History

Virginia’s oldest overnight camp for girls established in 1923 & celebrating our 103rd summer to remember

Founded in 1923: A Legacy of Adventure and Leadership

Camp Carysbrook has been creating lifelong memories for girls since 1923. Founded by sisters Sarah Caperton Preston and Katherine Preston, the camp blended Sarah’s vision, shaped by her work as a dance teacher in Norfolk, with Katherine’s experience as a nurse and horsewoman. Together, they directed Carysbrook until Sarah’s passing in 1965. The legacy they built carried forward with Charles and Betty Cumisky (1965–1971) and later Katherine Syer Heath (1971–1976), each preserving the Prestons’ spirit while adding their own chapter to the camp’s history.

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In 1979, Toni Musso Baughman purchased Camp Carysbrook, blending new traditions with those established by the Preston sisters. She directed the camp from 1980 to 2001, after which her daughters, Rachel Baughman Gannaway, Laura Baughman Devereux, and Sarah Baughman continued the legacy until 2019. n 2019, Colleen Hagan Egl, a former camper, staff member, director, and parent, became the owner of Camp Carysbrook alongside her husband who passed away in 2024. With family ties dating back to the 1930s Colleen’s own family roots at Carysbrook stretch back to the 1930s, and she continues the legacy of the Prestons and Baughmans with the same passion for empowering girls. Her vision is for Camp Carysbrook to remain a joyful antidote to the pressures of the modern world, a place where girls grow into strong, authentic, curious, and connected young women.

Registration is open!

Campers have the option to stay for 1-7 week sessions. Contact the office for availability in wait-listed sessions.

Call: (540) 382-1670 or Email: info@campcarsybrook.com

Camp Location

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Memories and Reflections of Camp Carysbrook

“Camp impacted me by helping with my confidence, gaining new friends and creating memories for the campers that will last a lifetime is something I will never forget.”

First-time international staff member

“I believe that I gained professionally in the aspects of communication and collaboration with others, particularly those who I hadn’t met! Personally I know that i’ve grown more confident in myself, which will hopefully impact positively further in my life.”

First-time international staff member

“I got a lot better with my leadership skills and was able to learn a lot about myself, how I work best and grow in my professional skills.”

Returning staff member (US, former camper)

“Each year she goes to camp she comes back with an affinity for nature. She’s more independent and courteous. We love all that camp has to offer!”

Parent of 4-week returner

“She continues to come back from camp with increased accountability and independence. It’s wonderful to watch her develop her self esteem and confidence in herself. She wrote us 1 letter this summer because she “was busy having so much fun!”

Parent of 3-week returner

“With every summer, she grows to love Carysbrook more and more. We love that she gets to experience being herself with girls of all ages, learning new things, and connecting with nature in a safe and positive environment.”

“I love seeing what she learns each year from camp. She is learning skills that will be useful throughout life. She loves riding so much. She also loves being able to go camping under the stars as well. I can see a change in her attitude since coming back from camp. She seems to helping me more. You all are amazing. I appreciate you calling me to let me know about things that have happened during camp. I think you do a fantastic job.”

Parent of 3-week returner

“She had the BEST time at Camp Carysbrook this year and cannot wait to return next year! Her cabin counselors were amazing. She also tried new activities and made friends which is exactly what we were hoping for :-)”

Parent of 2-week first-timer

“I really appreciate the director’s communication with me and support for my daughter when she was feeling homesick! I’m impressed with how prompt and thorough her emails were despite being, I’m sure, quite busy with the campers.”

Parent of 2-week returner

“She made good friends and loved her counselors. I was so touched to see her counselor get bit emotional when saying goodbye to her and her cabin mates. I wish that I had given her a big hug as I’m so appreciative of their care and love for all these girls. Very, very grateful for them.”

Parent of 2-week returner:

“My daughter loves the fact that she can earn ribbons and awards for doing activities. First thing my daughter mentioned is that she was shy at first but quickly overcame her shyness and could be herself. She wants to go back for 4 weeks because of the friends she made there.”

Parent of 2-week returner

“She loved the variety of activities! Both of us loved the unplugged experience. I believe she really enjoyed the night time experiences where they got to do a variety of fun, special activities. She loved her counselor! I worried that being a new camper at the age of 11 would be tough but she felt very included and made friends in and out of her cabin. She had a wonderful time! She had so much fun and it was truly a very positive experience for her. She was so “camp sick” once she left!”

