Best West Virginia Leadership Camps Summer 2024 Directory

CAMP FACILITIES: New for 2019 - Aerial Adventure Course!!
Lake & pool on site, challenge course, climbing wall, 360 ft zip wire, horseback riding, gymnasium, rec/dance hall, art shack, driving range, putting green, base ball diamond, 3 newly re-turfed full size soccer fields, tennis, hockey, basketball courts, frisbee golf course, riflery & archery range, modern cabins - bathrooms inside. Photos at Our Camp Website Link: www.camptalltimbers.com

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Camp Tall Timbers is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association, which has 50 years of trust behind it. To earn accreditation, we undergo a thorough review of our operations, from staff qualifications and training, to emergency management. There are more than 300 standards in all! Camp Tall Timbers and the ACA have a partnership that promotes individual growth and fun in an environment committed to safety. In addition, we take extra steps to seek counsel from the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Red Cross, and others, to ensure quality and safety.

We are rated one of the 50 most amazing summer camps in the U.S. by Early Childhood Education Zone and by Top Education Degrees.org. We have also earned top ratings in Bethesda Magazine’s Best Overnight Camps issue.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Leadership Programs.

FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): Family Weekend: Our Camp Website Link: www.camptalltimbers.com

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
RATES & DATES: Our Camp Website Link: www.camptalltimbers.com

SUMMER CAMP JOBS:
Camp Tall Timbers has a 4 -1 ratio of campers to staff.

Each summer much of our staff is made up of returning employees or former campers who are now in college.

The entire team at Camp Tall Timbers is a wonderful mix of teachers, coaches and college students. Each staff member is carefully selected for their teaching expertise in a given activity area, their personality, as well as their interest in working with children.

All staff members report to camp several days ahead of our campers so that they may go through our Counselor Institute. At Counselor Institute we thoroughly review daily responsibilities, situations that may arise, expectations for staff conduct and emergency procedures. Additionally, by the time our campers arrive, our staff has reviewed all the information about their individually assigned campers as provided by their parents. This is one more way we strive to ensure a safe, fun and personalized camp experience.

Apply at Our Camp Website Link: camptalltimbers.campintouch.com

CAMP FACILITIES: Camp Sandy Cove is situated on 186 acres in a beautiful natural setting. We have 22 semi-rustic camper cabins. Each cabin has electricity and bathrooms. Our camp has numerous activity areas: basketball courts, 5 tennis courts, 2 pools, soccer field, sand volleyball, baseball diamonds, a lake for canoeing, a zip line, a big swing, archery and air rifle range, a craft and pottery shop, a gym, a circus area, horseback riding rings and trails and a skate park.

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Camp Sandy Cove offers week-long camp programs for 7-15 year old boys and girls. The traditional camp program is based on themes for each week. Campers are able to choose 4 activities and earn awards in these activities. All campers attend chapel or cabin Bible studies each day. These experiences are lead by our all Christian staff. Camp Sandy Cove also has specialty programs for Circus, Horsemanship, Target Sports and Drama. The campers in these programs participate in 3 hours of their specialty each day. They also choose one elective. Adventurous campers might consider our out-of-camp trip program.

Each day the campers in this program participate in an exciting trip in our local area (rock climbing, white water rafting, caving, and more). Campers who are 15 or going into the 10th grade are eligible for our three-week leaders in training program. This program involves a week of backpacking, a week of canoeing, half of a week of rock climbing and half of a week on a ropes course. The goal is personal spiritual growth and leadership development. Camp Sandy Cove also offers a day camp serving 7-11 year old campers. Transportation is available daily from Winchester, VA, to camp.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Campers who are 15 or going into the 10th grade are eligible for our three-week leaders in training program.

CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Up to 50% off scholarships available

FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): Father & Son Weekends Mother & Daughter Weekend

OTHER CAMP INFO: Camp Sandy Cove is a non-denominational Christian camp. We have over 60 years of providing Christian camping at its best! The mission of Sandy Cove Ministries is to help people connect with God and each other in order to be transformed into the image of Christ through His Word, His creation and community.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Please see our full list of programs at: Our Camp Website Link: www.campsandycove.org

CAMP FACILITIES: We have both online art camps/workshops and in-person camps for our 2021 summer art program. Go to Our Camp Website Link: IchenArtAcademy.com for more information.

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Becoming an Ichen Art Academy student means that you have the opportunity to learn from the best art school with a long proven record of success to develop your creativity, foundational skills and artistic talents that will propel you to reach your full potential.

Best Quality Art Program
Since its inception in 1997 (formerly known as Ichen Art Studio), Ichen Art Academy has been putting relentless focus on developing high-quality art programs, reflected through its students’ artworks and measured by its students’ achievements. Many of its art-major students have now gone on to renowned art colleges and most prestigious majors such as CalArt’s Character Animation, ArtCenter’s Entertainment Design and Rhode Island School of Design. Some art-major students from early years have found employments in high-tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Netflix. Similarly, its non-art-major students have been accepted by nation’s top universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and MIT with the help of submission of a strong supplemental art portfolio. By consistently winning large numbers of national level awards in art competitions, Ichen Art Academy students’ skill levels and artworks are among the best in every age group.

