Echo Hill Camp is a coed, overnight summer camp for 145 children, ages 7-16, which has been dedicated for over 50 years to helping children have a happy, exciting and meaningful experience in a safe and nurturing outdoor environment. Echo Hill Camp is privately owned and operated by the Peter P. Rice, Jr. family.
It is close to nature and isolated from strenuous city life and the pressures of the school year; a situation in which a learning experience takes place most easily. We strive to provide an atmosphere conducive to the creative expression of self where a child can feel comfortable and confident with who they are while seeking to acquire new physical and artistic skills. The imagination and creativity of the children and staff are the only limits to the variety of the program. We offer a wide range of traditional
activities which are taught based on each child’s health, safety
and individual needs. Echo Hill Camp is beautifully situated upon
a bluff sloping down to a sandy beach on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
of the Chesapeake Bay. The area is rural but is within two hours
from Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The camp is
located on a 350 acre farm consisting of sunny fields, marshes
and woodlands. We are rustic and close to nature, with most
campers living in large platform tents. Each tent or cabin has
one or two counselors in residence with the group. The total
enrollment is 145 campers which provides an excellent ratio
of one counselor for every three campers.
Echo Hill Camp is beautifully situated upon a bluff sloping down to
a sandy beach on Maryland’s Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
The area is rural but is within two hours from Washington DC,
Baltimore and Philadelphia. We are rustic and close to nature,
with most campers living in large platform tents.
Our daily schedule offers a broad range of activities and is
organized on a free-choice basis. Instruction for all activities
includes that for beginners through experts, and campers are
encouraged to try everything. Our program is very flexible and is
designed to match the natural, free and non-competitive
atmosphere at Echo Hill.
Echo Hill Camp was established in 1915 and is owned and operated by the Peter Rice family. Peter has over 40 years of experience in the fields of camping and education.
Peter is assisted by his wife, Libby Rice, who is a registered nurse. He has 3 children who all grew up at Echo Hill loving each summer. His eldest child, Katie Rice, is one of his Associate Directors. His middle child, Julie Rice, is an Assistant Director, and his youngest, Pete Rice, III, is a Waterfront Director.
Peter is also joined by two additional Associate Directors, Penny Weintraub and Annelieke Noordhoek, who have a combined total of just under 50 years experience at EchoHill!
The camp staff is one of Echo Hill Camp’s greatest strengths. They are innovative and creative people who love children and provide excellent instruction and leadership. Most of the dedicated 55 staff members spent happy childhood summers as campers at Echo Hill Camp and return year after year in hopes of providing the same wonderful experience to their campers.
The return rate among staff is 90%. This large return rate plays a key role in maintaining the spirit, warmth, dedication and long-lasting friendships in the Echo Hill Community.
All of our staff are certified by the American Red Cross in CPR (including AED) and First Aid. 95% of our staff are American Red Cross certified Lifeguards.
Echo Hill has a Registered Nurse in residence 24/7.
Dr. Wayne Benjamin, the camp physician, has his office in nearby Chestertown and is
on-call for us 24/7.
Chester River Hospital Center is also located in Chestertown and is available to us if needed.
All of our staff are certified in CPR (inlcuding AED training) and First Aid. 95% of the staff are certified Lifeguards.
We have emergency medical supplies and equipment on camp, including an AED, EpiPens and Oxygen.
We are 6 miles from the Betterton, MD, rescue squad and fire department.
Important note: Our Health Care staff have championed the fine art of good ol’ TLC!
Catherine “Honey” Murray is our head chef and has been cooking for Echo Hill campers and staff for over 35 years. Echo Hill has a wonderful reputation for its delicious homecooked food. We have balanced menus which include fresh and local produce, fruit and a substantial salad bar. We accommodate vegetarians at every meal. The meals are served family style, with two staff members at every table.
Meal time at Echo Hill is about much more than just eating! Our meals are typically accompanied by singing and dancing! Music is played at most meals, and once in a while you can even catch a glimpse of our campers singing and dancing to some Echo Hill Camp classics!
Birthdays
Birthdays are always a big deal at Echo Hill Camp. You can expect your child’s birthday to be a fun and memorable experience, with a cake (complete with candles!) delivered in the dining hall while the entire camp sings Happy Birthday. We will make sure your child feels special all day long.
Echo Hill Camp offers a wide variety of activities on both the water and land.
Here are some of the activities we offer. .
Sailing, Waterskiing, Tubing, Wakeboarding, Windsurfing, Crabbing, Fishing, Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, High Ropes Course, Archery, Pellet guns, Target Paintball, Drama, Music, Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, Landsports, Nature, Dairy Farm, Charter Fishing, Special outings and more…. !
You can also go to our Photo Gallery to find a more in-depth description and pictures of some of our activities.
EVENING ACTIVITY
After dinner we always have an Evening Activity. These evening programs are quite varied and range from all-camp games, game shows and talent shows to activities which give your child’s tent the opportunity to bond and work together.
A sample of our Evening Activities are…… ice cream socials, carnivals, open mic night, Halloween, “Make Me Laugh”, sandcastle contests, movie night, live bands & dances, “Build A Boat”, skits, tent night, and much more!
Our daily schedule offers a broad range of activities and is organized on a free-choice basis.
Campers will be able to choose as many as 5 activities throughout a typical day at Echo Hill Camp. The program operates on the free choice theory, so they are not locked in to any one activity at any time. The choices are announced by the staff after meals. This style of choosing can be quite entertaining for the campers! We help the children decide what to do and encourage them to try new things.
Instruction for all activities includes that for beginners through experts, and campers are encouraged to try everything. Our program is very flexible and is designed to match the natural, free and non-competitive atmosphere at Echo Hill.
TYPICAL DAY
8:00 WAKE UP
8:20 FLAGRAISING
8:30 BREAKFAST
9:15 ANNOUCEMENTS and SIGN-UP!
9:45 CLEAN UP
10:00 1ST PERIOD
11:00 2ND PERIOD
12:00 3RD PERIOD
1:00 LUNCH
2:00 ANNOUNCEMENTS and SIGN-UP!
2:30 REST HOUR
3:30 4TH PERIOD
4:30 5TH PERIOD
5:30 DIP (free time: swim, shower, write letters, be with friends/socialize)
6:00 DINNER
6:45 ANNOUNCEMENTS
7:30 EVENING ACTIVITY
9:00 BED TIME
9:00 – 10:30/11:00 EVENING ACTIVITY FOR 10TH AND 11TH GRADERS
10:30 BED TIME 10TH GRADERS
11:00 BED TIME 11TH GRADERS
Parents may visit their children on any of the following change over days:
July 5th, 6th, 19th, 20th, August 2nd and 3rd.
Peter P. Rice, Jr.
Director/Owner
13655 Bloomingneck Road
Worton, Maryland
21678
Ph. 410 348 5303