WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION OF CAMP BAUERCREST?
Camp Bauercrest aims to build Jewish Identity and self-esteem in young boys through promoting and teaching the values of our S.T.A.R. Principles: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Achievement, and Responsibility. It is our mission to ensure that every Bauercrest camper:
• Has a healthy and enjoyable summer
• Returns to his community more responsible and compassionate
• Attains new skills and makes new friends
• Leaves camp an emotionally and physically stronger person
• Establishes a stronger connection with Jewish culture and traditions
IS MY CHILD READY FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP?
Many families begin looking at overnight camp as early as first grade. We are happy to address this with you individually, as it is such a personal decision and not a one-size-fits-all answer!
IS THERE A CAMP HANDBOOK THAT EXPLAINS THE RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE CAMP?
Our camp handbook can be found here.
CAN WE VISIT AND TOUR THE CAMP WHILE CAMP IS IN SESSION? HOW ABOUT DURING THE OFF-SEASON?
Ken and Stacy are happy to arrange in-season and off-season (weather permitting) tours of the camp. We offer two in-season “Training Camp” sessions, where prospective campers can spend a day and optional overnight at camp for free! Click here to enroll and/or learn more about Training Camp.
CAN WE ARRANGE A HOME VISIT TO MEET THE CAMP DIRECTOR OR OTHER ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF?
YES!!! To make it more convenient for you, and also more comfortable for your son, Ken and Stacy would be thrilled to arrange a visit to your home during the off-season to talk about camp and answer any questions your family has. Click here for in-season and off-season contact information.
HOW LONG ARE YOUR CAMP SESSIONS? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Bauercrest offers two 2-week sessions (Mini Camp, for 1st year campers up to 6th grade only), two 3.5-week (Single) sessions, two 5.5-week (Extended) sessions, in addition to our 7-week Full Season session. For more information on our Dates and Rates, please click here.
DOES BAUERCREST OFFER ANY SCHOLARSHIP SUBSIDIES TO CAMPERS?
Yes. Bauercrest is glad to work with families who present a documented and justified financial need in meeting the costs to send their child to camp. Inquiries can be made directly to the Camp Director.
WHERE DO MOST OF YOUR CAMPERS COME FROM?
Most of our campers come from Massachusetts and the metropolitan Boston area. However, we have many campers attending from many parts of New England and the Mid- Atlantic Region States (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland), in addition to the Southeastern United States (Florida and Atlanta). We have a growing camper population from Texas and California. We’ve also had campers from Europe and Israel!
WHERE DOES MOST OF YOUR STAFF COME FROM?
Most of our staff have progressed through the camper ranks at Bauercrest and therefore represent the same geographic regions as our campers.
HOW OLD ARE YOUR COUNSELORS?
Our counselor staff ranges in age from 17 (Counselors in Training) through the post-college years (21+). The average age of a Bauercrest counselor is about 20.
WHAT IS THE STAFF TO CAMPER RATIO?
We exceed the ACA guidelines ratios, holding a 4:1 ratio for all campers. We are sure to supply extra staff to our youngest campers to provide even further support as well.
HOW DO YOU TRAIN THEM?
All of our staff attend a week-long training before the start of the summer where we train them in a variety of topics, from key issues like conflict resolution, bullying, and homesickness to other important areas like safety protocols, engagement, peer management, relationship building, and much more. We cover these topics is a variety of ways, from presentations and guest speakers to role-playing and team-building exercises. As we coach on the field, success is a team effort and we make sure our team is prepared to deliver the best summer possible for our campers. While most of our staff are former Bauercrest campers, we also recruit key staff to Bauercrest to provide expertise in specific areas, such as sports instruction, waterskiing/tubing, archery, arts and crafts, and more.
IS YOUR CAMP ACCREDITED?
Yes! We are proud to be accredited through the American Camping Association (ACA), a nationally recognized association in the Camping industry. In fact, we received a perfect 100% score from them on our last visit!
HOW IS SAFETY ADDRESSED AT THE WATERFRONT AND POOL?
