Dear Wachusett Community,
With the exception of a few summers during World War II, Camp Wachusett has been in continuous operation since 1903, which makes 2023 our 120th summer. We were one of only a few camps to operate during the pandemic summers of 2020 and 2021 and thanks to diligent efforts and adherence to protocols managed by our nurse and staff, we were successful in providing a safe, Covid free program.
I am glad to report that, so far, we have an 85% return rate of campers from last summer along with some new faces who we look forward to welcoming into our camp family. More than 80% of staff have committed to returning this summer along with two first year counselors who were junior counselors last summer. Almost all staff have risen from being campers, CIT's and Jr. Counselors, which demonstrates their commitment and dedication to Wachusett. Another interesting statistic worth mention is that the Director, Assistant Director, Program Director and Head Counselor share more than 100 years of involvement at Wachusett. All of these statistics are impressive when compared to other camps and speak to the tireless effort of our staff who love their role of providing unique experiences and fun memories.
We are looking forward to a summer full of land and water activities, clinics that include pickleball, gaga, lacrosse, chess, etc., team sports, free time, skits, campfires, and weekly trips off campus that include hiking, canoeing, field trips, mini golf, etc. We will continue to utilize the flexibility of our small size to provide unique experiences, such as caring for chickens, cows and a vegetable garden where fresh eggs and home-grown vegetables are integrated into our dining experience.
New This Summer:
We will offer week long horseback riding classes for up to eight boys through an off-campus program coordinated by our nurse, Stefanie Wilbur. This program would be a separate fee and a separate contract between parents and the horse farm. Wachusett would provide transportation to and from the horse farm. Boys would likely miss morning or afternoon activities at camp if they choose to enroll. Please contact us for further information.
We have room for this coming camp season if anyone is still in the process of making plans for summer fun. I have had very good meetings with Assistant Director Ollie Martin, Head Counselor Nick "Chief' Avery, Program Director Ross Turkington and other staff members who are all very excited to be returning to provide the best experiences they can while taking advantage our beautiful New England setting.
I hope everyone is enjoying Spring while maintaining busy schedules. We are looking very forward to seeing those of you who will be spending part of your summer with us on Lake Hortonia. The next communication will be with families who have signed up for this summer and will go over specific information relating to the fast approaching camp season.
Unaliyi and Best Regards, Phil