Cabin Life

2022 Sessions

Session 1:
June 22 – July 3
Grades 9 – 12 (Central Camp)
Grades 7 – 8 (Camp Bernstein)

Session 2:
July 6 – July 17
Grades 9 – 12 (Central Camp)
Grades 7 – 8 (Camp Bernstein)

Session 3:
July 20 – July 31
Grades 7 – 9 (Central Camp)
Grades 5 – 7 (Camp Bernstein)

Session 4:
Aug. 3 – Aug. 14
Grades 7 – 9 (Central Camp)
Grades 5 – 7 (Camp Bernstein)

Citizenship

Students should arrive at Blue Lake eager to learn, make new friends, and have a great time. The staff strives to create a sense of community among students through the cabin environment, unit activities, and daily camp life. Campers are expected to focus on their art by working hard during their classes, and to be kind, considerate, and respectful toward others. Campers are required to follow all camp rules, which are designed to reflect basic expectations of good citizenship that positively contribute to an inclusive community environment. As a part of enrollment, students are required to review and endorse a citizenship pledge that addresses behavior standards and expectations.

Your Cabin

Campers stay in bunk beds in a large, rustic, one-room cabin with approximately ten new friends and one cabin counselor.* Six cabins form a unit, which is supervised by a Unit Director. Restroom facilities, camp fire rings, picnic tables, recreation equipment are located within each unit. Cabins are inspected for cleanliness each day by Unit Directors. The cleanest cabin of the unit receives a special honor on their last day at camp. *The number of campers per cabin, unit, or session may adjust depending on current COVID-19 guidelines for camps at the time of summer operation.

Your Counselor

Blue Lake’s counseling staff is comprised primarily of college students majoring in the arts and/or education. Most are upperclassmen, some are graduate students, and many have been Blue Lake campers before. The counseling staff supervise campers throughout the day, including all meals, recreation, free-time, and evening activities. They also assist faculty with class preparation and plan group activities for students. All of our staff members strive 24 hours a day to make each camper’s experience fun, safe, worthwhile, and memorable.

Who else is going?

Students are housed according to grade, major, and gender. You will be placed in a cabin with others who are close in age and studying the same artistic discipline. Blue Lake celebrates the interconnectedness of the arts, so you’ll also have the opportunity to share experiences with others who have different interests and talents throughout the camp experience. Most students who come to camp do not know others. Making new friends is a priority for everyone within the camp community! Visit Housing & Cabin Mates for more information on housing policies.

Mail

We encourage family and friends to send letters or care packages to campers. Receiving mail while at camp is a great morale booster, and dozens of parcels arrive daily throughout the summer. Blue Lake recommends that you allow at least four working days for mail to reach your camper. Mail is delivered the same day that it arrives.

Phones

A part of Blue Lake’s philosophy centers on allowing a camper to focus — without outside distraction — on their own growth and self-improvement, whether artistic or personal. In fact, this is a long-standing tradition within many American residential youth camps. Independence cannot flourish, but homesickness certainly will, with constant communication from home. Therefore, Blue Lake does not permit students to use land lines or personal cell phones while at camp. Campers should plan to leave their phones and other cellular devices with parents/guardians upon check-in, and families are expected to fully support this camp policy.

Communicating with Home

The camp staff will contact parents with questions or concerns, and parents are welcome to call the camp to communicate with administration, staff, health lodge, and campers as deemed necessary. Please note that phone calls often cause disruption in a camper’s day, whether logistically or otherwise, and therefore staff may suggest better times within the schedule for calls to limit disruption of the camper’s experience.