First, both the lake and our waterfront have their own Aquatics Director who directly supervises their team of certified life guards/swim instructors. In addition, we have experienced instructors from waterskiing to swim lessons, and many of these staff return summer after summer to improve their areas. We are pleased to meet and exceed the strict guidelines from the American Camping Association and the Town of Amesbury to make sure our water-based programs are both safe and fun!
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CAMPERS?
Our Health Center is run by our wonderful team of nurses and we are sure to have at least nurses on campus at all times. A nurse is present in the Health Center at night and is on-call for any emergencies, day or night. Many of our staff members are also trained in First Aid and CPR and there is always one staff member present in the bunk at night at all times. With a system of staff coverage throughout the day and constant communication, we make sure that our staff are present, available, and attentive to make sure your child is healthy and having fun!
IS THERE A HOSPITAL NEAR THE CAMP?
Yes, Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport is only 10-12 minutes away from Camp.
DO YOU MAKE PROVISIONS FOR SPECIAL DIETS?
Yes, we are prepared to handle diets for a variety of needs such as: Kosher, gluten free, vegetarian and assorted allergies. Plus, we are an entirely nut-free camp!
WHAT ARE YOUR DAILY PROGRAMS LIKE?
Bauercrest offers a structured daily schedule consisting of about six scheduled periods per day – three in the morning and three in the afternoon. At least two of these periods are elective periods. One is instructional swim and one is free swim. We also offer Athletic Instruction (A.I.) and
DO THE CAMPERS GO ON ANY FIELD TRIPS?
The campers will take an average of one off-campus trip per week. Examples of trips are:
- Amusement parks
- Water parks
- Local sporting events
- Mini golf/bumper boats
- Movies (during inclement weather)
- Bowling
- Paint ball (older campers only)
DOES BAUERCREST HAVE SOCIAL ACTIVITY WITH OTHER CAMPS?
Camp Bauercrest conducts at least one social event/dance each month with Camp Pembroke in Pembroke, MA. In addition, we attend and host various inter-camp festivals and events. Other camps visited are typically in the circle of non-profit Jewish camps in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
WHAT IS THE LAYOUT OF A TYPICAL BUNK?
The 17 bunks of the “horseshoe” are large cabins and have sinks, toilets and lockers in the back of the bunk for all the campers. In 2014 we built two individual stall showers in each of the two youngest camper bunks. The rest of the campers use any one of three shower houses located around campus. There are also three newer bunks for our oldest campers are larger, square bunks that generally house larger group of 15-20 campers. All bunks have ceiling fans to help with air circulation.
ARE THERE BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS IN THE BUNKS?
Each bunk has three sinks and two toilet stalls – all modern and newly renovated. The two bunks for our youngest campers have new showers right in the bathroom area. Modern shower facilities with partitions and curtains are located between the Sophomore and Junior bunks, and locker room style showers are located near the Senior bunks.
HOW IS HYGIENE IN CAMP ADDRESSED?
Great question! We make sure to encourage kids to maintain good hygiene here at camp and allocate plenty of time to do so. Each morning the campers cleans their bunks with the supervision and aid of the staff. Campers are assigned various bunk cleaning responsibilities on a rotating basis so everyone contributes. This encourages a degree of responsibility, accountability, and teamwork within each bunk. For the campers themselves, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the day for showers. Younger campers are specifically monitored to make sure they are showering daily. Our staff are mindful of the importance of hygiene in the camp community and since they are living with the campers, they are always present to make sure spaces are clean and people are taking care of themselves.
WHAT IF MY CHILD MISSES HOME?
Homesickness is very common for campers with their first experience away from home. We train all of our staff on how to deal with homesickness during our Staff Training Week, from how to recognize homesickness to tactics like goal-setting, redirection, and helping campers make friends in bunks and program areas. Our staff maintains constant communication with camper issues and work as a team to make sure campers are engaged with fellow campers and staff and participating in what camp has to offer.
WHAT IS THE JEWISH CONTENT?
