What makes Echo Hill Camp unique among Maryland summer camps. How does Echo Hill Camp foster personal growth and development in children. What activities and experiences can campers expect at Echo Hill Camp.
Discovering Echo Hill: A Premier Maryland Summer Camp Experience
Nestled on Maryland’s Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Echo Hill Camp offers a unique and enriching summer experience for children ages 7-16. This sleep-away camp, situated on a 350-acre farm, provides a perfect blend of natural beauty and purposeful programming designed to nurture personal growth and create lasting memories.
Key Features of Echo Hill Camp:
- Accommodates 150 children with a 1:3 staff-to-camper ratio
- Located on a bluff overlooking a sandy beach
- Rustic setting with platform tents as primary accommodation
- Easily accessible from major cities like Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City
The Echo Hill Philosophy: Nurturing Growth and Independence
Echo Hill Camp’s mission extends far beyond typical summer entertainment. The camp aims to create an environment where children can explore their individuality, build self-confidence, and develop respect for themselves and others. But how exactly does Echo Hill achieve these lofty goals?
At its core, Echo Hill fosters an atmosphere of acceptance, freedom, and love. This unique environment allows campers to:
- Embrace their own individuality
- Explore the depths of their personality
- Experience freedom without danger
- Learn to appreciate others based on character rather than material possessions
The camp’s Quaker-inspired values emphasize appreciation for the natural environment and provide a refreshing break from materialism. This approach helps children develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
A Day in the Life: Exciting Activities at Echo Hill Camp
Echo Hill Camp offers a diverse range of activities designed to challenge and engage campers of all ages and skill levels. The camp’s flexible, free-choice program allows children to explore their interests and try new experiences. What kinds of activities can campers expect at Echo Hill?
Water-Based Activities:
- Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
- Sailing and Tubing
- Crabbing and Fishing
- Swimming and Canoeing
- Ocean kayaking and Bellyboarding
Land-Based Activities:
- High and Low Ropes Adventure Course
- Arts & Crafts and Ceramics
- Music and Drama
- Archery and Pellet Guns
- Nature Hikes and Gardening
This wide array of options ensures that every camper can find activities that spark their interest and challenge them to grow. The camp’s approach to instruction caters to all skill levels, encouraging campers to try new things and develop their abilities in a supportive environment.
The Impact of Echo Hill: Building Confidence and Fostering Friendships
Parents often wonder about the long-term benefits of sending their children to summer camp. At Echo Hill, the impact extends far beyond the summer months. How does the Echo Hill experience contribute to a child’s personal development?
The camp environment at Echo Hill is carefully crafted to promote:
- Positive self-esteem
- Leadership skills
- Creative expression
- Confidence in decision-making
- Social skills and lasting friendships
By providing a safe and nurturing space for children to make their own choices, Echo Hill helps campers develop independence and self-assurance. The bonds formed between campers and counselors create a supportive community that encourages personal growth and self-discovery.
The Echo Hill Difference: A Focus on Individual Needs
What sets Echo Hill apart from other summer camps in Maryland? The camp’s commitment to addressing the individual needs of each camper is a key differentiator. With a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:3, Echo Hill ensures that every child receives personalized attention and support.
The camp’s mature and dedicated counselors prioritize:
- Health and safety of each camper
- Individual needs and interests
- Creating a happy and meaningful experience
- Building self-confidence in a nurturing environment
This individualized approach allows campers to feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their Echo Hill experience, fostering an environment where personal growth can flourish.
Embracing Nature: The Echo Hill Camp Setting
The natural environment plays a crucial role in the Echo Hill experience. How does the camp’s setting contribute to campers’ growth and development?
Echo Hill’s 350-acre property offers a diverse landscape that includes:
- Sunny fields
- Lush woodlands
- Tidal marshes
- A long sandy beach on the Chesapeake Bay
This varied terrain provides endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. By immersing children in nature, Echo Hill fosters an appreciation for the environment and supports healthy child development. The outdoor setting also encourages physical activity, offering a welcome contrast to the sedentary lifestyle many children experience during the school year.
Preparing for Echo Hill: What Parents and Campers Should Know
As parents consider Echo Hill Camp for their children, they may have questions about what to expect and how to prepare. What should families keep in mind when planning for an Echo Hill summer?
