Campers

What’s the difference between camp and school? That’s the question I asked a few campers today as I wandered around camp. You might think that’s like asking what’s the difference between chocolate cake and canned peas, but there’s more to it than just one’s “fun” and the other is “work.” You might also think that these Rockbrook girls wouldn’t have much to say about this, but oh no. They went on and on about what they loved about camp and how it was very different from life at school. They had immediate answers, and some were very thoughtful.

A few of the campers answered with differences about what you do at camp. “At camp I get to ride horses.” “School stops after 8 hours, but we live at camp 24 hours a day.” “At camp I’m outside all the time.” “There are no parents here.” “At camp I have more free time to do what I want.” All true! A sleepaway camp like Rockbrook provides all of these experiences. It offers all of the activities you see on the website, the adventure, crafts, sports and horseback things that girls love to do. They enjoy doing so many outdoor things that are not available at most schools— zipping down the waterslide and through the trees on the zipline course, shooting archery, playing in the creek, and riding horses. And yes, at camp the girls are living together away from their parents, making decisions for themselves, navigating new challenges and experiences without a helicopter or a snowplow to assist. We don’t schedule every minute at camp, allowing the girls more freedom to explore, to meander, and follow their interests. All of this empowers them far more than what school, with its sit-still culture, will allow.

A common answer from the older campers I polled was, “At camp nobody has a phone.” One continued, “and that’s a good thing because we’re not distracted and we can really connect with people.” I love this answer! While there are some schools that have restricted, even banned, phone use, the majority of teenagers are spending hours of their day scrolling through TikTok and Instagram. Instead of the real world, with all its messy, sometimes uncomfortable, yet rich and interesting nuances, kids are learning about life through corporate algorithms, sensationalized media, and sanitized snippets. Instead of helping them connect with each other, their smartphones are making them lonelier and more anxious, as Jonathan Haidt has recently written. And kids feel this inherent dissatisfaction when they only have electronic solutions to boredom. Being camp kids, they know it’s not good for them to be on their phones and screens a lot. One camper even said it; “I wish there were no phones at school.” Haidt argues for exactly that— banning phones in school. There’s a lot of evidence pointing to how that would help our kids. Tremendously.

Several campers answered my question by saying, “At camp there’s no social pressure to be someone you’re not.” And, “Rockbrook allows you to be your true self without the fear of being judged.” “Here you have the freedom to express yourself.” School, with its standards, evaluations, and grades, is inherently a competitive and judgmental place where kids must strive for academic achievement, and perform for social recognition. Every school has social cliques that beg the question of who belongs and who doesn’t. Camp is the other way around; “it’s a welcoming and accepting place,” as one camper put it. The people at camp are more supportive and encouraging. Their kindness comes through as acceptance, no matter your looks, smarts or talents. Camp kids feel like they belong, like they’re included, each and every one a part of this community. Camp sets a tone that rises above the uncertainty of self-confidence that defines many school environments.

A counselor put it this way, “At camp I have nothing to worry about.” More than basic necessities, I think she meant social worries, doubts about belonging, fears about not measuring up, concern over being valued despite one’s flaws. None of this is clear at school. In fact, a child’s school experience is often marked by concerns of self worth, plagued by questions like, “Am I smart enough?” “Do people like me?” “Who are my friends?” At Rockbrook, those questions simply don’t come up because everyone is treated kindly, is accepted and included from the very first day. No worries!

Another camper answered this question about comparing camp and school by simply noting, “people are happy here.” That might be the biggest difference, and perhaps the true consequence of all the other differences. Kids are happier at camp because they get to do a lot of cool, exciting things, their days filled with surprises and treats that no school can match. Instead of being rushed and overly scheduled, they’ve got time to relax and explore things as they desire. And they’re also away from their technology, interacting closely with other kids and the wonders of the real world. They’re happier because they don’t have to worry about being judged, being included, or having friends who care about them. At camp, they’re not lonely, they’re engaged. They’re clapping their hands and singing, being as silly as possible with unbridled joy. There’s no doubt; Kids love camp.