Systematic and Comprehensive K-12 Art Education
Ichen Art Academy offers systematic and comprehensive art education to K-12 students and adults. All of its instructors are highly accomplished artists with many years of teaching and industry experience. Currently the following programs are offered
(Click the respective link to view students' artworks from that age group):

--Children’s Creative Art (Ages 5 to 8)
--Chinese Painting and Calligraphy (Ages 8+)
--Drawing and Sketch Level 1-Basic (Ages 8 to 10) Level 1 (Ages 10-11), 2 and 3 (Ages 12+)
--Oil Painting and Watercolor (Ages 12+)
--Digital Art for Beginner (Ages 9+), Intermediate and Advanced Levels (Ages 12+)
--Cartoon, Manga and Character Design (Ages 11+)
--AP Art Prep (Ages 14+)

Art Consultation Service for College Applications
The art counselor team at Ichen Art Academy specializes in helping art-major students prepare strong college art portfolios and apply for top art colleges and majors in the US. The team is also responsible for helping non-art-major students develop robust supplemental art portfolios for applying top private universities.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: We partner with Youth Art Foundation, a non-profit organization to help our students develop leadership and utilize their art talents and skills to make positive contributions to their communities.

YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS: Ichen Art Academy provides comprehensive and systematic art education for K-12 students on a yearly basis. Please check our curriculum webpage for a detailed description:

Our Camp Website Link: www.ichenartacademy.com

OTHER CAMP INFO: Oil Painting, watercolor, Portrait/Figure Drawing, Illustration, Chinese Painting, Drawing and Sketching, AP Art Boot Camp, Open Studio, Fashion Design, UI/UX Design, Architectural and Interior Design, Animation and Game Design, Digital Art, Creative Comic Books, Manga and Anime, Cartoon and Character Design, Perspective Drawing, Graphic Design, 3D Modeling and much more.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Art Camps for kids ages 5-9:
Our Camp Website Link: www.ichenartacademy.com

Digital Illustration Art Camp for ages 9+:
Our Camp Website Link: www.ichenartacademy.com

Summer Art Workshops for ages 11+:
Our Camp Website Link: www.ichenartacademy.com

CAMP FACILITIES: Heated swimming pool, indoor and outdoor climbing wall, organic farm, playing fields, trout stream running through the middle of camp. Elevation of camp is 3000 feet making for warm days (not hot) and cool evenings.

Our location has been described by many as breathtaking. Over the years as we have added to our facility we have been extremely mindful to maintain our tranquil setting. As you follow the trail through the riverside meadows and across the foot bridge you come to our “camp village.” Here you will find our office, infirmary, dining hall, cabins, art center and a host of recreational and training facilities such as our sports fields, basketball court, bike shop, pond, climbing walls, challenge course and more. Savoring a freshly picked carrot from our gardens or taking in the view from the high meadows on a mountain board run are long remembered. It is here where the fundamental joy of being a kid is all the excitement that is needed.

The National Forest and adventures outside of camp:
Several of our activities such as rock climbing, caving and backpacking take place outside of camp. Surrounded by National Forest lands we are fortunate in that our location allows us easy access to some of the more notable recreational areas on the east coast. Tremendous opportunities abound for world-class rock climbing, caving and backpacking.

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Accredited by American Camp Association. Camp founded in 1992.

Time spent away from home should be an opportunity to expand one’s horizons, learn new and exciting skills and make long lasting friendships. Under the guidance of caring and qualified leaders campers are involved in activities that require their participation both physically and mentally. Scaling a bold rock face, saddling a horse for the first time or sampling a dish made of food you helped harvest in our gardens requires an open mind and willingness to try new things — Hidden Meadows is about creating a new way of looking at yourself and your relationship to the world.

In a sense we are a retreat for children, a place where life is simple and free from worldly distractions, a place where young people’s needs come first and one learns the importance of balancing personal interest with those of the community.

Our goal is that each camper returns home feeling great about their accomplishments and with a deepened sense of responsibility for oneself, others and the environment.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: CIT programs available to rising Juniors in High School. Junior Leadership program available to rising Seniors in High School.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Offering 1, 2, 3 and 4 week programs throughout the summer.

Discounts available for multiple week enrollment.

CAMP FACILITIES: We have 24 modern cabins, shower houses, outdoor pool, dining hall, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, woodshop/arts and crafts facility, rope challenge course with climbing wall and zipline and many more elements. We also have a beautiful lake for kayaking, canoeing, swimming and the always fun and exciting water trampoline, all situated next to our baseball and soccer fields. Our barn and paddock house 10 horses for our equestrian program. We also have a gymnasium with indoor basketball courts and dance studio directly across from our roller hockey rink. Camp Twin Creeks has so much to offer in a beautiful setting!