Key Points for Parents:
- Echo Hill accommodates children ages 7-16
- The camp emphasizes a non-competitive, free-choice atmosphere
- Campers live primarily in large platform tents
- The camp is accessible from major East Coast cities
- Echo Hill fosters an environment free from materialism
Preparing Your Child for Camp:
- Discuss the range of activities available and encourage openness to new experiences
- Emphasize the opportunity for making new friends and building independence
- Prepare for outdoor living and varying weather conditions
- Encourage a positive attitude towards trying new things and stepping out of comfort zones
By understanding the Echo Hill philosophy and preparing accordingly, families can help ensure their children make the most of their summer camp experience.
The Lasting Impact: Echo Hill Memories and Beyond
The Echo Hill experience doesn’t end when summer does. How does the camp continue to influence campers long after they’ve returned home?
Many former campers report that their time at Echo Hill has had a profound and lasting impact on their lives. The skills and confidence gained at camp often translate into:
- Improved social skills and ability to form friendships
- Greater self-reliance and problem-solving abilities
- Enhanced appreciation for nature and the outdoors
- Increased willingness to try new experiences
- Stronger sense of self and personal identity
The friendships formed at Echo Hill often last well beyond the summer months, creating a network of support that can extend into adulthood. Many campers return year after year, building on their experiences and further strengthening these bonds.
Moreover, the values instilled at Echo Hill – such as respect for others, appreciation of nature, and the importance of character over material possessions – often become core principles that guide campers throughout their lives.
Long-Term Benefits of the Echo Hill Experience:
- Development of leadership skills
- Increased emotional intelligence
- Greater resilience and adaptability
- Enhanced creativity and self-expression
- Lifelong appreciation for outdoor activities and environmental stewardship
These enduring impacts highlight the transformative power of the Echo Hill Camp experience, underscoring its value as more than just a summer getaway, but as a formative chapter in a child’s personal development journey.
Choosing Echo Hill: Making the Decision for Your Child
Selecting the right summer camp is a significant decision for any family. How can parents determine if Echo Hill Camp is the right fit for their child?
When considering Echo Hill, parents should reflect on their child’s personality, interests, and developmental needs. Echo Hill may be an excellent choice for children who:
- Thrive in outdoor environments
- Enjoy a wide range of activities
- Benefit from a non-competitive atmosphere
- Are ready for an independent living experience
- Could use a boost in self-confidence or social skills
It’s also important to consider the camp’s values and philosophy. Echo Hill’s emphasis on personal growth, respect for others, and appreciation of nature aligns well with families who prioritize these values.
Steps to Help Make Your Decision:
- Review the camp’s website and materials thoroughly
- Speak with camp representatives to ask specific questions
- If possible, visit the camp or attend an information session
- Discuss the camp experience with your child to gauge their interest and readiness
- Consider starting with a shorter session for first-time campers
Remember that every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Trust your instincts as a parent and involve your child in the decision-making process to ensure the best possible summer camp experience.
Echo Hill Camp: Creating Summers to Remember
Echo Hill Camp stands out among Maryland summer camps for its commitment to fostering personal growth, independence, and lasting friendships in a beautiful natural setting. Through its diverse activities, supportive staff, and emphasis on individual development, Echo Hill provides a summer experience that goes beyond mere recreation.
The camp’s philosophy of acceptance, freedom, and love creates an environment where children can truly be themselves, explore their interests, and develop crucial life skills. From waterskiing on the Chesapeake Bay to exploring creativity through arts and crafts, Echo Hill offers something for every child.
Parents considering Echo Hill can rest assured that their children will be in a safe, nurturing environment that prioritizes personal growth and happiness. The camp’s long-standing reputation and the lasting impact it has on campers’ lives speak to its effectiveness in creating meaningful summer experiences.
Ultimately, Echo Hill Camp offers more than just a summer getaway – it provides a transformative experience that can shape a child’s development and create memories to last a lifetime. For families seeking a summer camp that combines outdoor adventure, personal growth, and a supportive community, Echo Hill Camp in Maryland stands ready to deliver an unforgettable experience.
More About Echo Hill | Maryland Summer Camp | Echo Hill Camp
About Echo Hill Camp
Echo Hill Camp is a sleep-away summer camp for 150 children, ages 7-16, with a staff to camper ratio of 1:3. Echo Hill is staffed by mature counselors who stress the health, safety, and individual needs of each camper. They are all dedicated to helping children have a happy, exciting, and meaningful experience while they build self-confidence and gain respect for themselves and others in a safe and nurturing environment. Echo Hill fosters an immense amount of love and kindness which leads to lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. It is, above all else, a place where a child may practice the inalienable right of youth … to be free, happy, and safe.
