The facts don't support a healthy environment anymore. Counsellor turnover is huge, attendance is falling and the lazy Director's need to reset their moral compass. For $10,000, you should be getting a much higher professional level of skill and education from the administration -- not a crew of half-literate, mendacious, ex-jocks. They are in desperate need of new blood as they've all been there way too long.
This used to be a great camp and probably will be again in a few years when the current administration leaves due to their age and complete lack of caring. While the facilities are solid and good, they've recently had a very difficult time attracting quality, multi-summer counsellors. It's partly the pay and partly the insular directors who are aging, feckless and look out for their own over the well-being of the campers. Never a good sign and why a lot of kind, well-liked and caring counsellors have left. They are so young and clueless it's amazing. My kid put in for sailing 6 straight weeks and never got on a boat despite the counsellor saying he'd make sure it happened. No organization or leadership skills at all. The current (2015) crop of counsellors is primarily new. Lots left over the year-- many who had been there decades. Of course, it's the best ones who leave and the "screamers" or knuckleheads who stay. Their inexperience shows as the sense of kind camaraderie has been replaced by cliques. None are experienced to know what to do so the classic "mean girl" and "cool guy" cliques run rampant over the other perfectly decent kids. This would normally be noticed by directors, but they are all so old, could care less, and are oblivious to what's happening around them. That happens when you're running a camp and are 75 years old. The directors are just dialing it in and living off the old reputation for the 7 week paycheck.
It's sad to see what was a great camp go downhill as these older directors turn a complete blind eye to much of the nasty behavior that you see and hear around you. It's especially a problem with the teenage level groups. Invidious jealousy, spoiled brats (many who are related to administrators) and threatening behavior don't make it fun for many campers now. The problem starts with the completely useless directors who run it and pay lip service to their well-meaning, pablum-filled beliefs that they state over and over again. It's a real shame it's fallen on such hard times. Wait for the current leaders to leave before you think about sending your kid here and look at counsellor longevity. But definitely make sure the old Directors are out of the picture and hope the new ones reinstall, a fair and caring environment based in integrity and respect. All traits that have faded with the current geriatric Directors. read more