We recognize the Shabbat with a 20-minute service before the traditional Friday night meal. There is also a longer, more in-depth 45-minute service on Saturday morning. Activities on Saturdays are different than the other days as we run “all camp” events that correspond with limited activity level. This brings the whole camp together on Shabbat in a low key, non-competitive environment.
WHAT IS YOUR CELL PHONE/ELECTRONICS POLICY?
Campers are not allowed to have phones, iPads, laptops, or anything else with a screen and/or cellular, wireless, or data signal. If your camper would like to bring a music player, it must be one that meets these restrictions. These rules will be strictly enforced. We feel it is important that our campers are able to “unplug” while they are here at camp to maximize their immersion and involvement in our community. Campers having these items contradicts the concept of “being away at camp” and takes away from the experience we are trying to offer. If one camper brings a connected device, it not only affects their experience, but also the experience of the other kids in the bunk. We appreciate your compliance with this policy!
HOW DOES JUDAISM TRANSCEND DAILY LIFE AT BAUERCREST?
Bauercrest is a wonderful place for children of a variety of Jewish backgrounds, whether religious/day school educated or for those who may be interested in and seeking more knowledge about Jewish religion, culture, and nationality. As a camp, we are non-affiliated. That is, we are not directly connected to any Jewish movement, be it Zionist, Conservative, or Reform. We do not have religious classes or designated periods of the day for required cultural activity.
Our camp mission reads as follows: To Build Self-Esteem and Jewish Identity through Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Achievement, and Responsibility – our STAR concept. These values are common, though the Jewish message comes in a few ways. Informally, we learn these values at home from our parents (generation to generation) and our teachers (whether in public/private school or in religious classes). At camp, much of this learning comes from the examples set forth from our staff and other camp leadership. Much of the Jewish learning at Bauercrest happens without our even realizing it, as campers informally share life’s experiences and acquired values with each other.
While there is always the seamless exposure, tangibly the following are an integral part of camp life:
• Prayer (the Motzi) before the meal
• Brief prayer after the meal
• Friday evening services – about 30min
• Magnificent Friday Shabbat dinner with Kiddush and concluding Birkat; followed by a lot of camp songs and cheering
• Saturday morning services – about 30min
• Deviation from the regular schedule on Saturday (lazy morning) to include more all-camp activity
MY SON WILL REQUIRE BAR-MITZVAH AND/OR OTHER ACADEMIC TUTORING THIS SUMMER; IS IT AVAILABLE?
Yes. Subject to the availability of tutors, Bar Mitzvah and Academic tutoring is available at a rate of approximately $45 an hour. These services will be billed with payments to be made at Visiting Day or pick-up day. We will review any prescribed education plan or parental request in order to assign an appropriate tutor. The assigned tutor will produce the tutoring schedule.
HOW ARE GROUP AND BUNK ASSIGNMENTS MANAGED?
After initial camp registration, additional forms for medical information, activities, community handbook, and bunk requests are sent to families (after the 1st of the year and closer to spring). Group and bunk placements are determined by grade. New campers are mixed in with returning campers, as we honor bunk requests and do our best to integrate campers in terms of years at camp and geographic dispersion whenever possible. We try to guarantee at least one bunkmate request for every family. We do not intentionally separate campers unless a separation is requested or required.
Group assignments are determined as follows:
FRESHMAN: Entering 4th Grade or below
SOPHOMORE B: Entering 5th Grade
SOPHOMORE A: Entering 6th Grade
JUNIOR B: Entering 7th Grade
JUNIOR A: Entering 8th Grade
SENIOR: Entering 9th Grade
WAITER: Entering 10th Grade
COUNSELOR INTERN (C.I.): Entering 11th Grade
WHAT DO KIDS WEAR AT CAMP?
We are not a uniform camp. That is, we do not require that the boys wear a prescribed attire or color scheme for clothing each day. We do require that each camper have at least 4 Bauercrest t-shirts and a Bauercrest sweatshirt for off-camp trips or inter-camp activities.
WHAT SHOULD MY SON BRING TO CAMP?
A detailed list of items to bring to camp is available here.
HOW MANY CAMPERS ARE IN A BUNK?
