the facades, societal pressures, and limitations! With each choice, we get closer to figuring out what makes us unique.

And how wonderful it is to see everyone exploring and sharing their interests! As you walk around camp, you will see campers sharing friendship in a myriad of ways. There are often friends on the hill, braiding beads in each other’s hair. Friendship bracelets being made not only in Jewelry Making, but in cabin bunks, on lodge porches, and in Crazy Creeks during down times. Crochet animals made in Curosty and gifted to cabin-mates! And someone is always there to lend a supporting hand or an encouraging cheer! 

These friendships, the ones that have comforted when sad, exalted when celebrated, and supported through uncertainty, are born to last!

“Oh Rockbrook, you have given,
What none can ‘ere destroy,
Ideals to guide our lives by,
And friends to bring us joy.”

—Morgan Boyd
   Camp Mom, former camper and counselor

There’s an article on the Rockbrook website where we identify the top reasons camp is important for children. If you haven’t seen it, it can be understood as a list of benefits of summer camp, as a summary of what kids gain from their experience at Rockbrook.

If camp is “fun that matters,” these are some of the ways it matters.

Benefits from Simply Living at Camp

Some of the “reasons camp is great for kids,” in the article, spring just from living the life we have at Rockbrook. For example, “Reconnecting with Nature” is the simple consequence of being outside most of our day. We’re living in a forest, hearing and smelling it, even through the night in our open-air, screened cabins. We’re getting wet when it rains, and finding a bug of some sort almost anywhere. “Being physically active” is built into our day too. We’re walking up and down the hills just getting from one activity to another, not to mention the activities themselves— the hiking, swimming, tennis, gagaball, horseback riding, and so on. “Unplugging from technology” is likewise simply a part of camp. Quite intentionally and for many reasons, we don’t allow anyone to be “on their phone” at Rockbrook. Everything about that is antithetical to the attentive community we value at camp.

Growth from the Camp Experience

Other reasons camp is important, listed in the article, focus on how kids grow from the experience. Many of the particularities of camp life— being away from parents, making decisions like choosing your own activities or when to take a shower, experiencing all sorts of new things, overcoming challenges when something doesn’t turn out just right —are behind this growth in character. The article puts it this way; at camp, children “become more confident,” “gain resiliency,” and “grow more independent.” The examples are endless. Think of the confidence it takes to control a 1,200-pound horse, or to climb a 50-foot tower. Imagine the resilience, flexibility and persistence required to keep trying when you can’t figure out how to center a ball of clay on the wheel, but still try again, or when your first choice of activities is not available after all. Of course kids are practicing being independent at camp (no parents or teachers to guide every move) too, but it’s exactly that practice that proves, even on their own, they can do it.

Camp as Empowerment

Recently another idea came to mind that brings together these aspects of the camp experience. It’s the idea that camp life empowers the girls at Rockbrook. We might say, most of the “benefits” in the article can be understood as different ways camp girls are empowered by the experience. They’re made more physically powerful by being active most of the day, more socially powerful by joining this cooperative community, and more personally powerful by gaining confidence and resilience. They’re empowered by discovering they can be creative and attentive when away from electronic entertainment. They’re more powerful from the expanded awareness that comes from spending this extended time in Nature. And they’re certainly empowered knowing they can be friends with anyone who is open and kind in return, no matter where they’re from.

It was a quote by writer Wes Angelozzi that got me thinking about “camp as empowering kids.” He writes:

“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how quickly they transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.”

Reading that, I thought, “Yes, that is so true at Rockbrook.” We are helping our girls discover “the truest version of themselves” by creating a loving community of care and kindness. We strive for everyone here to feel accepted “as they are,” respected and appreciated, no matter their looks, smarts or talents. This extraordinary, friendly community proves, over and over, that everyone belongs. And yes, that feeling of “the people here love the true me” is instantly empowering. It’s freeing, empowering and joyful.

I think it’s a bit of secret sauce— the culture of Rockbrook. A community this friendly and accepting, one that opens girls up, inspiring them to learn about themselves and be genuine to themselves, is an added force making camp even more empowering. Now when you see Rockbrook girls being powerful and especially amazing, you’ll have a hunch why.