Decidedly Pink

What happens if Barbie goes to summer camp? Well, today we found out! It was a day of regular camp activities, but with a decidedly pink twist, as we unveiled a costume theme for the day. Today was Barbie Day!

It’s no surprise that we love to dress up at Rockbrook. We love how dressing in some kind of costume injects a little silliness into whatever we’re doing. When we bring together costume elements— just the right shorts, maybe a wig, and a few props like a hat or goofy glasses for example —we enjoy changing things up and being creative. Dressing up allows us to imagine being another character, taking on their mannerisms and stylings. A theme like this points us all in a certain direction (all things Barbie in this case!) yet at the same time creates enough space for individualized improvisation. When this many people dress up together, it’s phenomenal.

This was another theme that the campers knew about before arriving at camp, so they were prepared! Even when they arrived for breakfast, many campers and staff members were already dressed in their best Barbie pink outfits and fabulous accessories. This might have been pajamas, pink sunglasses, or just a pink t-shirt. As you know, Barbie took on many different professions over the years, and this was true at camp today too. We had a Cowboy Barbie, a Spring Bouquet Barbie, and Astronaut Barbie, a Rockstar Barbie, a 50s Barbie, a Yoga Barbie, and a Publicity Tour Barbie who was distributing autographs all day long.

Everyone became a Barbie of some sort today. All it took was a little pink and a confident, carefree attitude, both of which are ingredients easily found at Rockbrook. Throughout the day we started adding “Hi, Barbie!” to our conversations and greetings as someone passed by. We would also ask, “what Barbie are you?” and wait to hear about her amazing talent. Tennis Barbie, Tetherball Barbie, Movie Star Barbie, Painter Barbie —these are just a few.

It turns out Barbie is a very accomplished equestrienne, a great rock climber, and weaver. She loves to do tricks off the diving board, throw clay on the potter’s wheel, and shoot archery. She’s a very good singer too, especially around so many of her equally fabulous friends. Who knew? Here at Rockbrook, that’s not too surprising. These Barbies are strong!

A bubbling Barbie positivity elevated our whole day. When dinner arrived the campers where excited to find the dining hall decorated with pink tablecloths and flowers. There were Barbie-themed temporary tattoos for everyone, and special pink candy treats on every table. Along with our lasagna, bread, salad and grapes for dinner, the baker made pink lemonade bars for dessert. The Hi-Ups led everyone singing a few songs from the Barbie movie.

A group of our younger Barbies finished up their day by hiking up to the top of Castle Rock to catch a bit of the mountain view before sunset. This is a steep hike up a challenging trail that ends at the rock face above camp. It winds through old mountain laurel and rhododendron bushes eventually breaking out into a fantastic overlook. The girls and their counselors sat carefully on the rock admiring the distant mountains for a few minutes before heading back down to camp before it got too dark.

I was a great day at camp, life in a “dreamworld” we might say, proving again that “we girls can do anything!” True, very true.

summer camp hiking view

Cheerful and Busy

Today was another cheerful and busy morning at Rockbrook, even more so than usual because we welcomed the campers attending the second of our July Mini sessions. This is the day when new friends arrive to join the full session girls who are already here at camp. The girls arriving seemed excited and bubbling with anticipation. They’ve been waiting for this day for months and now it had finally arrived. Younger sisters were joining older siblings. Alumnae were dropping of their daughters for the first time, and girls who had never been to camp before were getting their first in-person look at Rockbrook.

The drive-thru check-in process ran smoothly, with most families only waiting a short while to make their way through the stations. Thank you for your patience! As families drove up and around the lake in camp, they were greeted by counselors jumping and cheering, adding to the upbeat atmosphere.

Of course, with the excitement, there were also a few nervous faces among the girls arriving. It’s entirely normal to feel a bit of nervousness at the start, even for returning campers. Ordinarily these jitters fade fast once we get started doing things together. That’s why we launch right into an assembly on the hill filled with songs and skits, then a great lunch of comfort-food mac-n-cheese (homemade, of course), and a chance to cool off at the lake with the “swim demos.” The new cabin groups took camp tours, had cabin meetings, and visited the camp store to pick up pre-purchased items.

The morning for the full-session girls started with their regular Sunday of raising the flag and gathering for Chapel. The Senior campers led a program on the theme of “Laughter,” emphasizing how camp life is filled with laughter. “These are the people who make me laugh the most,” one Senior put it. Camp friends are just like that.

