Welcome Parents
“The bonds that are created at Echo Hill, whether between campers or camper to counselor, are phenomenal. They build a child's self-confidence and assurance, which carries through when they return home.” |
Why Summer Camp?Sending your child to summer camp offers them the unique opportunity to develop positive self-esteem, leadership, creative expression and confidence in a natural environment. Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding every move. Campers make their own daily choices in the safe, caring environment of camp, children welcome this as a freedom to blossom in new directions. Camp helps kids develop who they are.
Echo Hill Camp is a slice of carefree living where kids can relax, laugh, and be silly all day long. As children spend so much time these days inside and mostly sitting down, camp provides a wonderful opportunity to move. Living in the outdoor's enriches kid’s perception of the world and supports healthy child development. Summer camp has a profound and positive effect for children that last through adulthood. |
New ExperiencesThe community fostered at camp creates a fun and safe environment in which your child can develop and grow. Along with new physical experiences such as sailing or water skiing, campers are immersed in new social experiences as well. From living with bunk mates, to building new lasting friendships, camp is an environment for learning social skills that is hard to replicate. Their fellow camp mates come from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and locations, providing a richly diverse and inclusive environment for all.
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"Digital Detox"In our increasingly technological world, summer camp gives your child the ability to “unplug” from their iPhones, Social Media, TV, video games and other distractions of everyday life. Echo Hill Camp is designed to help kids discover, embrace, and cherish the outdoors. Year after year, campers leave Echo Hill with a new found appreciation for the outdoors. Even more incredible is that campers discover this love for the natural world all on their own. We simply provide the opportunity for them to explore.
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Positive Role Models
On a daily basis our campers interact with positive role models who dedicate time to listen, talk, relax, and reflect.
Beyond our Echo Hill Staff, older campers and alumni are some of the best positive role models a child can have. They learn the benefits of being in this role from the campers that have come before them. Fostering interpersonal relationships and supporting campers’ personal growth are paramount and these tasks could not be accomplished without a compassionate and dedicated staff. |
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Experience Success & Gain ConfidenceOn a daily basis, campers are learning to work together, make choices, take responsibility, develop creative skills, build independence, learn self-reliance, and gain confidence in themselves. To send your child to camp it can be inferred that you trust them to make good decisions. We help foster that inner responsibility and hope that campers carry this understanding with them for the rest of their life. With our non-competitive activities and diverse opportunities to succeed, camp life is a real boost for kids. There is accomplishment every day! Camp teaches kids that they can.
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Learn Social SkillsComing to camp means joining a close-knit community where everyone must agree to cooperate and respect each other. When they live in a tent with others, kids share chores, resolve disagreements, and see firsthand the importance of sincere communication. Camp builds teamwork.
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Gain ResiliencyThe kind of encouragement and nurture kids receive at camp makes it a great environment to endure setbacks, try new things, and see that improvement comes when you give something another try. Camp helps conquer fears. What's more, when kids take a break from TV, cell phones, and the Internet, they rediscover their creative powers and engage the real world— real people, real activities, and real emotions. Resiliency.
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Develop Life-long SkillsCamps provide the right instruction, equipment and facilities for kids to enhance their adventure skills, their sports abilities, and their artistic talents. The variety of activities offered at camp makes it easy for kids to discover and develop what they like to do. Camp expands every child’s abilities.
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Make True FriendsCamp is the place where kids make their very best friends. Free from the social expectations pressuring them at school, camp encourages kids to relax and make friends easily. All the fun at camp draws everyone together— singing, laughing, talking, playing, doing almost everything together. Every day, camp creates friendships.
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Parent's Frequently Asked Questions
We hope we have answered a few of your questions below. If you have other questions, thoughts or concerns about our program please feel free to call us at 410-348-5303 or fill out this Information Request form.
Who is the Camp Director?
Echo Hill Camp is owned and operated by the Peter Rice family. Peter Rice, Jr., is the Camp Director and owner. Peter has over forty 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, Peter, Sr., was the principal of Sidwell Friends Lower School in Washington D.C. and Peter’s mother, Pauline, also worked at Sidwell before founding the Reading Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Pauline ran the camp tutoring program for many years. Peter’s brother, Terry, is a member of Echo Hill Outdoor School’s Board of Directors, is a partner in the accounting firm of Birks and Rice and is the camp Treasurer.
Are you a member of the American Camp Association?
Yes. As an accredited camp member of the American Camp Association, Echo Hill Camp is visited periodically by officially trained and certified camp inspectors for the purpose of verifying our continued compliance with the American Camp Association’s Camping Standards in the areas of personnel, program, administration, site and facilities, health, sanitation, safety and transportation. We are proud to say that we receive a score of 100% with every visit!
Are you annually inspected and licensed by the Maryland Department of Health?
Yes. We are inspected every summer and hold a current Youth Camp Certificate issued by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Are you inspected by your local health department?
Yes. We are inspected frequently by the Kent County Department of Health.
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. The Kent County Department of Health test our drinking water and the Bay water at least once per week.
Is there a camp uniform?
There is no uniform, but a list of suggested clothing accompanies the application.
Can you provide references from the parents of campers?
Yes, email us for references at [email protected].
May I send food packages?
Care Packages are not allowed. We have Candy Canteen open periodically throughout the sessions. Any packages accidently sent, will be held in the office until departure day. Please contact the office if you feel your child needs something necessary. For other ways to communicate with your camper head here: Communication at Camp.
A Typical Day at Echo Hill Camp
Campers get to make independent, fun choices every day. Click to read about a typical day at Echo Hill Camp.
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Session
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Health Care
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Traveling to Camp
The area is rural and sparsely populated, but within easy reach of Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.
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Electronics Policy
Learn more about Echo Hill Camp's communications and "screen free" electronics policies.
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Echo Hill Camp Staff
Echo Hill Camp's staff takes child care seriously. Our culturally diverse staff have been recruited for their experience, skills, character, leadership, and affinity toward working with kids.
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