Program Information

Camp Hours: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
AM Extended Day – 7:45 AM
PM Extended Day – 5:30 PM

Bus Transportation available at two “cluster stops”.  See FAQs for additional information.

Backyard Explorers
…for 3 and 4 year olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2010)
$510 per two week session

A wonderful blend of outdoor activity 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 daily schedule of swimming, soccer, art and games. Having three counselors for a group of 24 “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, 2010)
$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 28 campers will be guided by four counselors as they enjoy a busy day that includes soccer, art, games and swimming.

Outdoor Adventures
…for 7 and 10 year olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2010)
$610 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, ropes course games and climbing, canoeing, fishing 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 Wednesday of each session (weather permitting).

Extreme Adventures
…for 10 to 13 year olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2010)
$775 per two week session

This “awesome” program for our older campers will include an overnight camping experience each session (the second Wednesday, weather permitting) along with popular “extreme” activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and tubing.  Occasionally, other activities are substituted or added to a session.  On the river, the focus will be on using and improving canoeing skills.

Each session will begin with “team building” and 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 13 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. These “EA” campers will usually have one extended day each session till 4:00 PM to accommodate traveling time for certain activities.

Vaulting on Horseback
…
for 6 to 10 year olds (must be 6 by August 31, 2010)
$610 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 8 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.

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 to 13 year olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2010)
$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.  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. 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 to 16 year olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2010)
$775 per two week session

Young Olympians are experienced riders who have likely 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.

Applications will be reviewed by our Equestrian Director.