Carysbrook Lingo

What to know before you go to Camp Carysbrook

The zipcode of camp often used as a synonym for Camp Carysbrook.

Stands for Garden House. The shower house or bathroom located behind back cabin row. In times past, before indoor plumbing, outhouses were often located at the end of the garden hence the name garden house. Prior to about 1960 the facilities here were all outhouses.

The dining hall whose proper name is the Phoenix.

Patches the campers earn in the activities.

Pennants with Camp Carysbrook written on them. Each new camper is given a pennant the last night of her stay here – the pennant has the charms they have earned on it. Returning campers bring their pennant to camp and are given the charms they earn to add to it.

Normally refers to the rules of an activity which a camper must learn before participating in the activity. Some activities have two sets of rules – courtesy and safety.

Kitchen Patrol: Campers (2 from each table) who volunteer to clear the dishes from the table. Also used as a verb in β€œWill you KP?”

The small table in front of the dining hall. The director, the assistant directors, Head Counselor, nurse, and guests sit here.

A bell which is rung by the director signaling such things as time to enter the dining hall, time to be quiet in the dining hall for an announcement or dining hall dismissal.

A camper completing K-4th grades. Ages 6-10. Bed by 9:30.

A camper completing grades 5-7. Ages 11-13. Bed by 10:00.

A camper completing grades 8-10. Ages 14-16. Bed by 11:00.

Counselor in Training. A camper who is 16 or has completed the 10th grade. These campers have committed themselves to a rigorous, 7- week leadership program.

The festivities planned by the senior campers for the last night of camp. The theme is a surprise for the rest of camp.

The salute given each staff member by a camper after the meal at the banquet. Toasts are arranged by the senior campers.

A Saturday late afternoon all camp gathering, revolving around a theme such as friendship, caring, sharing, and service organized by various people and coordinated by the Director.

The two teams of campers. Once a camper is placed on a team, they are on that team the entire time they are campers.

Senior campers (usually CITs and at least 2 from each team) elected to lead them for the summer.

The staff.

Teams of Green and Brown

Gather round camper for a story I will tell
About a camp you all have come to know so well
Round about 1923 is when it all began
Here in the mountains and fields of beautiful land.
So it happened at this camp we all have come to know
That maybe a little competition would be good for us who come and go
So the camp decided that to coordinate the lovely mountain scene
That we should have two teams to be known as brown and green.
And so these teams have grown and competed year after year
To see what team you’re on – well the time is finally here
So whether it is green or brown where your loyalties lie
You’ll see in our hearts we love them both and you’ll see why.
For at Carysbrook you see as our story will begin
It matters not what team, nor if you lose or win
But the spirit that stays with us year after year
Is the teamwork, friendships and memories that we hold so very dear.
So listen carefully as we call your name
Because tomorrow you will compete in your first game
The Brown team captains will call you out for the team of Brown
And the Green team captains will ask those of Green to hang around.
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β€œCamp 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
β€œI 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
β€œI 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 β€œwas 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
β€œI 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 β€œcamp 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
β€œThey 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
β€œBoth 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

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