HELLO SUMMER 2008

General Information

At Butler Camp, we take pride in providing a great outdoor program while giving individual care and attention to each child. This year we are adding even more fun to our popular programs by introducing a few new activities, and enhancing the parts of the camp day that have always been Butler Camp favorites.

Our special on-campus attractions include an equestrian program, swimming pool, soccer clinic, hiking trails, ropes course, archery range, and art program. Campers will travel off campus for canoeing, rock climbing, fishing, and mountain biking.

Soccer, swimming, art and games are all part of the Backyard Explorers, Young Adventures, Outdoor Adventures and Equestrian programs. Excite Soccer, Inc. coaches will lead off the day with soccer sessions that mix fun and skills at each level. Our campers love to spend time with the Art Director, who will guide them to create interesting arts and crafts projects during their daily session in the “Art Room”. These groups will also join the Activity Director for fun, challenges and games. All of these campers will also spend time daily at our campus pool for instruction and to cool off.

Young Olympians is designed for experienced riders of all ages, especially those equestrians who ride year round.

Extreme Adventures is geared for our older campers who are ready for bigger adventurous challenges and an overnight each session..

Backyard Explorers
For 3 and 4 year olds. (Must be 3 years old by February 1, 2008).

Young Adventures
For 5 and 6 year olds (must be 5 by August 31, 2008).

Outdoor Adventures
For 7 to 10 year olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2008).

Extreme Adventures
For 10 to 12 years olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2008).

Equestrian Camp
For 6 to 13 years olds (must be 6 by August 31, 2008).

Young Olympians
For 7 to 13 years olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2008).

Camp Sessions:

 Session 1 .......................June 16 -27
 Session 2 ......................June 30 - 11
  Session 3 ......................July 14 -  25
       Session 4 ......................July 28 - Aug 8
 No Camp July 4th

Camp Hours: 9:00 - 3:30

Extended Day: 7:45-9:00AM 3:30-5:30PM
 

For more details about the exciting camp activities that these programs offer, be sure to carefully read the information below.  Please note that the age requirements have changed and be aware that ten year olds have the choice between the Outdoor Adventures and Extreme Adventures programs.

Camp Application Form                                                      Required Authorization & Release

Camp Employment

Camp Programs

Backyard Explorers

Backyard Explorers
...for 3 and 4 year olds (must be 3 by February 1, 2008).

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 cooking are interspersed with a daily schedule of swimming, soccer, art and games. Having three counselors for each group of 24 “Explorers” will give your camper the particular care and attention to provide fun with safety.

Young Adventures

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Outdoor Adventures
...for 7 to 10 year olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2008).

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 children as they experience archery, ropes course games and climbing, canoeing, fishing and tubing. Socializing with camp buddies while they swim, create artwork, participate in Capture the Flag and other group games are other important ingredients of the Outdoor Adventures program. Excite Soccer’s staff will lead our “OA” campers through soccer drills, skills and games every morning in 45 minute sessions. A “Cookout” evening, held each session, is a perennial favorite with these Butler Campers.
 

Equestrian Camp
...for 6 to 13 years olds (must be 6 by August 31, 2008)

These horse-loving campers will divide their day between their barn life and other camp activities (swimming, soccer, art and games). Vaulting on horseback and trail rides will complement riding lessons that are held in either the indoor and outdoor rings on campus. Counselors will teach their equestrians the fundamentals of horse care and equestrian terminology. Certified instructors provide riding and vaulting instruction. This program is designed for Novice, Beginner, Introductory and occasional riders.

Young Olympians
...for 7 to 13 years olds (must be 7 by August 31, 2008).

Another extremely popular Butler Camp program, the 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 punctuated with refreshing dips in the pool. In addition to their 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 barn area and acquiring general information about horses and their care are all part of summer fun.

 

Extreme Adventures!
....for 10 to 12 years olds (must be 10 by August 31, 2008).

A revamped program for our older campers will include an overnight camping experience each session along with popular “extreme” activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking and caving. Focus on canoeing skills will be practiced during a long day of canoeing. The counselors will help their group of 12 campers learn survival skills by explorations into wooded areas and on their overnight trip. Visits to nearby high ropes courses will allow new and bigger climbing challenges for our “extreme” campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have programs for children ages 3 to 13.