Parent of 1st year 2-weeker

“Everything was professional and organized. I really appreciated the communication and pictures, especially as a new parent.”

Parent of 1st year 2-weeker

“She feels like she is a part of the Camp Carysbrook family. Carysbrook has helped foster her independent spirit.”

Parent of Returning Camper

“She was crying when I picked her up at the end of her two weeks and said immediately she wants to come back next year!”

Parent of 1st year 2-weeker

“She absolutely LOVED her first camp experience at Carysbrook. Thank you SO much for helping to make this a magical and memorable place and experience for these wonderful young women.”

Parent of 1st year 2-weeker

“She had a wonderful time! She has done a great job with increased independence and has wanted to take on additional tasks and be helpful more often since returning home from camp. She did not have a single complaint or criticism! She does a great job filling us in when she does, so this is a great thing!”

Parent of first-time 1-week camper

“They loved watching their counselor make a fire. Both girls were able to tell me what needed to be done to do it. They loved sleeping in the barn and also the caving!”

Parent of 1-Week Campers

“Both of them loved everything about it – even the showers and toilets. They loved learning where everyone was from and all the activities to choose from.”

Parent of New 1-Week Campers

“I am really impressed with the time that the Carysbrook staff puts into the CIT program – to develop the CITs for a job as a future counselor as well as beneficial general life skills”.

2025 CIT Parent

History

Founded in 1923: A Legacy of Adventure and Leadership

Registration is open!

Campers have the option to stay for 1-7 week sessions. Contact the office for availability in wait-listed sessions.

Camp Location

Memories and Reflections of Camp Carysbrook

“Camp impacted me by helping with my confidence, gaining new friends and creating memories for the campers that will last a lifetime is something I will never forget.”

“I believe that I gained professionally in the aspects of communication and collaboration with others, particularly those who I hadn’t met! Personally I know that i’ve grown more confident in myself, which will hopefully impact positively further in my life.”

“I got a lot better with my leadership skills and was able to learn a lot about myself, how I work best and grow in my professional skills.”

“Each year she goes to camp she comes back with an affinity for nature. She’s more independent and courteous. We love all that camp has to offer!”

“She continues to come back from camp with increased accountability and independence. It’s wonderful to watch her develop her self esteem and confidence in herself. She wrote us 1 letter this summer because she “was busy having so much fun!”

“With every summer, she grows to love Carysbrook more and more. We love that she gets to experience being herself with girls of all ages, learning new things, and connecting with nature in a safe and positive environment.”

“She had the BEST time at Camp Carysbrook this year and cannot wait to return next year! Her cabin counselors were amazing. She also tried new activities and made friends which is exactly what we were hoping for :-)”

“I really appreciate the director’s communication with me and support for my daughter when she was feeling homesick! I’m impressed with how prompt and thorough her emails were despite being, I’m sure, quite busy with the campers.”

“She made good friends and loved her counselors. I was so touched to see her counselor get bit emotional when saying goodbye to her and her cabin mates. I wish that I had given her a big hug as I’m so appreciative of their care and love for all these girls. Very, very grateful for them.”

“My daughter loves the fact that she can earn ribbons and awards for doing activities. First thing my daughter mentioned is that she was shy at first but quickly overcame her shyness and could be herself. She wants to go back for 4 weeks because of the friends she made there.”

“Everything was professional and organized. I really appreciated the communication and pictures, especially as a new parent.”

“She feels like she is a part of the Camp Carysbrook family. Carysbrook has helped foster her independent spirit.”

“She was crying when I picked her up at the end of her two weeks and said immediately she wants to come back next year!”

“She absolutely LOVED her first camp experience at Carysbrook. Thank you SO much for helping to make this a magical and memorable place and experience for these wonderful young women.”

“They loved watching their counselor make a fire. Both girls were able to tell me what needed to be done to do it. They loved sleeping in the barn and also the caving!”

“Both of them loved everything about it – even the showers and toilets. They loved learning where everyone was from and all the activities to choose from.”

“I am really impressed with the time that the Carysbrook staff puts into the CIT program – to develop the CITs for a job as a future counselor as well as beneficial general life skills”.

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