For everyone I asked, the differences were clear. “Camp life is the best life,” they said with real conviction. School, not so much. Sadly for many kids, school is too often an unhappy place defined by academic and social pressures, anxious feelings, with limited outlets beyond the broken promises made by smartphones. “If only school could be more like camp,” one camper wistfully imagined. I believe it can be, and there are certainly good schools striving to create a similar kind of haven for kids. Meanwhile, there’s Rockbrook: a delightful community where your girls can grow and flourish in the most marvelous ways.

Time at summer camp provides a unique opportunity for campers to rediscover the joy in life’s simpler pleasures. After a few days away from the distractions of screens and electronics, campers start to immerse themselves in experiences that often go unnoticed in their daily lives. Whether it’s savoring a favorite dessert (Rockbrookies!), marveling at a beautiful flower, bonding with the camp dog, or creating a special craft to bring home, these simple activities become cherished moments.

Kids at camp learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, the value of human connections, and the satisfaction of creating something with their own hands. These simple pleasures not only bring immediate happiness but also cultivate lasting memories and skills that will extend beyond their time at camp, hopefully into their lives as adults.

Camp is a place where imagination can run free, and anyone will happily join you in whatever game you’ve cooked up. With all of nature as the playground, we regularly see games of school, babysitting, pretend shopping trips, and so much more! Costumes are worn for no reason (hey, it’s a Tuesday, let’s all wear tutus!) and no one bats an eye at wacky hair, nicknames, or silly hats.

For example, this evening at 7:30pm, I had a dinner reservation at one of the finest establishments in Brevard. I was warmly greeted by the host, enjoyed a seat with a magnificent view of the mountains, and was served up a plate of whatever I requested by the friendly wait staff.

This “restaurant” took place in the bubbling creek that runs through camp, and my “dinner” was mud pies of various sizes, decorated with leaves and flower petals. All the while, the campers played the various roles, chattering excitedly about their plans for expansion, hours of operation, and menu offerings. Restaurants are a serious business!

It’s so much fun to watch the campers settling into their authentic and creative selves, being joyful and silly and playful. New friendships are formed as imaginations go wild.

Here at Rockbrook, the shrieks of joy at dessert time, the wild cheers from the tetherball court, and the sweet talk whispered to the chickens show us how quickly kids adapt to camp life and bring their exuberance to the smallest of moments.

As the sun slips behind the blue-green mountains, we all find joy in the slower contrast to the fast-paced, technology-driven world. We slow down and engage with our surroundings more deeply, and look forward to another day full of small joys in the heart of a wooded mountain.

—Miranda Barrett
   Camp Mom, former camper and counselor

Returning to the idea that camp is “educational” because it provides a life filled with new experiences, I’m again left wondering how it’s educational. I’ve already considered how Rockbrook’s emphasis on community and the quality of our relationships with each other, namely them being guided by strong values of kindness, caring and generosity, creates a context for fostering creativity, compassion, and courage. Camp uniquely empowers children to engage new experiences, to explore and marvel at the wonders of nature, and to build connections with the people around them. We know that camp is a place to grow in all of these important ways.

There seems to be more we might say about this. What about the campers? You might not guess it, but they too understand camp as place where they learn things. To understand this, Naomi, one of our assistant Directors, and I wandered around after dinner and asked a few campers what they thought. We asked, “What is something you learned while at camp?” And, “Is there something you learned at camp that you’ll use back at home or later in life?” We asked girls from all the age groups and were pleased to hear what they said about what they “take away” from camp. It’s memories of the fun and a huge set of friends, but also even more.

Here are some of their answers. I think you’ll be impressed.

1. “New skills.” Certainly there are many skill-based activities campers try at camp and then find themselves keeping as an interest or hobby. It might be sewing, horseback riding, painting, archery, tying knots, etc. “I learned how to paddle a canoe!” one camper said proudly.

2. “The importance of kindness.” Rockbrook girls know this instinctively. They expect kindess from others just as they aim to be nice themselves. One girl put it like this— “Being unkind just isn’t worth it.”

3. “How to share my space.” This makes great sense when the girls are living so closely in 100-year old cabins. “You have to respect other people’s space.”

