<p>Does anyone have experience with this camp? (Hope this isn't in the wrong forum!) Would love to hear positive or negative. </p>
<p>Thanks for any input!</p>
<p>I worked there a long time ago!</p>
<p>I thought it looked great but it was too expensive for us.</p>
<p>A friend of my daughter went there for many years - loved it.</p>
<p>Friends’ kids went also for many years and just loved it. We visited - it looked great, but also too expensive for us. Loved the freedom they gave kids. Very creative. The kids we know who went are graduated from college now and very successful young adults.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input. I got one PM from a parent on the boards here that the facilities were very dirty, but it’s the first comment of that type I have heard. If anyone has any more feedback on that, it would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Do you think this camp would be appropriate for a “regular kid” as well? Or is it really for kids that are destined for performing arts careers?</p>
<p>No, it’s not just performing arts, it’s all arts and crafts (ceramics, weaving, etc.). Also, as far as I know, “regular” kids would be fine there too. It was and still is a wonderful place founded by and run by very fine people who are motivated to work with kids in the best of ways. </p>
<p>BTW, most summer camps are somewhat dirty; that’s kind of in the nature of summer camp. It’s good for kids not to worry about that sometimes! Not real dirt, but just summer stuff.</p>
<p>I know kids who went there,granted it was >5 years ago.They were all artsy types…I’m not really sure how a normal non-artsy oriented kid would fare there.
Also the supervision is somewhat lax (self governing,rooming situations w/o counselors in the immediate sleeping area,etc).If the kid is into sports of any kind it might not be the best setting.</p>
<p>There are some cool videos to watch on the you**** video site.</p>
<p>I know two girls that went there for many years- I think they both eventually became counselors. One was in to visual arts, mainly ceramics, weaving, sculpture; the other, visual arts and performing arts (never took visual arts in high school but was always in the musical). Both enjoyed it very much.</p>
<p>The facilities are run-down and the camp is not manicured-looking by any stretch, but it’s a wonderful place for creative kids.</p>
<p>D went there for 4 years, 2 as a camper, 2 as a CIT, and absolutely adored it. After two less than thrilling experiences in other more traditional overnight camps, she truly found her “home” there. She specialized in theater. It is a bit of a quirky place with many quirky kids, and not for everyone, but if it’s the right fit, it’s a wonderful summer. It doesn’t have a lake or beautiful setting like many camps, but the kids who go there aren’t really outdoorsy and don’t care. The cabins are small and, shall we say, “rustic”, but no one is in them except to sleep, and no one cares. It is run quite differently from typical overnight camps–there are no set schedules, the kids do what they want to do when they want to do it, so the camper has to be self-motivated to get involved in one or more of the activities. To give you one perspective, Hampshire College is known as “Bucks Rock Goes to College”. I’d be happy to tell you more in detail, just PM me.</p>
<p>Another nontraditional camp you may want to consider is Stone Mountain Adventures:</p>
<p>[Pennsylvania</a> Summer Camps Pennsylvania Teen Day Summer Camp PA Overnight Teens](<a href=“http://www.sma-summers.com/]Pennsylvania”>http://www.sma-summers.com/)</p>
<p>My daughter loved her time there.</p>
<p>It is a more general purpose kind of place - not particularly oriented to sports or arts.</p>
<p>Fendrock,</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendation, but I am looking into a camp for a younger kid…that camp is for ages 12 and up.</p>
<p>Check out Hidden Valley Camp in Maine.</p>
<p>Sorry to be so late on this thread, but just found it. I spent most of my teen years at Buck’s Rock. I was definitely more of a jock, and loved it. I think I spent 7 years there in total, as a camper, gymnastics CIT and then kitchen crew. Our kitchen crew represented many of the ivy schools.
Great place for kids to pursue their own passions and to discover new ones. The bunks are fine. When I was there, we had fairly traditional bunks with a cleaning crew that came in daily to sweep and clean up (not after us, just general maintenance.)</p>
<p>I still keep in touch with many of the kids who went to camp with me (we’re talking 30 years ago) and many have gone on to professional careers, but not necessarily artistic ones. I think BR can bring out an independent and artistic side that will only enhance future endeavors.</p>
<p>I spent 9 years at Buck’s Rock in the 70’s (camper through counselor) and worked there again 6 more times as an old fart (till last summer) to pay for my kids to go. It’s mostly a teenage camp though they now take some kids as young as 10, many are 11, and there’s a 2 week junior program at the end that starts at age 8. You can PM me if you like and I’ll be happy to give you an earful.</p>
<p>I’ll just add that your kid should probably have some artsy interests but really does not need to be talented. I never thought it was dirty, either, given that it’s a summer camp, not a spa. Living facilities are of course cramped, and most kids have other things on their minds than keeping their surroundings in order. The health department inspects every year and is always very happy.</p>