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: We are an ACA accredited summer camp and for over 60 years, camping excellence has abounded at the site of Camp Twin Creeks. The sounds of laughter, cheering and summertime excitement never fail to echo through the Allegheny Mountains. We create a total camp experience every two-weeks and believe in children and their potential, their resilience and their abilities to absorb what camp has to teach about confidence and self-esteem. Our director has a hands-on, arms around your shoulders approach and therefore sets the bar very high for our staff, who are simply incredible!

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: During their 2 weeks at camp CIT’s spend three activity periods assisting in teaching an activity or working with a cabin of campers on Main Village with a cabin counselor. Afternoon activities are spent as a camper attending activities with cabin mates.

During the course of the two weeks CIT’s also help coordinate and run a special event with the other CITs and one of our program coordinators/directors. There are various other responsibilities with the CIT program such as assisting with the dining hall on half-staff days and performing community service in the local Marlinton area.

CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Financial aid is available based on need.

FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): We have a family weekend at camp for enrolled families in mid-June.

OTHER CAMP INFO: We encourage you to make an appointment to meet our Director, Iain McClements, each weekend during January, February, March and April. We are more than happy to meet you in the comfort of your own home to answer your questions and tell you a lot more about Camp!

Appointments are typically available Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, members of our summer staff are available at camp fairs in the metro DC area. Please call: (800) 451-8806.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
All of our sessions begin on a Sunday and end on a Saturday.

Session 1: June 21 - July 4
Session 2: July 5 - July 18
Session 3: July 19 - August 1
Session 4: August 2 - August 15

You can also visit our website for more complete information.

CAMP FACILITIES: Campers live in platform tents along the Greenbrier River. There are 7 tennis courts, 2 baseball fields, lacrosse and soccer fields, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a huge Mess Hall, and many other camp buildings.

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: "A Tradition of Fun Since 1898." Campers make all of their own choices from a core of 17 basic activities, including everything from Archery to Wrestling. There is one counselor for every three campers at Greenbrier.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Leadership program for 16 and 17 year olds and those who have completed the 10th grade.

OTHER CAMP INFO: Owned and operated by the same family for three generations.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Three or six week sessions. Please refer to our website, Our Camp Website Link: www.campgreenbrier.com, for further details.

SUMMER CAMP JOBS:
See our website about camp jobs.

CAMP FACILITIES: The main lodge includes an all-purpose gathering room with open fireplace, science workporches, dining porch, infirmary, library and modern public lavatories. The dormitories are screened porches, letting in fresh air and night sounds. The stream and pond are close to the main lodge and the canopy walkway is a 10 minute walk away. The advantage of BCWS is that we our facilities are clustered in one corner of the sanctuary, leaving the forest, meadows and wide diversity of wildlife relatively undisturbed.

CAMP PROGRAM INFO: BCWS summer camp was founded in 1963, and has been in continual operation ever since. The camp nurtures in children and teens a respect and sensitivity to the natural world through greater knowledge of self and nature. The campers develop this through direct interactions with nature and the staff, through learning scientific information, and through gaining experiences as part of a community.

BCWS is accredited by the American Camping Association. Exploration of the natural world is interwoven with games, song, story, music arts, hiking, and swimming. Campers are introduced to plant, animal and earth science, participate in overnight trips, and then pursue their strongest interests in a project of their own design. Each afternoon brings a new selection of activities. Children and teens learn and live together in a friendly, non-competitive community.

There is one staff member for every two campers. Groups are small and there is plenty of individual attention. Evening programs are occasionally small group choices, but more often whole group gatherings. The director is directing for her 30th year. The staff are high school, college, graduate students and teachers, most of whom were once BCWS campers themselves, and are knowledgeable in specific areas of the natural world. They bring their education, experience, energy, creativity and sense of humor to each moment.

An Adult Weekend was created at the request of parents who were themselves wishing to remain at BCWS in the cool green foliage, watching the sunset from the mountaintop, sleeping to the sound of owls and katydids, waking to birdsong, and trying their hands at the various activities and inactivities. The population includes adults in their 20s to 70s, some of whom are entirely new to the program. Some are constantly active, some take time in the hammocks, by the pond, or on a solitary stroll. The staff are always available with workshops or hikes, but all the schedule is optional for participants. The food includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and upgrades during the weekend for adult palates.

CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Entry level at age 16 are 50% kitchen staff, but are paid and considered full staff. However, training is extensive and first years are apprenticed with more experienced teachers.

CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Financial aid available: must apply with registration.

CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Senior Program (ages 11-15) $1675
Session 1: Sunday, June 25 - Saturday, July 8
Session 2: Tuesday, July 11 - Tuesday, July 25*
Session 3: Wednesday, August 2 - Tuesday, August 15 *Note: session 2 is designed for campers who have already attended the Senior Program, and is intellectually and physically more rigorous.
Junior Program (ages 8 -10) $975
Sunday, August 20 - Saturday, August 26
Adult Weekend (ages 21+) $235 / $415
Friday, July 28 - Sunday, July 30

for more details about the different programs, come to burgundycenter.org

SUMMER CAMP JOBS:
BCWS is currently hiring for both spring and summer of 2017.  If you are a high school, college student or college graduate, with a good knowledge base in nature, send your resume to bows[AT][AT]earthlink.net and we'll send you an application.