In the town of Becket, in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, on 90 acres around Center Lake. It is three hours north of New York City, two hours west of greater Boston and about an hour from Albany International Airport and Bradley International Airport, which serves the Hartford and Springfield area.
Boys and girls aged 7 to 16, in a coeducational camp run as two campuses. It is a common choice for families who want a traditional, close-knit sleepaway experience, and a good first camp for a child nervous about a first summer away.
From the New York metropolitan area, up and down the East Coast from Boston to Florida, from California, Oregon, Texas and Colorado, and from an international community including Canada, Spain, France, Italy, China and the Dominican Republic.
The full camp season lasts seven weeks and most campers attend for all of it. There is also a four-week first-month enrolment with the option to extend to the full season, meant for campers not yet ready for a whole summer; it is open to campers entering fifth grade or below in the autumn after the camp season.
Both. Campers travel with their cabin and age group for skill-building instruction across every area of camp, and also take individual choice periods each day to spend more time at their favourite activities.
The staff are teachers, coaches and college-aged counsellors, professionally trained before the season begins. Each is interviewed personally by the directors, must have excellent references, and is screened with background checks.
The whole camp eats together. Campers sit with their bunkmates and counsellors and are served family-style by camper waiters, the oldest boys at camp - a long-standing tradition. No meal goes by without singing and cheering from the whole camp.
First-time parents get a call from a director within the first forty-eight hours, and the timing of the first call home is agreed from there. Most campers speak with their parents every seven to ten days. Parents can email their camper before 11am for delivery the same day, and campers write letters home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
It is treated as a normal feeling. Directors, head counsellors, group leaders and counsellors work together to help a camper settle, and Camp Big Brothers and Sisters help newcomers make friends and find their feet in camp life.
Chartered coach transport runs on the first and last days of the camp season for campers travelling from the New York metropolitan area, Montreal and nearby airports. Transport to and from the scheduled departure points is covered by tuition.
Not a uniform as such, but campers keep a list of t-shirts, shorts and other sportswear for special occasions, available through the camp outfitter. Laundry is collected weekly by a commercial service and returned within two days.
Anything that can send or receive email or calls, play video content or reach the internet is not permitted at camp. The camp treats time away from screens as part of what makes the summer work.
The camp is not religiously affiliated, but it marks the Jewish tradition of Shabbat on Friday evenings: blessings over the candles, wine and challah before dinner, and a short inclusive service about values and tradition before the weekly campfire. It is optional for campers who do not take part, and arrangements are made for any camper who wishes to attend church services.
With recognition at morning line-up, decorations in the dining hall, a call home, a package from home and an all-camp birthday celebration at dinner.