4. “Teamwork.” Working together as a cabin group each day for cabin chores, clearing the dining hall table, and evening program skits are good examples of teamwork at camp.

5. “It’s OK to be myself.” This is a testament to the supportive and accepting character of the Rockbrook community, a place where girls can escape the kind of social criticism and judgment they often endure at school, freeing them to be more genuine. The girls feel the difference.

6. “To try new things.” This can take some courage, but here too the support of the camp community, and the enthusiasm for everything we do at camp, makes this a common experience.

7. “To live without my phone.” I love this response! I believe learning to moderate one’s phone use is a critical modern skill, and these campers already understand the importance of that. Good work!

8. “Flexibility.” At camp the girls learn to see the bright side when things don’t always go perfectly, to be open to compromise for the needs of others, and to adapt to the environment of camp despite it being so different from life at home.

9. “How to get along with others who are different than me.” Here too, joining the camp community means meeting diverse people, supporting and encouraging them, and receiving that same friendship in return.

10. “To be more grateful.” There is so much at Rockbrook to be thankful for. From what we get to do, to who we are doing it with, to the beautiful setting where we live— the whole experience inspires us to say “Thank you.” You hear it said out loud all the time.

Aren’t these amazing answers!? It impressed me to hear how these Rockbrook girls, amidst the fun of camp life, also appreciate the good it is doing. They seemed to understand that they were learning and growing in ways they would continue to value later in life. Yay! That’s exactly what we hope happens at Rockbrook. Camp should be meaningful like this.

Perhaps when you pick up your camper you’ll have a chance to ask her what she learned at camp. On the drive home, I think you’ll be impressed by how much she’s grown and understood while here.

There I was walking up the driveway from the lake after taking a dip in the warm sun. I looked to my left and spotted a friendly familiar face peeking out from behind the ferns. I ran over and announced to my friends that I had found the gnome.

What is the gnome you may ask? The gnome first came to Rockbrook back in the 2000s as a fun game introduced by a Hi-Up. She had brought a ceramic gnome to camp and announced after lunch that she was going to hide the gnome and the rest of camp had to find it. Whoever found the gnome was then tasked to share where they found it before hiding it themselves. Since this game started, we have had a few different gnomes (sadly, ceramic gnomes can break easily when dropped.) Currently, we have Lawrence the meditating gnome.

There’s nothing quite like finding the gnome. Out of my nine years here at Rockbrook Camp, this was the very first time I (or anyone in my cabin) had found the gnome. I felt so proud, I couldn’t wait to announce to the entire camp that I had found it.

I recently interviewed a few lucky individuals who also shared the experience of finding the gnome during their camp career. Current Hi-Up Susanna shared, “when a girl in my cabin found the gnome I was very prideful.” When asked how she would feel finding the gnome herself she immediately added, “it would be a sense of accomplishment and completeness to my camp experience.” When asking long time camper/counselor Mary Holland if she had ever found the gnome, with such sadness she said, “not finding the gnome has been a true source of pain for me.” I then asked her what feelings would come to the surface if she had found the gnome. She replied, “finding the gnome would be the best day of my life. All I want is to find Lawrence one day.” Mary Holland, we wish you the best.

When it was my time to hide the gnome I had to focus on what was important to me when the next person found where I hid Lawrence. How tricky did I want it to be? Did I want to make them laugh because of the location he was in (such as placing him in a pipe by the creek?) What area of camp did I want to hide him?

Out in the field, I asked camper Reagan from M7 what she thought was most important when hiding the gnome. She replied, “in a dense area where people may not think to look…but not in a spot where it’s impossible to find him.” Reagan summed it up so well! When hiding Lawrence, he has to be outside of any building, he must be within camp boundaries, and he must be slightly visible so he can eventually be found! Sometimes Lawrence has gone weeks without being found because he was hidden a little too well.

I decided I wanted Lawrence to be found in a serene spot that would make someone giggle when they noticed his little blue hat sticking slightly above the plants. After hiding him, a camper found him later that day on her way down to the garden. I smiled happily as it was her turn to then hide the gnome.