Friends Camp is a Quaker residential summer camp for boys and girls ages 7-17. We are a diverse and caring community that nurtures the unique personalities of all of our campers. Friends Camp is an exceptional place where ample time for childhood and reflection is combined with creative arts, non-competitive games, waterfront activities, drama, group games, and many interesting and creative activities. For five and a half decades, campers have looked back at their time at Friends Camp as a wonderful, life-changing experience. Each summer, our counselors and campers create their own intentional community based on six important values: • To create an atmosphere of tolerance and love where special friendships take root. • To develop a community that sees the light of goodness in everyone. • To live by the Quaker values of community, equality, integrity, peace, and simplicity. • To offer interesting, creative, non-competitive, and fun activities that help young people grow into healthy and responsible adults. • To work toward a more diverse community by providing affordable tuition and camperships. • To work toward improving the environment by reducing energy usage and waste. We are also a camp full of silliness and lots of zany fun! Our goal is to help each individual become a more thoughtful, joyful, and caring person. Founded in 1953, Friends Camp continues its long tradition of providing a child-centered overnight camping experience. Campers gain self-confidence by choosing their activities and learning new skills. They discover an appreciation of nature and they grow as individuals while learning to be a part of a community greater than themselves. Our traditional sessions run for two weeks each and are full of all kinds of interesting activities. In addition, we offer three drama camps, three outdoor experience camps, and an aquatic safety camp for older campers who wish to become lifeguards. Young people can attend Friends Camp for one week (Jones Camp only), two weeks, and four weeks. Friends Camp is a small camp with 75 to 95 campers. Our rustic cabins have bunks for between 7 to 10 campers, with one or two counselors sleeping in each cabin. Campers develop a strong loyalty to Friends Camp, and return summer after summer. In an increasingly hectic world, Friends Camp is one of the few remaining places that allow young people to reconnect with nature and learn a sense of community through spiritual fellowship. At Friends Camp, we provide a place for children to get away from television and video games, cell phones, e-mail, and instant messaging. Each session is full of many options, such as swimming, sailing, canoeing crafts, games, and an overnight expedition to Indian Island on China Lake. Some of our campers come from Quaker families, but most hail from other backgrounds. We welcome youth of all faiths as well as those who identify with no particular faith at all.
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