Pennsylvania offers some of the best summer camps in the USA. Pennsylvania is a camper’s paradise, with twenty state forests and 54,000 miles of streams and rivers. Pennsylvania summer camps offer fishing, kayaking, canoeing, all types of water sports, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking and archery. Most camps also offer a few activities unique to that camp. The average summer temperature in Pennsylvania is less than 85 degrees, but August can get sultry, summer evenings often requiring a sweatshirt.
If you’ve ever been to a traditional summer camp, you know the usual drill: Reveille, ablutions, flag ceremony and breakfast. Then your day is broken down into one-hour activities that the kids chose from a list and plan their schedule accordingly. Traditional camps are ideal for easily bored children or children with wide-ranging interests.
There are also specialized camps, that concentrate on improving performance in one or two focused activities. There are sports camps, dance camps, computer camps and music camps. These camps also make time for traditional camp activities to provide a well-rounded experience. Extremely motivated children who prefer to pursue one or two particular interests do well at these kinds of camps.
Following are four camps in Pennsylvania that fall into the traditional and specialized modes.
1. CAMP TIOGA
Camp Tioga is traditional co-ed camp for children between the ages of 8 and 15, located in Thompson, Pennsylvania, in the Endless Mountains region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA). The following link leads to a video of the first day of arrivals at the camp last year, which is well worth viewing if you are considering Camp Tioga.
http://www.camptioga.com/tmpl.php?pagename=pa_first24hours
Camp Tioga will pick up and drop off your child at two locations in New York and New Jersey, or will arrange to pick your child up at a local airport or bus station. Of course, you are always free to load up the family vehicle and cart your child to camp on your own.
Camp Tioga stretches over 110 acres. The bunks are air-conditioned, the two pools are heated. Largely a traditional camp, Camp Tioga also offers an arts program with arts and crafts and ceramics, dance, photography, and performing arts, and an academic program offers computer classes, astronomy and a camp newspaper. Camp Tioga is unique in one aspect — while other camps may have trapezes, Camp Tioga offers a full circus program. With qualified instructors providing safe, fun and exciting lessons on professional equipment, your child can “fly through the air with the greatest of ease,” learning trapeze and mini-trapeze. If they’d rather stay on the ground, clowning, juggling, and acrobatics are also offered.
http://www.camptioga.com/tmpl.php?pagename=pr_circus
Full session: June 27, 2009 – August 15, 2009 -$8795.00.
First half session: June 27, 2009 – July 25, 2009 — $5395.00.
Second half session: July 26, 2009 – August 15, 2009 — $4795.00.
Camp Tioga website: http://www.camptioga.com/tmpl.php?pagename=ab_welcome
2. THE ROCK FARM MUSIC CAMP
The Rock Farm in Camptown, Pennsylvania, is a two-week rock-and-roll program, located on a mountaintop in northeastern Pennsylvania, near Scranton. It is an ACA accredited co-ed camp for 8 to 16 year olds. Offering daily lessons in drums and guitar, improvisation and songwriting classes, campers can become part of a staff-directed band, with recording and performance opportunities. Music lessons, band rehearsals, and individual practice time take up most of the campers’ day, but there is always time to pursue other activities. Campers will enjoy and take part in a Band Night and Cabaret where all the camper bands perform, three rock-intensive performances, and a Showcase of works-in-progress. Other activities include a Monologue and Dialogue Night of monologues, poetry and skits, a bonfire, a movie night, a DJ dance, and three theatre productions.
This year’s sessions:
Rock Intensive 1: 07/05/2009 to 07/18/2009 — $ 1,965.00.
Rock intensive 2: 07/26/2009 to 08/08/2009 — $ 1,965.00.
The Rock Farm website:
http://www.mysummercamps.com/cgi-bin/camps/page.cgi?g=Detailed%2FThe_Rock_Farm_L28363.html;d=1
3. CAMP GREELEY
Camp Greeley is located on a 250-acre private estate in Greeley, Pennsylvania, about 90 miles from New York City and 130 miles from Philadelphia. A coed traditional camp in the Poconos, Camp Greeley is accredited by the ACA, and has been owned and operated by the Buynak Family since 1961. It offers athletics, creative and performing arts, aquatics, horseback, tennis, flying trapeze, gymnastics and a skate park.
Camp Greeley’s claim to fame is their “First-Time Camper Guarantee.” Using established methods to help calm a new camper’s trepidations, Camp Greeley’s staff addresses what often proves to be an emotional event for a first-time camper. Before camp begins, a Pen Pal program enables campers to meet other campers with whom they may share interests, and a handbook is provided the family. During camp, child care professionals supervise the campers and counselors, and new campers are paired with other new campers. After camp closes, a newsletter keeps the campers up on current camp news and in touch with other campers, a calendar with photos of their camping experience provides pleasant memories, and a winter reunion fosters lasting friendships
With over 60 different activities, senior campers (5th grade and up) can chose their own daily program, while junior campers (4th grade and younger), are provided a structured program overseen by the cabin counselors. There are activities every evening, and special events throughout the child’s stay.
Lake Greeley Camp offers 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks sessions for boys and girls ages 6-15, with a maximum of 350 campers. Session tuitions are: $7,400 for a full season (June 28th to August 20th, $6,200 for a six-week session, $4,400 for a four-week session, and $2,400 for one of their four two-week mini-sessions.
Camp Greeley website: http://www.lakegreeley.com/index.html
4. THE SUSQUEHANNOCK CAMPS
“Self-confidence, fair play, community and leadership” is the motto of the Susquehannock Camps in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Located in Brackney, Pennsylvania, between Scranton, Pennsylvania and Binghampton, New York, Susquehannock for Boys and Susquehannock for Girls are “brother/sister,” ACA accredited camps, sharing a 100-acre campus. While their activities are largely independent, mixers and coed activities are occasionally planned for the older campers.
Campers participate in individual and team ball sports, swimming and canoeing, and a regatta is held ever year. Tennis, archery and mountain biking, golf, martial arts and weight lifting are offered. Horseback riding, field trips, arts & crafts, drama, campfires and non-traditional activities, such as each camp’s own particular traditions that have developed over the years, fill the campers’ days. http://susquehannock.com/2009.htm
The Susquehannock philosophy is that social, moral and physical development can be accomplished through combining athletics and adventure activities, family-style dining, and cabin life. Campers are taught respect for others, conflict resolution, and fair play. The camaraderie and shared responsibility often result in life-long friendships. The Susquehannock Camps also encourage campers to develop a healthy lifestyle and instill in them a respect for the environment.
The Susquehannock Camps have a capacity of 200. The 2009 season begins on June 28, with 3, 4 and 7 week sessions. Tuition runs between $2,500 and $6,670, with a discount if you sign up before January 20th. The following link will take you to their schedule.
http://susquehannock.com/2009.htm
The Susquehannock Camps website: http://susquehannock.com/