Our afternoon event gathered everyone on the Carrier House lawn for a camp-wide Renaissance fair. The campers knew this would be a theme for their session so many came prepared with amazing costumes for the event. Colorful long princess dresses, flower crowns and ribbons, fairy wings, and tiaras were most popular. The fair was a whirlwind of activity where campers could flit between different activities, games, and projects all happening at once.

kid renaissance costume

One tent had campers making flower crowns, while another offered fairy hair, parchment calligraphy, or face painting. Another area of “Tomfoolery” invited girls to try juggling beanbags, ribbon dancing and hula hooping. A mysterious fortune teller named Madam Brunhilde wandered among the girls offering cryptic advice to those brave enough to ask.

We also played games: a burlap sack race, a water balloon toss, and a table shuffle game with goblets. Each game awarded small prizes for playing. Another game sent campers on a treasure hunt looking for golden coins hidden along a forest path. Finding enough coins won a lollipop prize.

What’s a festival without music and food too? So to complete the event we played Medieval-infused music, a playful twist on modern tunes, throughout the event. For snacks, a “Wench’s Tavern” served warm soft pretzels and kettle corn. With all this to do, everyone enjoyed an afternoon of fun, Renaissance style. It was a great way to open up the new session.

summer camp renaissance festival girls

Finally, we want to offer a cautionary comment in the aftermath of the recent political violence witnessed by our country, the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a campaign rally. Shocking news events like this that occur in the outside world rarely have much relevance here at camp. For this reason, we generally do not report these sorts of troubling realities to the girls at camp. We’ve found that it’s better to allow Rockbrook to remain a refuge from the concerns that mark adult lives in the broader world.

Similarly, we hope you will be careful when writing to your camper about unsettling news items, even refrain from doing so. We know it’s tempting to let your girls know what’s going on in the world and what’s on your mind, but camp life, the child-centered world of Rockbrook, is happily separate from most of that. We are enjoying the fun and friendship of camp unburdened by the troubles in the news. Camp is a haven. Thank you for helping us keep it well.

summer camp happiness

Second Session Video Glimpse – Part Two

We’re lucky again to have another video produced by Robbie Francis of FrancisFilmworks! Robbie visited camp again late this week and spent the day filming, then carefully edited this wonderful glimpse into camp life. The video does a delightful job depicting the mood at camp these days… so much action and so many happy girls!

Click below to watch the video…. and let us know what you think.

Charged with Creativity

You may have noticed that there a many crafts activities at Rockbrook. One parent made that remark to me yesterday by saying, “There are so many photos of girls doing crafts!” That’s certainly true. It’s partly explained by how easy it is for the photographers to stop by all the craft areas in camp, but I’d also say it’s because the girls really enjoy working with the crafting materials, making intricate colorful things, and exploring their creative spirits. Being crafty like this is simply popular at camp. Just about every minute at camp is charged with creativity.

summer camp woodshop

One explanation for this lies in the enticing nature of the crafts themselves. With great instructors eager to share their expertise, and with example projects to model, it’s easy to get excited about digging into the various craft options available.

Take woodworking, for instance. All around in the wood shop the girls can see finished cutting boards, picture frames, secret boxes, carved pendants, and other carefully shaped and smoothed wooden creations. Marie Brown, of Handhouse Studio in North Hampton, MA (and Rockbrook Alumna and Camp Mom!), is currently our lead woodworking instructor. She’s back again this summer demonstrating techniques, helping campers articulate their project ideas, and keeping the wood shop fun and lively with encouragement. Just being in the wood shop is inspiring!

Tie-dying is another craft that holds an inherent magic. The simple twisting and folding of plain white t-shirts, and then the application of rich vibrant dyes, soaking in here and there, ends up blooming into a surprise colorful design. Weaving on the loom has a similar surprise as the different color fibers cross in patterns to reveal a textured design. Likewise for knitting and crocheting, it’s fun to see what interesting combination emerges. “That’s so cool” is the common refrain.

summer camp tie dye creativity

The craft activities are popular at Rockbrook also because the process of being creative here is so positive. We really encourage it in almost everything we do, from our love of costumes, to making up skits, to performing impromptu songs and dancing “flash mobs” in the dining hall. Around here, we’re not looking for perfection, but rather the exploration of what might be possible with some imagination. That same ethos permeates our craft activities too. At camp, there’s no failure in creativity, only a celebration of bold combination. The girls love this open and free approach and find it both rewarding and fun to jump into all the camp craft options.

