Camp
Program Information
Camp Fees and Bus Transportation
Camp Dates, Hours & Extended Care
FAQs
Online Registration
At Butler Camp, we take pride in providing a great outdoor program while giving individual attention to our campers. The popularity of our camp can be attributed to the particular care given to each child by our experienced staff, and to a well-planned schedule of varied fun activities and fun adventures.
Horseback riding, swimming, soccer, hiking trails, a ropes course, an archery range, and arts and crafts are all part of the fun on our campus. Some of our older campers travel off campus for canoeing, caving, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and tubing. Our younger campers enjoy the use of air-conditioned classrooms for their “home base” during the camp day.
Visit our Butler Camp Open House March 25 at 2:00 PM
Camp Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:15 PM
Extended Care/Drop-In Care:
Early AM Care: 7:45- 8:45 AM
Extended PM Care – 3:30 – 5:30 PM
Camp Sessions 2012:
Session1: June 18-June 29
Session 2: July 2-13 (including July 4th!)
Session 3: July 16-27
Session 4: July 30-August 10
Session 5: August 13-17 (Please note: one week session)
Bus Transportation: three bus routes available (see FAQ for more details)
1: Potomac Village/Travilah Square at Darnestown Rd/Midsummer Dr & Washingtonian Woods
2: Quince Orchard/Lakelands Park MS/Medimmune-Orchard Ridge Dr.
3: Arora Hills-Skylark Rd/Milestone-Giant/Northwest HS
Butler Camp Fees for 2012 – same as last summer!
Camp fees are either paid in full at the time of registration, or a payment plan may be arranged with the Business Office. Please click on the link below for more information:
For a listing of “Waitlist Only” programs and sessions please visit our Register Online page.
Backyard Explorers…for 3 and 4 year-olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2012) – $525 per two-week session
Young Adventures…for 5 and 6 year-olds (must be 5 by August 31, 2012) – $535 per two-week session
Outdoor Adventures…for 7 through 10 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) – $625 per two-week session
Extreme Adventures…for 10 through 13 year-olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2012) – $775 per two-week session
Vaulting on Horseback…for 6 through 13 year-olds (must be 6 by August 31, 2012) – $625 per two-week session
Equestrian Camp…for 7 through 13 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) – $710 per two-week session
Young Olympians…for 10 through 16 year-olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2012) – $775 per two-week session
HodgePodge Young Explorers…for 3 through 6 year-olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2012 – $250 per one-week session
HodgePodge Adventures…for 7 through 13 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) – $295 per one-week session
Extended Day…Early AM Care – $100 per session, Extended PM Care – $200 per session (HodgePodge Session – Early AM Care – $50, Extended PM Day – $100)
Drop-in Care…AM – $15 per day, PM – $25 per day
Bus Transportation…$50 per session (round-trip only) HodgePodge Session – $25 (round-trip only)
Program Information
Backyard Explorers …for 3 and 4 year-olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2012) $525 per two-week session
A wonderful blend of outdoor activities and classroom time helps our youngest campers complete each day at Butler Camp excited but not exhausted. Hikes, songs, storytelling, creeking and baking are interspersed with a schedule of art, games, soccer and daily swimming. Having three counselors for a group of 22 “Explorers” will give your camper the particular care and attention to provide fun with safety.
Young Adventures …for 5 and 6 year-olds (must be 5 by August 31, 2012) $535 per two-week session
Each two week session will include a variety of outdoor and classroom activities such as hiking, cooking, “talent shows”, and creeking. Groups of 24 campers will be guided by three counselors as they enjoy a busy day that includes art, games, soccer and daily swimming.
Outdoor Adventures …for 7 through 10 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) $625 per two-week session
These growing elementary age campers will have a variety of land and water activities to fill their two week sessions. Certified instructors will help each counselor with a group of 15 campers as they experience archery, canoeing, creeking, fishing, hiking, ropes course (games and climbing) and tubing. Socializing with camp buddies, while they swim, create artwork, and participate in Capture the Flag and other group games, is an important ingredient of the Outdoor Adventures program. The soccer coach will lead our “OA” campers through soccer drills, skills and games during the session, with an emphasis on fun. A perennial favorite with these Butler Campers is the “Evening Cookout” held on the second Tuesday of each session (weather permitting). On the last day of Sessions 1, 2, & 3 campers will participate in the thrills and fun of “Butler Olympics”; our “Butler Extravaganza” will close out Session 4 with special activities and games.
