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<\/a>Each camper that attends Chestnut Lake is unique. We care about each and every child\u2019s experience, whether they are new to Chestnut or a longtime member of our camp family. And while the success of a camp session can be measured by each individual camper\u2019s moments of joy, friendship, and growth, what makes camp such a remarkable and powerful place is the strength and vibrance of the Chestnut Lake community. <\/b>We often hear from parents who have chosen Chestnut \u2013 especially those who have welcomed campers home from their first and subsequent summers with us in Beach Lake, PA \u2013 that it is the sense of family, the low-key and down-to-earth vibe, and the sense of comfort in our relative diversity and inclusion that make Chestnut special.<\/span><\/p>\nBRING IT OUT!<\/b><\/h2>\n
This saying is a derivative of an ideology that was introduced many years ago at camp: Bringing Out the Best in Me!<\/b> The phrase conveys our commitment at Chestnut to camp being a place for campers and staff to find their best and truest versions of themselves, and to allow their character, leadership, and confidence to develop and shine. Each of the following \u201cBring Out\u2026\u201d statements represent some areas of focus for us to create, reinforce, and sustain the \u201cBring it Out\u201d spirit at Chestnut Lake this summer:<\/span><\/p>\n One tradition at Chestnut that helps to introduce and reinforce these sorts of values in our campers and staff is the use of <\/span>Community Service Awards<\/b>\u00a0and other means throughout the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n When we gather for our weekly Community Campfire, a highlight of the program is the awarding of Community Service citations to campers and staff.<\/b> Throughout the week, individuals can write a nomination for another person that they feel has performed a meaningful service to members of the Chestnut community. Assistant Directors select the Community Service recipients to be honored each week, and the nominations are read aloud in front of camp before the awards are presented. This is a very special moment, and Community Service awardees will forever feel a sense of pride for being recognized in this way.<\/span><\/p>\n An honor that represents the \u201cBring It Out!\u201d principles is the weekly selection of a Director of the Day (DotD) for Boys Campus, Girls Campus, and Varsity Campus<\/b>. The three DotDs are announced in the morning at their lineup, presented with a DotD t-shirt, and given a journal that they will use throughout the day. They meet with our Director, Aaron Selkow, and the rest of our leaders at the end of the day, and join our daily leadership meeting to share their insights. Throughout the day, their peers will share feedback and ideas for making camp even better \u2013 as if they are the camp director \u2013 and they will be given access to some special behind-the-scenes moments. Campers are chosen as DotDs because they have been noticed by staff as being exceptional leaders who can help \u201cBring It Out!\u201d for themselves and for others in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n As a \u201cSession Camp,\u201d we appeal to a combination of families in search of the ideal spot<\/b>. Some parents went to camp themselves and like our commitment to an all-around experience that is rooted in transitions. Some families are looking for the right fit for a child who does lots of other things in summer. Some are excited for their child to attend all summer long (7 weeks,) but want the chance to start their child off with a shorter experience. And some of our camp parents \u2013 more than you might tend to find at another camp \u2013 did not go to camp growing up and find Chestnut to be the perfect combination of facilities, programming, and a sense of great security in our structure and leadership. More than 70% of our campers attend for 4 weeks or 3 weeks, but we are also proud of the spirit and dedication of our full summer campers who remain with us for all 7 weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n We have mastered the creation and execution of a shorter session without giving away the quality of the experience<\/b>. But more than anything else, our camp parents talk about their appreciation for the caring, structured, and low-key environment. This down-to-earth feeling for our campers underscores our dedication to appropriate competition on the fields or courts, but not in the social interactions between the campers at Chestnut Lake. Because we are a camp that attracts families from a more diverse geographic area (approximately 55% come from the NY\/NJ\/CT Tri-State region, 35% from the Mid-Atlantic states of PA\/MD\/DC, and the rest from FL and a variety of other locations), our campers can arrive at camp without having to carry lots of connections or history with other campers from home with them. That lends itself to the \u201cBring It Out!\u201d principle of Chestnut Lake being a place where kids can become the best and truest versions of themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n Our First Session (4 weeks) will be at our maximum capacity of campers, with approximately 435 children between rising 3rd and 12th grades on site<\/b>. The larger size of the First Session is common with Session Camps, as many families prefer a camp experience that begins soon after school may end (and the Second Session dates can be a bit harder for families in certain school districts). <\/span>With approximately 115 of those campers remaining for our Intersession (2-day) period after the First Session ends, we then welcome 200-250 Second Session (3 weeks) and Discovery Camp (5-day) campers and blend all kids for the last few weeks of the summer<\/b>. Our Full Summer campers sometimes enroll for that length of time before the summer begins, but many will come to camp as First Session campers who will receive their parents\u2019 permission to extend their stay in the Second Session.<\/span><\/p>\n Since Full Summer campers are mixed with campers staying for four or three weeks, they get to have friends in both sessions<\/b>. Some Full Summer campers will remain with a handful of bunkmates for the entire summer, but most will have the opportunity to be with many different kids in the First and Second Sessions. When the First Session campers depart, Full Summer campers will enjoy Visiting Day with their families at camp. Parents and siblings will join us to be with campers, enjoy lunch together, and experience special activities (details on Visiting Day will be shared before the start of the summer). The Intersession time for Full Summer campers will be a mix of programs on-site, a trip off-site with staff members, settling into their new cabin assignments for the rest of the summer, and gearing up for the arrival of our Second Session campers.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to our 7\/4\/3-week sessions, we also offer an amazing 5-day Discovery Camp program for rising 2nd through 4th graders<\/b>. We allow these younger children to have a true taste of camp where they are immersed in the community and program that awaits them in a subsequent summer. Campers can attend this session only once, and the program has been scheduled to begin at the same time as the Second Session. For more information about Discovery Camp, please <\/span>click here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have not already reviewed our Camp Handbook, you should access this helpful guide to find our Behavior at Camp<\/a><\/strong> resource regarding our expectations for every camper\u2019s overall behavior<\/strong> and the community principles we need them to be aware and respectful of while they are with us at Chestnut Lake. We strongly encourage parents to read this information and hope that you will engage your children in conversation about these insights before arriving at Chestnut Lake.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS<\/b><\/h2>\n
DIRECTOR OF THE DAY<\/b><\/h2>\n
THE CAMPERS & THEIR SESSIONS<\/b><\/h2>\n
OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS<\/b><\/h2>\n