Also, like everything we do at camp, the craft activities are popular because they offer a relaxed context to be with friends. Crafting together, surrounded by the sort of people who know you really well (your true self!) and who care about you so genuinely, enhances the joy of creating. Picture a group of girls knitting on the back porch of Curosty, laughing and chatting, making suggestions and encouraging each other with each stitch. This community spirit built into our daily experience at Rockbrook— “together it’s better” —is inspiring in this way as well.

Understood in these ways, the real rewards of the craft activities at camp arise not from the finished products— the cutting boards, weavings or pottery, for example —but from the process of making them. Yes, the girls are proud of their craft projects, and you might be lucky enough to receive one as a gift. But I think it’s worth remembering that the camp art you’re admiring represents a joyful process of creativity, the inherent rewards of creating itself, and the friendships formed along the way.

Rockbrook Camp craft girls

Daily Adventure

Adventure is something that’s easy to find every day at camp. Many of the outdoor activities, of course, offer the sort of challenge and require the sort of nerve we know are required of something adventurous. Each of these comes with a little bit of risk, plenty of safety gear and protocols, and a big thrill as a payoff for giving it a try. What at first looks a little scary, intimidating and maybe even wildly impossible, turns out to be exciting and rewarding.

camp challenge course bridge
camp climbing tower kid

Take for example the zipline course at Rockbrook. This is a unique course we designed to be scenic, a progression of challenges, and a unique thrill. It’s a series of three different zips and three challenge bridges. Woven into the forest, each zip goes between huge boulders, among the trees, and even a waterfall above the main part of camp. The first zip is slower, and the last is an eye-popping, you-can’t-help-but-scream, blast. The last zip glides right in front of the office in camp giving everyone on the hill a great view of the action. The girls wear a helmet and climbing harness tethered to a dual-wheel pulley with a steel backup clip. Launching on a zip, trusting this equipment, takes courage, but the exciting payoff comes right away as the girls zoom through the air waving their arms.

A similar adventure, but one that requires more physical strength, is climbing our high-ropes Alpine Tower. This tower is 50-feet tall and offers dozens of routes to the top, each with a unique challenge requiring balance, strength and nerve. Climbers wear a special harness and then tie into a rope that will hold them if they lose their grip or footing while climbing. They climb by pulling up and balancing on small holds bolted to a complex log structure. After taking just a few steps up, it already feels high in the air, but by concentrating on the puzzle of what to hold and where to step, the girls make it the top where they have a tree-top view of the forest. Most adults I know would really struggle climbing the tower, but not these Rockbrook girls. They are strong!

summer camp water slide plunge
summer camp hammock nest

Another great example of a regular adventure experience at Rockbrook is the waterslide at our lake. To ride the slide you first walk along a boardwalk and up a series of steps and platforms. At the top it’s almost 50 feet up! Water sprays down on the slide which is made from a vinyl tarp strung between two parallel cables that swoop down to just above the surface of the water. The ride is 150-feet of splashy, slick acceleration ending with a powerful crash into the water below. It feels a little daunting at the top, but also inviting in a strange sort of way— like all adventure. But once you take the leap and launch down the slide, the excitement of it all easily inspires campers to climb out at the dock and head around for another slide.

Here’s one last example. It’s the “Nest.” The Nest is another totally unique feature of camp hidden in the forest. Partway up the hike to Castle Rock, the big rockface above camp, there’s a cave-like area where the rock overhangs to create a large, dry area. We have drilled multiple rock hangers into the rock there, providing anchor points for up to 14 hammocks to be strung in different directions. Groups of girls, each with a hammock and a set of straps, can head up there to enjoy a comfortable, shady rest in that special environment. Along with a book, journal or friendship bracelet making supplies, a water bottle and a snack, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends.

