2026 Handbook - Camp Carysbrook

2026 Camp Carysbrook Handbook

2026 Camp Carysbrook Handbook for Camper Families/Caregivers

ACCESS THE 2026 HANDBOOK

We are very excited to have you with us to celebrate our 103rd anniversary summer! This packet is filled with TONS of information and policies you will need to know for camp so make sure you read through it all and mark your calendar for important deadlines. We want to ensure that your camper has a wonderful camp experience so please prepare your campers for their time away from home, whether it is their first summer or not!

Talk with your campers prior to camp. Ask if they have any questions about what camp will be like. Tell them that you are excited for them to have a great week; focus on the FUN they will have not on how much you will miss each other. Let them know that you have confidence in their independence.

A buffet lunch is served between 1-2pm. Dinner is served at 6pm, so campers need to be content through the afternoon.

Help your camper know how to take care of their own personal hygiene. Some younger campers are used to a lot of help with personal hygiene including brushing their teeth and showering. Because each counselor is responsible for 5-7 campers, each camper will need to be able to care for their own basic needs. Bathtubs are not available at camp so everyone uses showers. Please help your camper to learn how to do these things independently before they leave for camp.

Make sure your camper knows where all the important things are in their luggage. It is hard to have fun when you cannot find dry socks on a rainy day. To avoid lost and found, be sure your camper can repack their belongings into their luggage and make sure EVERYTHING is CLEARLY LABELED WITH FIRST & LAST NAME (not just initials).

If after reading this packet you find you have more questions, concerns or your camper has specific needs (including dietary restrictions), please contact us at 540-382-1670.

Paperwork — IMPORTANT!

By May 15th, you need to complete the following paperwork in your CampMinder Camp InTouch account.

Camper Healthcare Recommendations (Health Form 2) This is a Physician’s Release. Make sure it has your physician’s signature (refer your Camp InTouch profile which can be printed to accompany Health Form 2 for your appointment). Camp Carysbrook requires this ACA recommended form specific to the overnight camp experience and NOT a sport’s or other physical.
Copy of current insurance card
Copy of current immunization records
Camp Carysbrook Camper Code of Conduct and other waivers

*In order for your camper to attend camp, a current Health History-Physician’s Release must be on file in your Camp InTouch account. This form must be signed by a physician within 12 months of the beginning of the camper’s camp session. We cannot allow any camper to stay at camp without this form as well as the MESH form if applicable.

Things to DO before May 15th:

Review your online registration and update any info including the Activity Release signature online
Add any money for the Camp Store or other extras to your camper’s account online

Camp Carysbrook reserves the right to apply a $250 late fee to incomplete accounts for missing paperwork after May 15th. If your camper physical can only be scheduled after this date for insurance purposes, please contact Erika.

Camp Location

Maps were disabled by the visitor on this site. Click to open the map in a new window.

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

2026 Camp Carysbrook Handbook

2026 Camp Carysbrook Handbook for Camper Families/Caregivers

Paperwork — IMPORTANT!

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”.

Instagram

campcarysbrook

Follow us on Facebook

Accreditations

Pages

Latest News

Contact Us