Echo Hill Camp On the Chesapeake

FAQ for Parents

Echo Hill Camp | 13655 Bloomingneck Road | Worton, MD 21678
(410) 348-5303

Who are the camp directors?

Echo Hill is owned and operated by the Peter Rice family. Peter Rice, Jr. is the camp director. He is assisted by his wife, Libby, who is a registered nurse. Their eldest daughter Katie is a counselor while Julie and Peter III are Echo Hill campers. Peter has over thirty years experience in the fields of camping and education. He is the founder and director of the Echo Hill Outdoor School which is an environmental school located on the Echo Hill campus. The Rice family has been involved in children’s camping since the 1940’s Peter’s father began directing the Sidwell Friends School Day Camp. Mr. Rice was and administrator and teacher at Sidwell Friends for forty years. Peter’s mother, Pauline, also worked at Sidwell before founding the Reading Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Mrs. Rice ran the camp tutoring program for many years. Peter’s brother, Terry, is a member of Echo Hill’s board of directors, is a partner in the accounting firm of Birkes and Rice and is the camp comptroller. Peter’s associate director is Penny Weintraub. She has been associated with Echo Hill for 22 years as a camper, counselor and administrator. She is a certified teacher who taught in New Hampshire before becoming a full time director at Echo Hill.

Are you a member of the American Camping Association?

Yes. As an Accredited Camp Member, Echo Hill is visited periodically by officially trained and certified camp inspectors for the purpose of verifying our continued compliance with the ACA Camping Standards in the areas of personnel, program, administration, site and facilities, health, sanitation, safety and transportation.

Are you bothered by sea nettles (jellyfish) or water pollution?

No. The Bay in our area is fed by clean, fresh water rivers such as the Sassafras and the Elk. Jellyfish prefer water with a higher salt content and are therefore rarely seen.

Is there a camp uniform?

There is no uniform, but a list of suggested clothing accompanies the application. Camp shirts are available through the camper canteen.

Do you have a Sunday service?

Sunday morning there is an informal meeting held in the wooded dell. Arrangements may be made for children of the Catholic faith to attend Mass in the nearby village.

Can you provide references from the parents of campers?

Names and phone numbers of Echo Hill families are available on request from: Washington D.C., many parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. References can also be provided from Delaware, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, California, Alabama, England, France, Holland, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia and Germany. About ten percent of our campers come from foreign countries.

Is tutoring available?

Tutoring is available in most subjects.

Do you offer a counselor training program?

Yes, the CIT Program is a two year course offered to our oldest campers who are interested in becoming counselors. It includes the theory and practice of teaching swimming, watersports, and landsports. Training also includes classes in First Aid, CPR and Lifeguarding which lead to certification from the American Red Cross. Upon completion of a two year course, a certificate is presented to the camper, which can be used as a reference and is honored by other camps as qualification for employment.

Peter P. Rice, Jr., Director
Echo Hill Camp
13655 Bloomingneck Road
Worton, MD 21678

(410) 348-5303
info@echohillcamp.com