All of these examples of adventure at camp are moments when the campers find themselves leaning toward something that at first might cause them to hesitate. Despite those feelings, the campers here, even the youngest Juniors, embrace adventure. With the encouragement and support of the other kids around them, everyone is empowered to give things a try. Once again, that community spirit reaps collective rewards. At camp, we’re adventurous together, each and every day.

classic summer camp girls

Instantly Empowered

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.

summer camp tennis serve

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

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.

creative summer camp kids

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.

strong summer camp children

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.

powerful summer camp cabin group

The Self-Discovery of Camp

The other day I overheard a young camper say to her friend, in all seriousness, “I’m never going to leave this place.” She was so taken by how good it was feeling to be at camp, she never wanted to leave. Now, she said that just after we handed out the popsicles before breakfast on the 4th of July, and that probably had something to do with it, but I’ve heard versions of this comment many other times as well. “I always can’t wait to get back to camp.” “Camp is my Happy Place.” “I look forward to camp all year long.” These are common refrains.

confident summer camp girls

I don’t think you can explain these feelings of happiness at camp by pointing to the variety of activities, the great Rockbrook food (including the surprise morning popsicles), the beautiful wooded campus we enjoy, or any particular “perk” like that. If not these external trappings, then why do these Rockbrook girls love camp so intensely and often with such loyalty? I have one theory, but there’s bound to be other reasons. Today a group of senior campers (probably about 15 years old), a CIT and I ended up talking about another idea that can help us understand.

We started with a phrase we often hear at the closing Spirit Fire where campers and staff members talk about what camp means to them. The phrase is, “Camp is the place where I’ve learned the most about myself.” These teenagers all nodded in agreement that this was true for them too. They agreed that there is something special about Rockbrook that leads to self-awareness, to a better understanding of “who you really are.” “OK, that’s really great,” I said, “but what is it about camp that encourages this?” How is camp different from other places in ways that make it well suited for this kind of self-discovery? That question really got them going, and soon we had several examples.

climbing success camp girl

First, they said the pace of camp life really helps. There’s simply more time for self-reflection, more opportunities to try new things and explore, more opportunities to relax and connect with the people around them. One girl said back at home she feels busy most of the time, “up at 7am and back home at 7pm,” she said. Everyone agreed that having large stretches of free time at camp was a wonderful thing. That freedom made a difference to them.

They also said at camp there are “fewer distractions” mostly because they do not have their phones. This was a big deal to them. They admitted that one reason they love camp, ironically, was because they had given up something they use everyday, all day, at home. This makes sense to me too. If every spare moment is consumed by retreating from the real world into the algorithmically curated virtual world of social media and the internet, then what’s left? If a smartphone is always with us, ready to provide instant gratification (distraction), won’t we skip over important details around us and fail to pay attention to what we might discover? These girls seemed to think so. With no phones at camp, I think they are relishing the expansion of awareness being techfree provides them. And part of what they’re noticing is their true selves.

creative summer camp girl

I added one last point to the conversation. If you ask older campers why they keep coming back to camp, they’ll tell you, “It’s the people.” By that I think they mean, “the people at camp are friendly, kind people who make me feel good. They accept me, include me, and don’t judge me.” This sense of belonging, being a part of a community that cares about you no matter what, is a powerful force. It inspires a sort of personal confidence to let the real you shine, to drop those ideas of who you “should” be. It’s very common, after all, for most of us to fall victim to pressures of conformity, to create versions of ourselves that align with assumed ideals of personality, ability and beauty. But if that’s all we do, how will we discover what’s unique about each of us? If we’re just posing most of the time, doing our best to hide any hint of “imperfection,” (thinking this will help people “like” us), who are we really?

I think these campers understand this too. Maybe not explicitly, but they know that at Rockbrook they are safe to discard these social facades and explore other, deeper aspects of who they are. The people here at camp, the whole supportive community, makes this possible. When you realize that people at camp don’t really care what you look like, you can let you hair down, literally and figuratively. That’s the gift that can lead to greater self-awareness, much greater self-confidence, and greater contentment in the long run.

proud summer camp girl

Taken together, these three characteristics of camp life— time for reflection, ditching phone-based distractions, and a community of supportive people —help explain why girls feel they learn about themselves at camp. It’s worth noting too, that these campers saw this as a very good thing. Since this kind of self-discovery is really difficult back at school, they yearn for these opportunities and so cherish their time at camp. They “can’t wait to get back,” and feel good like this again. Maybe we can say these girls love camp because it’s fun, but also because it helps them grow. Yes, let’s say that.