We are beautifully situated upon a bluff sloping down to a long sandy beach on Maryland’s Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The area is rural and sparsely populated, but within easy reach of Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.
We are located on a 350 acre farm consisting of sunny fields, woodlands, and marshes. It is a rustic camp with most campers living in large platform tents.
Mission Statement To provide a fun, safe, and positive camping experience to every child who comes to Echo Hill Camp. To create a community whose goal is to sustain an atmosphere of acceptance without judgement, freedom without danger, and love without fear that will allow every child to explore the depths of their personality and fully embrace their own individuality. To protect Echo Hill’s legacy of Quaker values, immersion into and appreciation of the natural environment, and a respite from materialism that teaches children to appreciate others not on the wealth of their possessions, but on the strength of their character. To create a youthful ruckus of adventure and spirit where souls are ripened and freedom is discovered. To give each child the gift of reliable and conscientious role models who are genuinely invested in their welfare. |
To promote another unique and magical Echo Hill Camp summer.We strive to provide an atmosphere conducive to the creative expression of self where a child may seek to acquire new physical and artistic skills. The imagination and creativity of the children and staff are the only limits to the variety of the program. We offer a wide range of traditional activities which are taught based on each child’s health, safety and individual needs.
Daily activities are organized on a free choice basis. Instruction for all activities includes that for beginners through experts and campers of all ages are encouraged to try everything.
Our program is very flexible and is designed to match the natural, free and non-competitive atmosphere at Echo Hill Camp. Our extensive activity choices include, but are not limited to, the following: Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, Kneeboarding, Sailing, Tubing, Crabbing, Fishing, Swimming, Canoeing, Ocean kayaks, Bellyboarding, Beach Hikes, Boat Rides, Water Basketball, Swamp Mucking, Berry and Fruit Picking, Adventure Course (High and Low Ropes), Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, Music, Drama, Land Sports, Archery, Pellet Guns, Nature Hikes, Swamp Canoeing, Gardening, and MUCH MORE!!
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Parents – ECHO HILL CAMP
Welcome Parents
Each summer Echo Hill Camp offers new experiences and opportunities for personal growth.
No matter where in the decision process you are, we hope that we can answer any questions you might have.
| Why Summer Camp?Sending your child to summer camp offers them the unique opportunity to develop positive self-esteem, leadership, creative expression and confidence in a natural environment. Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding every move. Campers make their own daily choices in the safe, caring environment of camp, children welcome this as a freedom to blossom in new directions. Camp helps kids develop who they are. Echo Hill Camp is a slice of carefree living where kids can relax, laugh, and be silly all day long. |
As children spend so much time these days inside and mostly sitting down, camp provides a wonderful opportunity to move. Living in the outdoor’s enriches kid’s perception of the world and supports healthy child development. Summer camp has a profound and positive effect for children that last through adulthood.
New Experiences The community fostered at camp creates a fun and safe environment in which your child can develop and grow. Along with new physical experiences such as sailing or water skiing, campers are immersed in new social experiences as well. From living with bunk mates, to building new lasting friendships, camp is an environment for learning social skills that is hard to replicate. Their fellow camp mates come from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and locations, providing a richly diverse and inclusive environment for all. |
“Digital Detox” In our increasingly technological world, summer camp gives your child the ability to “unplug” from their iPhones, Social Media, TV, video games and other distractions of everyday life. |
Positive Role Models On a daily basis our campers interact with positive role models who dedicate time to listen, talk, relax, and reflect. |
Echo Hill Camp is designed to help kids discover, embrace, and cherish the outdoors. Year after year, campers leave Echo Hill with a new found appreciation for the outdoors. Even more incredible is that campers discover this love for the natural world all on their own. We simply provide the opportunity for them to explore.
| Experience Success & Gain Confidence On a daily basis, campers are learning to work together, make choices, take responsibility, develop creative skills, build independence, learn self-reliance, and gain confidence in themselves. |
To send your child to camp it can be inferred that you trust them to make good decisions. We help foster that inner responsibility and hope that campers carry this understanding with them for the rest of their life. With our non-competitive activities and diverse opportunities to succeed, camp life is a real boost for kids. There is accomplishment every day! Camp teaches kids that they can.
