When I think about the start of our summer season, it’s not the first day of the June session or even the first day of staff development. We start our summer on the second Friday in May, when we have the privilege of not just welcoming new and prospective campers to Keystone, but their mothers as well.
I should back up though, and say that summer camp is one of those concepts you can talk about forever and ever, but until you’ve experienced it, you don’t really understand what it’s like. The goal behind our Mother Daughter Weekends is to do just that—take some of the unknown out of the space.
We kick everything off on Friday afternoon. Moms and their daughters drive through camp, collecting their goody bags for the weekend and unloading luggage. Once the cars are parked and everyone has settled into their cabins, we enjoy some social time with snacks, drinks, and lawn games. Tours are provided at regular intervals, and then everyone meets in the pavilion for activity sign-ups. Just like in the summer, campers are able to select their individual activities. But during these weekends, signing up with mom is an added bonus! Moms and daughters are able to together try out many of the activities we offer during our summer camp season. Mothers and daughters will sign up for activities jointly, and travel together throughout the day. If moms and daughters have elected to participate in horseback riding, zip line, or the high ropes course on their registration form, those activities are pre-assigned for you in the appropriate activity period.
Once schedules are all sorted, we head into the dining hall for a tasty dinner before gathering around the campfire, where we sing songs and enjoy a skit or two. It’s early to bed on Friday night so we’re well rested and ready for the adventures to be had on Saturday.
Our Mother Daughter Weekends are designed specifically for younger campers who are new to camp. By experiencing what Keystone Camp is all about in partnership with mom, we hope to break down the first few barriers of entry. Questions like “Where will I eat?” or “Where will I sleep?” and “Do I have to go outside to shower and use the bathroom?” (thankfully the answer to that last question is no!) all get answered throughout the weekend.
Once we get all the basics figured out, it’s then time to move on to the really fun stuff: the activities! Saturdays during Mother Daughter Weekends function just like a typical day at camp. When the wake-up bell rings, everyone rises and gets ready for the day. After breakfast, it’s off to assembly to sing songs and hear any special announcements. Then, moms and daughters will head to their first period activity, whether it’s playing a round of touch-the-fence in tennis, hitting the target in archery, or crafting up a storm in the art room. We offer a sampling of our greatest hits that our mom-daughter duos get to do together. By experiencing the magic of camp as a pair, not only do the girls get to do something really exciting, but they also get the reassurance that what they are doing is safe and mom-approved.
The rest of the day sees many more activity periods, plus lunch, time at the Tuck Shop (our camp store), snacks, and choice period. After dinner, everyone participates in a fun evening program before finishing up the day with s’mores!
By Sunday morning, the routine is second nature. The wake-up bell signals the start of the day, followed by breakfast and a few more activity periods before everyone heads home after lunch. The goal is that by the end of Mother Daughter Weekend, all the girls say they cannot wait to come back to Keystone and do those activities again. We want the girls to get a taste of what it means to do something purely because you want to, not because it will get you good grades, or because it will impress other people. Just doing something because you think it’s fun! We want the girls to feel a sense of confidence and independence in coming to Keystone for a week or more. We want them to leave Mother Daughter Weekends knowing they’re capable and prepared to do it on their own.
If you are a parent of a new or prospective camper currently in Kindergarten through 5th grade, please consider attending one of our two sessions available in 2024: May 10th-12th or May 17th-19th. Registration opens Monday morning, January 8th, at 10 a.m. EST. You’ll find the link to the online registration form on our website.
