About Roughing It Day Camp
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.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Children aged 5 and up interested in water sports (swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, rowing).Kids who thrive in an all-outdoor, nature-focused, and hands-on learning environment.Parents looking for a camp that emphasizes life skills, environmental education, and character development (leadership, teamwork).Families seeking a summer camp with a strong, consistent community and high staff/camper retention.Teenagers who might be hesitant about camp but benefit from a welcoming atmosphere and opportunities to make friends and develop leadership.
Why families love it
- 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.
Insider tips
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- Described by long-term parents as 'supervised better than any other camp'.
What parents say
"This 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 hearteni"
8 months ago
"The 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!"
9 months ago
"My 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."
a year ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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