Learn Social Skills Coming to camp means joining a close-knit community where everyone must agree to cooperate and respect each other. When they live in a tent with others, kids share chores, resolve disagreements, and see firsthand the importance of sincere communication. Camp builds teamwork. |
Gain Resiliency The kind of encouragement and nurture kids receive at camp makes it a great environment to endure setbacks, try new things, and see that improvement comes when you give something another try. |
Develop Life-long Skills Camps provide the right instruction, equipment and facilities for kids to enhance their adventure skills, their sports abilities, and their artistic talents. The variety of activities offered at camp makes it easy for kids to discover and develop what they like to do. Camp expands every child’s abilities. |
Camp helps conquer fears. What’s more, when kids take a break from TV, cell phones, and the Internet, they rediscover their creative powers and engage the real world— real people, real activities, and real emotions. Resiliency.Make True Friends Camp is the place where kids make their very best friends. Free from the social expectations pressuring them at school, camp encourages kids to relax and make friends easily. All the fun at camp draws everyone together— singing, laughing, talking, playing, doing almost everything together. |
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Every day, camp creates friendships.Parent’s Frequently Asked Questions
We hope we have answered a few of your questions below. If you have other questions, thoughts or concerns about our program please feel free to call us at 410-348-5303 or fill out this Information Request form.
Who is the Camp Director?
Echo Hill Camp is owned and operated by the Peter Rice family. Peter Rice, Jr., is the Camp Director and owner. Peter has over forty years experience in the fields of camping and education. He is the founder and director of the Echo Hill Outdoor School which is an environmental school located on the Echo Hill campus. The Rice family has been involved in children’s camping since the 1940’s. Peter’s father, Peter, Sr., was the principal of Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington D.C. and Peter’s mother, Pauline, also worked at Sidwell before founding the Reading Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Pauline ran the camp tutoring program for many years. Peter’s brother, Terry, is a member of Echo Hill Outdoor School’s Board of Directors, is a partner in the accounting firm of Birks and Rice and is the camp Treasurer.
Are you a member of the American Camp Association?
Yes. As an accredited camp member of the American Camp Association, Echo Hill Camp is visited periodically by officially trained and certified camp inspectors for the purpose of verifying our continued compliance with the American Camp Association’s Camping Standards in the areas of personnel, program, administration, site and facilities, health, sanitation, safety and transportation. We are proud to say that we receive a score of 100% with every visit!
Are you annually inspected and licensed by the Maryland Department of Health?
Yes. We are inspected every summer and hold a current Youth Camp Certificate issued by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Are you inspected by your local health department?
Yes.
We are inspected frequently by the Kent County Department of Health.
Are you bothered by sea nettles (jellyfish) or water pollution?
No. The Bay in our area is fed by clean, fresh water rivers such as the Sassafras and the Elk. Jellyfish prefer water with a higher salt content and are therefore rarely seen. The Kent County Department of Health test our drinking water and the Bay water at least once per week.
Is there a camp uniform?
There is no uniform, but a list of suggested clothing accompanies the application.
Can you provide references from the parents of campers?
May I send food packages?
Care Packages are not allowed. We have Candy Canteen open periodically throughout the sessions. Any packages accidently sent, will be held in the office until departure day. Please contact the office if you feel your child needs something necessary. For other ways to communicate with your camper head here: Communication at Camp.
Campers get to make independent, fun choices every day. |
Info for our Traditional Camp program and our one-week speciality sessions Sail*Ski or Fishing and Crabbing. |
The health and safety of our campers is paramount to us. Learn how we keep our campers safe and healthy at camp. |
Click to read about a typical day at Echo Hill Camp.
The area is rural and sparsely populated, but within easy reach of Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. |
Learn more about Echo Hill Camp’s communications and “screen free” electronics policies. |
Echo Hill Camp’s staff takes child care seriously. Our culturally diverse staff have been recruited for their experience, skills, character, leadership, and affinity toward working with kids. |
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From what age and until what age can you go to the camp: age from and to
Summer is created in order to spend a lot of time outdoors, make new friends and learn something useful.
The summer camp gives all this – the guys relax under the supervision of teachers, and parents do not have to worry that their son or daughter may be in bad company while the adults are at work.
