Summit Camp » Summer Activities

Summer Camp for Ages 8 – 14
A traditional camp program that includes a highly structured schedule of arts, athletics, outdoor education, nature, waterfront, and specialty activities in a six period day. Campers also participate in a social skills development program and a program to improve executive functioning skills as a part of regular weekly program.
Bunk selections are carefully made through the course of the application process; campers will be bunked with others that have a similar profile of strengths and needs. Campers participate in all activities as a part of their 8 camper bunk with their familiar staff, with most activities being structured for one bunk group at a time. Support is offered for each camper’s individual needs while encouraging group participation, personal engagement, and trying the new and novel.
Our transitioning adolescents (approx. 13-14 years) will continue to participate in a structured program of camp activities across a 6 period day, however more options of choice and individual expression are built in for this age group- the ages most desiring of ways to assert their independence. Arts, performance, athletics, outdoor education, nature, waterfront, and specialty activities are offered with the use of option within, such as selecting between a variety of arts programming areas rather than having a set schedule for a music or ceramics class. The middle camp age group also enjoys a great deal of specialty games and activities that encourage team building and collaboration, as they are strongly desiring peer input and acceptance in a very new  way.
 Upper Camp, or “Super Teens”, for Ages 15-21 Years
Teens who join us at Summit in their later adolescence will participate in a program geared towards vocational and personal development referred to as the Super Teens. This program universally serves all our older participants in all sessions. This program is comprised of three unique goal areas: social inclusion and development, vocational development, and transition to adult living skills. Due to the nature of the program, Summit still receives a large number of new applicants for our Super Teen programs- including many youth that have never been away from home before. So if you are looking for a fresh start or a new home away for home for your teen, fear not that they will be the only one joining us for the first time in the upper camp age group.

While campers continue to have opportunities to participate in certain traditional aspects of camp life- such as swimming and arts programs- these are combined with a greater level of programming for work periods on camp. As such, Super Teens is much like a ‘counselor in training’ program but geared in a very specific way to meet the unique needs of our teens. Teens earn money for daily work periods waitering in the dining hall, as well as participating in a camp ‘job fair’ that includes interviewing and choosing possible areas for job success. Rather than training as counselors, our teens will be working as a shop assistant, helping sort incoming emails and packages out to younger campers, or serving as a “big brother” or “big sister” to a single camper in the youngest bunks. Teens will participate in a twice weekly program for transitions skills that includes covering healthy cooking and shopping for meals, personal hygiene and dress for various environments, interpersonal relationships, and further education/career prospects. Teens continue to participate in a program specific to social skills development that focuses on more complex social interactions and behaviors- for example, how to excuse yourself when you are no longer interested rather than simply walking away.