How often do campers swim?

With the exception of Extreme Adventures, who are mostly off campus, campers swim daily in our own pool.  The two-foot shallow end allows even the youngest camper to safely stand and start their swimming experience.  Lifeguards and counselors will guide campers in their swimming progress to acquire basic skills. 

What activities will the Outdoor Adventurer do? (ages 7-10)

Outdoor Adventures offers fun on both land and water.  Under the direction of our certified instructors and the individual counselors, these campers will balance their days enjoying activities such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, archery, ropes course, arts and crafts, tubing and creeking.  Every day will include refreshing dips in the pool with a short period of swim instruction.

Do campers need to bring a lunch?

Yes.  Each camper brings a bag lunch.  Many campers use small coolers with ice packs which keep lunch and drinks satisfactorily cold for the day.  Water breaks are taken frequently throughout the day.

Where do campers spend their day?

Young Adventures and Backyard Explorers spend time both inside our air-conditioned classrooms and outside on campus.  Outdoor Adventurers and Extreme Adventures are outside all day.  They will travel periodically to local ponds, creeks and rivers for fishing, canoeing and water activities.  Extreme Adventure campers will travel by the Butler bus most days to off campus sites for their activities.  Once a week these campers will have an extended day.  This long day will include dinner before returning to campus in the early evening.

Butler Camp enjoys a beautiful location on a 22 acre campus in Darnestown, Maryland. We are also fortunate to enjoy the beauty (and cooler temperatures!) of the trails and woods of adjoining Seneca Creek State Park.  Hiking and playing in these woods are some of the favorite pastimes of Butler Campers!

What equipment is required to participate in either the Equestrian Camp or the Young Olympians?

Any camper who rides needs a regulation (ASTM) riding helmet and smooth-soled boots with an inch heel.  You can expect to spend between $40 and $70 for a regulation riding helmet. Helmets can be purchased locally at “Everything Equestrian” in Damascus or “The Surrey” in Potomac.

What levels of riding experience are offered at Equestrian Camp?

Our Equestrian Camp can accommodate campers at Introductory, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels. 

Introductory – An introduction to horses and riding.  Riders will learn to mount, correctly adjust their equipment and begin to work at the walk and trot, and learn basic control signals.

Beginner – Riders work to improve their position at the walk and trot and are introduced to the canter.  Work over ground poles will be introduced.  Riders at this level should be able to bridle a horse and adjust tack.

Novice – Open to riders who can post to the trot independently.  Riders will work on learning to canter and be introduced to jumping.  There will opportunities to leave the ring for games and trail rides.

Intermediate – Open to riders who have started to compete.  Work over fences and a basic foundation in dressage are prerequisites for this level.

Advanced – Open to riders actively competing at Beginner Novice or above in Combined Training.

What is Vaulting?

Vaulting combines gymnastics and dance on a moving horse. It’s a great way to develop coordination, balance, strength and creativity while working in harmony with a horse. “Safety first” provides the guideline for vaulting. Vaulters are taught to condition their bodies with stretching and strengthening exercises prior to vaulting. Most movements performed on the horse are first learned and practiced on a stationary “barrel”. The horse is on a lunge line controlled by a trainer from the ground. These practices help to make vaulting the safest equine sport, and safer than other activities such as playing on playground equipment or soccer.

Vaulting was brought to the United States from Germany in the late 1960s (vaulting is considered a prerequisite for serious riders in Germany). The American Vaulting Association (founded in 1966) provides oversight of the sport in the United States. For more information or to see pictures of vaulting go to www.americanvaulting.org.

 How many children are with a counselor?

Backyard Explorers and Young Adventures are in groups of up to 24 campers with three counselors. (At least two of these counselors are adults.) Outdoor Adventures are in groups of 15 and Extreme Adventures have 12 children with one counselor. Additional counselors join the groups for various activities as needed

Equestrian Camp has 12 children with one counselor. When the children are riding, there are 5 children with one instructor and one assistant.

What do you do on weather related “code red” days?

Activities are modified to allow less time in the sun, more time in the water and the woods.  Air conditioned inside space is available as needed.  Drinking water is important EVERY DAY and on “code red” days we are especially insistent that the children take regular water breaks.