The first questions that arise at the thought of a trip are from what age and until what age can one go to the camp. Let’s talk about this in detail.
Content:
- How old do you have to be to go to the camp?
- Test “Is the child ready to go to camp?”
- Until what age can you go to the camp?
How old do you have to be to go to the camp?
Most children’s organizations take to the camp from the age of 6. At this time, the child is ready to go to the first grade or is already in school.
Health programs in country camps are designed for schoolchildren or contact, inquisitive, school-ready and kindergarten children, therefore, such a minimum age for children admitted to the camp is set.
A child will like and benefit from this holiday if he/she already knows how to perceive and analyze new information, understands the basics of household safety equipment, knows how to communicate with peers and teachers, and is quite independent in everyday life.
Only parents can tell if a child is ready to go to camp. It happens that an outwardly unsociable preschooler quickly adapts, finds many new friends, actively participates in all activities and does not want to leave the camp. It happens the other way around – an independent and easily making friends first grader misses his parents and asks to take him home.
Test “Is the child ready to go to camp?”
Answer the questions, the answer options are “yes”, “no”, “partially”. The answer “yes” – 2 points, “partly” – 1 point, “no” – 0 points.
- The child has already spent several days without his parents. For example, he stayed with his grandmother for the weekend and there were no tears or tantrums.
- The child has all the skills of self-care. Knows how to choose clothes according to the weather and change clothes, brushes his teeth twice a day, combs his own hair, does not lose his things.
- The child himself wants to go to the camp and can say why. For example, find new friends, visit a new place, swim in the sea.
- The child understands the basics of household safety. Careful with water, fire, electrical appliances, does not try to run away from home.
- The child is able to communicate. He has friends and acquaintances in the kindergarten, in the yard, at school, or at least there are no serious protracted conflicts with the team.
- You are ready to let your child go for 21 days and understand that children are always busy with something in the camp, and if the child likes the rest, then he may forget that you agreed on daily calls. If the child does not call in the evening, you will not panic, urgently go to the camp or call there at night and ask to call him to the phone.
- Your home is calm or at least predictable. There are no scandals, you do not plan to divorce while the child is in the camp.
If the child does not call in the evening, you will not panic, urgently go to the camp or call there at night and ask to call him to the phone.Results:
- 11-14 points – the child is completely ready for the camp and will have a great time there, it’s time to choose a ticket.
- 7-10 points – the child is not quite ready for an independent trip, it is up to the parents to decide whether or not to send him to the camp.
- 4-6 points – the trip should be postponed until next year, now the child is not ready for it.
- 0-3 points – the child is absolutely not ready for a vacation without parents, this summer you can try to be like a day camp.
Recommended:
- Camps for children aged 7
Until what age can you go to the camp?
According to the Federal Law No.
124 “On the Basic Guarantees of the Rights of the Child in the Russian Federation”, , you can go to a children’s camp until the age of majority, that is, up to 18 years. This means that the child must be under 18 when the shift starts. For example:
- shift starts June 2;
- Teenager turns 18 on June 20;
- at the time of the start of the shift, the teenager is only 17 years old and can go to the camp.
Please note! If a teenager turns 18 years old during the shift at the camp, then the cost of the transfer in the opposite direction is calculated at the adult rate.
In practice, children’s recreation and recreation organizations may privately establish stricter rules. But you can go to most camps at the age of 16-17.
Teenagers like to relax in the pioneer camp before 9or 11th grade, this is a good opportunity to gain strength for a crucial school year. It is no longer interesting for students to go to a children’s camp, their adult life begins.
Recommended:
- Camps for teenagers 16 years old
- Camps for teenagers 17 years old
Summing up
Summer camp is great! Adults with nostalgia and gratitude recall the holidays in children’s camps. There they learned to swim, play football, draw, sing, make friends and understand the need for discipline.
Do you want your child to have a good rest, learn new things and make many friends, but don’t know which camp to choose?
Please contact us for advice by phone +7 (964) 647‑31‑18, +7 (915) 411-75-29 or e-mail d‑[email protected], we cooperate with reliable and proven children’s camps located in beautiful places on the Black Sea coast.
We are always ready to help you find a summer camp with an interesting educational and health program!
Single platform for trips to children’s camps – “Perm holidays”
Single platform for tickets to children’s camps – “Perm holidays”
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Sino-Russian meeting on the exchange of experience in children’s camps
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Camp.ru – second issue
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