A summer camp that gives you the skills and attitude to excel in your daily life.

 

"What do I want to do today?"

As a Montessori-inspired summer camp, we believe in giving campers the freedom and encouragement to pursue what interests them most. To that end, Buck's Rock provides teenagers and junior campers with a vast array of studios, equipment, and materials. Complementing our facilities is a staff of experienced and talented artists, teachers, and craftspeople selected with care based upon their proven abilities in working harmoniously with children.

Since we at Buck's Rock understand that young people benefit from adult guidance to best use their freedoms and make good choices, we offer an impressive camper:staff ratio of 2:1.

Our summer sleepaway camp living areas are supervised by guidance or house counselors who reside with the campers, provide leadership, stimulate initiative and encourage participation in camp activities. In working with campers at Buck's Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp, we aim to guide campers, not force them, by teaching them in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Our staff shares this philosophy, and the large number who return to Buck's Rock every summer ensures the continuity of our programs.

A typical Buck's Rock day…

It all starts at 7:30 when campers and staff wake-up. Breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:00, when the creative arts workshops and studios open for the day. On Sundays campers and staff may sleep until 8:30, breakfast is served at 9:00 and ends at 10:00 when workshops and studios open.

All workshops and studios are open between 9:00 and 12:00, and campers may work on projects in one or several different areas.

Shops close when lunch begins at 12:00, although campers who have scheduled music or performing arts and theater rehearsals or are involved in certain activities may attend lunch beginning at 11:45.

Between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. all work areas are temporarily closed for "rest hour", when campers may use the swimming pool, get food and drink at the Canteen, or simply relax with friends. Rest hour on Friday is "clean up hour", during which all campers are required to return to their bunks and tidy up.

At 2:00 the workshops reopen and campers resume their activities in the different work areas.

At 3:00, a snack is served in the Dining Hall which may be brought to the various studios. Campers continue to work at the creative workshops, studios and activity areas until dinnertime.

At 6:00 dinner is served (5:45 for those campers participating in a rehearsal or show that evening).

After dinner, the early evening activities begin and last until approximately 8:30. The main evening activity, such as theater plays, movies, or concerts, begin at around 8:30 and finish anytime between 10:00 and 10:30, at which point campers return to their bunks and prepare for bed.

 

The daily schedule— it's all up to you: dance, theater, music, studio arts, and more!

Example Schedule

 
  • Wake up with the first gong!

  • Head to breakfast at the dining hall, and on the way check the bulletin board for the daily rehearsal schedule for the two week play.

  • Head to Book Arts to get started on making a new sketchbook!

  • Head up to the Piano Shed for your private half hour piano lesson!

  • Go to the Actors’ Studio for a blocking rehearsal for the two-week play!

  • Head to the dining hall for wraps and tater tots for lunch!

  • Line up at the Canteen to get your free drink and free snack for the day! Then head back to your bunk to hang out with your roommates and play some cards!

  • You’ve got a Flameworking lesson! Head to the Flameworking shop to make glass beads that will become a beautiful necklace!

  • Time for the pool! Head back to your bunk to change into your bathing suit and then go cool off in the pool for a while!

  • After showering, head over to PASS to keep working on your screenprinting t-shirt design!

  • Time for dinner! Head to the dining hall for grilled chicken, rice, and broccoli!

  • Head down to the field for a softball game for the early evening activity!

  • It’s the night for the 8-Day Play! Head to the Actors’ Studio to see your friends perform their hard work in the 8-Day Play!

  • Put-to-Bed! Head back to your bunk to get ready for bed and wind down for the night!