Roughing It Day Camp
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Roughing It Day Camp offers a deeply enriching, all-outdoor summer experience focused on building practical life skills, fostering a love for nature, and developing strong social bonds. With nearly 50 years of operation, it consistently provides high-quality supervision, diverse water activities, environmental education, and a nurturing community where children of all ages thrive and eagerly return year after year.
Key Highlights
- ✓Structured swim lessons 3 times a week, noted for building confidence and safety even for new swimmers (e.g., a 5-year-old).
- ✓Wide range of outdoor activities including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and rowing.
- ✓Environmental lessons that teach about wildlife, insects, and animal conservation.
- ✓Unique hands-on activities like cooking classes (e.g., making ice cream, a frequently recounted highlight).
- ✓Exceptional, genuinely caring, responsible, and polite camp counselors, many of whom are former campers themselves.
- ✓Strong emphasis on developing life skills, leadership, and team skills, particularly beneficial as children get older.
- ✓Fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and lasting friendships among campers and staff over multiple years.
- ✓Beautiful reservoir setting provides an immersive and authentic outdoor program.
- ✓Successfully engages teenagers (e.g., a 14-year-old begged for extended weeks and made many friends).
Standout Features
- ⭐Comprehensive all-outdoor program set in a beautiful reservoir location.
- ⭐Consistent, high-quality supervision described as 'better than any other camp'.
- ⭐A safe and nurturing camp culture where children feel comfortable to explore and grow.
- ⭐Experienced and inspiring counselors, many with a long-standing history with the camp.
- ⭐Opportunities for learning practical life skills and engaging in hands-on experiences (e.g., fishing, rowing, cooking).
- ⭐Focus on environmental education and developing an appreciation for nature.
- ⭐Strong emphasis on social development, including camaraderie, leadership, and team-building.
- ⭐Proven track record with almost 50 years in business and high camper retention rates.
- ⭐Flexibility to accommodate extended stays when possible (e.g., a 14-year-old extended for 2 more weeks).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →This camp is ideal for children who enjoy a full outdoor program, especially those interested in water activities like swimming, kayaking, and fishing.
- →Parents seeking a camp with a strong emphasis on character development, life skills, and environmental education will find this a great fit.
- →Expect children to form lasting bonds with peers and staff, as many campers and counselors return for multiple years, creating a strong community.
- →Consider this camp for long-term summer engagement, as it offers a consistent and growing experience for children as they age, from younger campers to potential future counselors.
- →Even initially hesitant teenagers can have a transformative experience, making friends and loving the activities.
Price & Value
While specific pricing is not mentioned in the reviews, the consistent testimonials highlight a transformative and memorable experience, with children eagerly returning for multiple years and even extending stays. The perceived value is exceptionally high due to the comprehensive outdoor program, skilled and caring staff, development of practical life skills, strong community building, and long-standing reputation.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Cooking classes (e.g., making ice cream) are offered as an activity within the camp program. A general policy regarding outside food or provided meals is not explicitly mentioned in these reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Described by long-term parents as 'supervised better than any other camp'.
- •Promotes a 'safe and nurturing culture' consistently highlighted by reviewers.
- •Counselors are described as responsible and skilled, ensuring safety, especially for new activities (e.g., Counselor Danny made a 5-year-old new swimmer 'comfortable and safe').
- •The camp's almost 50 years in business suggest well-established and time-tested safety protocols.
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 8 reviews)
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Andrea DeVincenzi
8 months agoThis summer, my son Jaxon, age 5, attended Roughing It Day Camp and the experience was nothing short of transformative. Over the three months, he not only honed his swimming skills, thanks to swim lessons 3 times a week, but he also developed a newfound confidence and love for the water. Special thanks to Camp Counselor Danny, who was an exceptional swim coach, making Jaxon very comfortable and safe as a new swimmer. The camp offered a plethora of outdoor activities that captivated Jaxon's interest, including kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, which quickly became his favorites. It was heartening to see him develop a genuine appreciation for nature. The environmental lessons provided valuable insights into wildlife, teaching him about various insects and the importance of animal conservation. Another highlight for Jaxon was the cooking classes, especially the day he made ice cream—a story he joyously repeats often. The camp counselors (many whom were former campers in their youth), were outstanding—responsible, polite, and incredibly skilled at educating and inspiring the children. I am immensely grateful for the nurturing and educational environment at Roughing It Day Camp. It's a place where children thrive outdoors and learn valuable life skills. I look forward to the possibility of Jaxon returning as a camp counselor in his college years, continuing the tradition of excellence. Highly recommend! Andrea
CNT Maintenance
9 months agoThe staff is very friendly and fun, the activities keep campers engaged and overall the experience is one of a kind. My daughter is looking forward to join again next summer. Thanks for a fun and memorable summer!
Eric Price
a year agoMy son has had a blast at Roughing it!! He has learned many life skills and experienced new things like fishing, rowing and more. He comes home telling us how fun camp was all the time!! Thanks to all the staff, see you next summer.
Kathryn Bell
6 years agoWhat a wonderful summer camp program Roughing It offers! It has been part of our summer for the past 8 years and my children still look forward to returning and catching up with friends, counselors and staff they have known throughout these years. The reservoir setting is beautiful and the all outdoor program is how summers should be spent - it is supervised better than any other camp I've seen and the camp has a safe and nurturing culture. We have found the counselors to be genuinely caring every single year and a great example to our children. The activities and fun at camp have been great but it is the camaraderie of the groups at Day Camp along with the leadership and team skills encouraged every day that have meant the most as our children have got older. After almost 50 years in business this camp knows what they are doing, don't hesitate to send your children here - they'll have a summer to remember.
Sara Dillon
a year agoThis was my sons first year going to camp. At 14 I thought "oh boy he's going to fight us on going" but nope he begged for 2 more weeks and the camp was able to make that happen. He was so excited everyday to get up and go and made a ton of friends. From the staff to the kids everyone was so welcoming and warm. He can't wait for next summer.