We have seventeen bunks each with a maximum capacity of about 14 people. The average number of campers in a bunk is about 11. Bunks usually do not house fewer than 7 or 8 campers. These bunks consist of mostly single beds and up to 4 bunk beds. We have three larger bunks with a maximum capacity of about 20 people. These bunks consist of mostly bunk beds.
HOW WILL I COMMUNICATE WITH AND HEAR FROM MY SON DURING THE SUMMER?
Campers are required to write home to their parents at least twice per week. Campers will also receive daily U.S. mail (except for Sundays). In addition, parents can email their children through services offered by our partners at Camp In Touch. In addition, we post photos regularly to our photo gallery hosted by Camp In Touch.
CAN I VISIT OR CALL MY SON DURING THE SUMMER?
We do not allow calls or visits except in the case of a family emergency. An overriding exception to this rule is that campers are either allowed to call home or receive a call from their parents on their birthday if it occurs during the camping season.
WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ON BRINGING IN AND/OR RECEIVING FOOD?
The only foods we allow campers to bring in or receive while they are here are sunflower seeds and gum. This policy exists to further ensure bunk cleanliness and the general health of our campers. All campers will be allowed to bring one case (24 bottles) of plastic sports drink or water to camp. No soda or aluminum cans are allowed. Snack foods are available throughout the day.
CAN I SEND CARE PACKAGES TO MY SON DURING THE SUMMER?
Care packages are allowed to be sent to campers during the summer containing appropriate items such as books, playing cards, socially appropriate magazines, etc.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BAUERCREST IS PRIMARILY A SPORTS CAMP. MY SON ENJOYS PLAYING SPORTS BUT HE IS NOT A HIGH-PERFORMING ATHLETE. HOW WILL HE DO IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?
At least 50% of the day is devoted to organized intra-league sports and sports electives. As our mission states, Bauercrest aims to build Jewish Identity and Self-Esteem based on four primary facets: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Achievement, and Responsibility – our STAR concept. It is the desire to participate in any of our activities and not the level of one’s performance that will help to determine your son’s likelihood of enjoying a summer at Bauercrest. We are a nurturing environment for young men and we encourage our campers to pursue a variety of activities – both athletic and non-athletic. Sports and competition are among the platforms on which we teach the values of the STAR concept. However, we impress the meaning of these values throughout all activities and daily life at camp.
WHAT ARE THE DINING FACILITIES LIKE?
We are a kosher-style kitchen and are professionally staffed with a head chef, assistant chef and additional meal preparation and cleaning staff. We provide kosher meals as required by families and do not mix meat and dairy products at meals. We do not prepare and serve shellfish of any kind. Our menu is nutritious and kid-friendly. Food is served family-style by our Waiter campers. Breakfasts consist of both hot entrée and cold cereal offerings. Vegetarian and pasta alternatives are almost always offered with every lunch and dinner meal.
MY SON HAS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS ATTRIBUTED TO FOOD ALLERGIES; ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM?
Yes. We are accustomed to working with families whose children have a variety of restrictions including nut allergies, lactose intolerance, and issues with food containing wheat products/gluten. Our administration, along with our kitchen staff and health care staff will work with each family to ensure that these dietary needs are met.
I AM INTERESTED IN SENDING MY SON TO CAMP BAUERCREST. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE AND OBTAIN AN APPLICATION?
Our most current application and camp forms are available here.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW!
Ken Cotton
Executive Director
17 Old Country Road
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-4732 – phone
(978) 388-0303 – fax
WHAT HOTELS CAN YOU RECOMMEND IN THE AMESBURY AREA?
Some suggestions for hotels near Bauercrest:
Fairfield Inn Amesbury – about 2.5 mi from Bauercrest
35 Clarks Road
Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913 USA
Phone: 1-978-388-3400
Courtyard Boston Andover – about 17mi from Bauercrest
10 Campanelli Drive Andover
Massachusetts 01810 USA
Phone: 1-978-794-0700
Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel – about 18mi from Bauercrest and very nice!
250 Market Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
United States
Phone: (603) 431-2300