Extreme Adventures …for 10 through 13 year-olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2012) $775 per two-week session
This exciting program for older campers will include an overnight camping experience each session (the second Tuesday, weather permitting) along with popular “extreme” activities such as caving, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and tubing. 
Occasionally, other activities are substituted or added to a session as weather or conditions require, or just more fun is planned! Bowling, excursions to water parks or pools and laser tag “are some of the alternative activities.
Each session will begin with team building and learning climbing skills on our ropes course. Extreme Adventures counselors are experienced with helping these campers feel comfortable with new adventure activities. “Challenge by choice” is an important feature of the camp’s adventure program. Counselors offer campers both encouragement and confidence as they tackle new challenges. The “EA” staff will help their group of campers learn basic survival skills by explorations into wooded areas and on the overnight trip. As always, one of the favorite parts of this program, with both campers and counselors, is the lively conversation as they travel on the bus, go bowling or sit around a campfire at night.
Vaulting on Horseback …for 6 though 13 year-olds (must be 6 by August 31, 2012) $625 per two-week session
Vaulting, with its roots in European cavalry exercise, combines gymnastics and movements on a horse. Geared to the level of the individual rider, it is suitable for all ages and riding abilities. Young equestrians can develop coordination, balance, strength and confidence with safety and security.
A group of 10 campers with their counselor will spend half of the day vaulting, as well as learning about stable management and care of the horse. A vaulting coach and assistant will teach different levels of vaulting skills as individual children ride a horse on a lunge line. Work on the horse is preceded by practice on a stationery barrel. During the second part of the camp day, the campers will join other children for games, art, soccer and daily swimming. On the last day of the Sessions, campers will participate in the fun competition of a “Games Day”, therefore, there will be no vaulting on the last day of each session. Parents are invited to watch a Vaulting Demonstration on the second Thursday of each session (more information will be provided during the session).
For further details about vaulting, see our FAQ section or refer to the American Vaulting Association website at www.americanvaulting.org. A Vaulting Demonstration Clinic at Butler School will be scheduled in March (date TBA) for interested families.
Equestrian Camp …for 7 through 13 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) $710 per two-week session
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These horse-loving campers will spend half the day riding and participating in equestrian activities, and the other half of the day busy with swimming, soccer, art and games. The various riding activities that these Equestrian campers will do throughout the session include: riding lessons in either the indoor or outdoor rings, trail rides and vaulting (see “FAQ” for further information about this activity). The first day of the session will be spent accessing the riding skills of the campers. Vaulting on horseback (see “FAQ” for further information on this activity) and trail rides will complement riding lessons that are held in either the indoor and outdoor rings on campus. The last day of the Sessions, campers will participate in the fun competition of a “Games Day”, therefore, there will be no riding on the last day of each session. Parents are invited to a “Riding Demonstration” on the second Thursday of each session (more information will be provided during the session).
Counselors will teach their groups of 12 equestrians the fundamentals of horse care and equestrian terminology. Certified instructors provide riding and vaulting instruction. This program is designed for, Beginner, Novice and Intermediate (see the “FAQ” section for riding levels) as well as occasional riders.
Young Olympians …for 10 through 16 year-olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2012) $775 per two-week session
Young Olympians are experienced riders who have worked over fences and acquired the foundations for dressage. These campers will spend the entire day engaged in horse-related activities with time for a refreshing dip in the pool when needed. In addition to mounted lessons, an important part of the equestrian experience at Butler Camp is “on the ground” instruction and experience. Caring for the horses, grooming, feeding, cleaning tack, maintaining the stable area and gaining additional information about horses and their care are all part of summer “horse” fun. The Equestrian Director will take these YO campers on a field trip during their session to expand their knowledge and experience with horses.
HodgePodge Young Explorers
…for 3 through 6 year-olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2012) 
$250 per one-week session
Our younger campers will continue with a variety of outside and indoor activities, such as soccer, art, songs, hikes, creeking, “story time” and daily swimming. Groups of 24 campers will be guided by three counselors who will continue with their particular care and support for these young children as they enjoy our last week of camp.
HodgePodge Adventures
…for 7 through 13 year-olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2012) $295 per one-week session
Our HodgePodge adventurers will experience their favorite outdoor activities from the summer during their one week session: ropes course, soccer games, art, canoeing, hiking, creeking, etc. One counselor and a group of 15 campers will be joined by an instructor as they enjoy one last week of “hodge-podge” fun.