Oh, and one more thing comes to mind. If you want to help your girls grow like this at home, let’s help them by carving out some time when they can slow down, be fully disengaged from their smartphones, and be with people who truly care about them. That’s certainly not easy, but not impossible either. How about a phone-free sleepover with friends, spent playing games instead of watching a movie? Family time one Saturday morning, spent outside? Those are just a couple of ideas that are also not necessarily easy, but I hope give you some encouragement to try. I believe our kids really do want these sorts of experiences but are hampered by forces beyond their control. They need our help. Fortunately, there is camp, but can’t we do more? I believe we can.

summer camp teenager girls

Second Session Video Glimpse

Robbie Francis of FrancisFilmworks has returned this summer to film and present a series of his excellent highlights videos for us.

For many years Robbie has been making these occasional videos at Rockbrook, much to everyone’s delight. It’s a real treat to see how he conveys the sweet interactions and overall feeling of camp life in just under two minutes.

Robbie filmed earlier this week and now we have his first video for the second session. Take a look and enjoy a glimpse into life at Rockbrook. It’s great fun to watch.

Celebrating Double Time

We’re always celebrating something at Rockbrook. It might be someone’s birthday or a camper’s first bullseye in archery, or just the simple fact that we’re having a yummy homemade dessert for dinner. But today was the 4th of July, so we were celebrating double time. And it started first thing this morning even before getting out of bed!

camp horses morning wake up

That’s because instead of our regular rising bell, the campers woke to the sounds of hoof beats and shouts of “The British are coming! The British are coming!” up and down the cabin lines. Following a long tradition at camp, the riding staff, dressed in their best red, white and blue, provided this alarm as they rode horses into camp. Somewhat sleepy-eyed, the girls came out to the hill and were surprised to find 4th of July Popsicles for them. The Hi-Ups raised the American and the Rockbrook flags, followed by everyone reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “America the Beautiful.”

Before heading to breakfast, everyone went down to the lake to watch the international staff perform a silly skit that involved kayaks and several counselors jumping in the lake. A “proclamation” was read “sentencing” these friends to the “Rockbrook lake,” something extra “refreshing” this time of the day.

camp girls dressed for the 4th of july

Today was also the day when we could make as many things as possible red, white and blue. There were posters in the dining hall, flag-patterned tablecloths, ribbons and lights strung. Of course, the campers and staff weren’t shy about dressing up for the occasion. Everything from full face paint to illuminated headbands and fairy wings popped out. It seemed like the international counselors were even more excited to dress up and celebrate the 4th.

For lunch, Rick served an all-american classic picnic with hotdogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob, baked beans and wavy potato chips. As an extra treat, we loaded the creek near Curosty with cans of Cheerwine soda for everyone. On this hot summer day, it was nice to eat outside and enjoy our lunch picnic.

Regular camp activities filled our day up to dinner, but it was hard to forget that it was the 4th of July. The colorful costumes and accessories seemed to multiply throughout the day. Hikers wore patriotic scarves, while goofy glasses, beads and more headbands could be seen in just about every activity. The temporary tattoos we handed out quickly became the most popular way to expand your look for the holiday. And “Happy 4th of July!” was the most common excited greeting.

NC camp hiking view

The celebration kicked into a higher gear after dinner when we held our “firecracker relays” down at the lake. This was a fun event of different games and relays where teams or pairs of campers raced to accomplish different tasks. We had classic greased watermelon swimming races, an “egg and spoon” relay, as well as sack races across the nearby archery field. Another relay had girls put on a t-shirt, swim a lap and then transfer the t-shirt to a team member without letting go of each other’s hands. Challenging! Another game had the girls wade into the lake and collect only the red, white or blue pingpong balls floating in one section. The funniest was a game that involved throwing cheeseballs toward a team member who had a blob of shaving cream on their head. The goal was to stick as many balls on their head as possible. Silly! The “Bucket Trivia” challenge was also hilarious. If you answered a question wrong— like “What’s the largest state in the US?” —you got wet! Many buckets of water were dumped.

As dusk settled, the grand finale of the day arrived: our very own Rockbrook Camp fireworks show! Everyone received glow sticks, and with fun pop music blasting, the camp became a colorful dance party filled with cheers as the fireworks lit up the night sky. It was a perfect ending to our 4th of July celebration at camp.