Camp Nashoba Day MA 01460

C

Christine Stevens

My husband and I have two girls who attended Camp Nashoba for a total of 10 summers. Our family moved to this area from West Los Angeles during the month of April, and finding a summer camp was one of the first tasks I took on when we moved to MA. We didn’t have traditional day camps in LA so I didn’t really know what to look for, so I signed our girls up for one week at every camp in this area. I was filling out separate camp forms for a week! That first summer, we regularly discussed with our daughters what they liked/didn’t like at each camp. Their overall favorite at the end of that first summer was Camp Nashoba. Plus, my husband and I liked the convenience of the bus which is really part of the camp experience--the buses each have "bus counselors" who lead the kids in song, etc. We kept coming back to Nashoba because of its stable leadership (one family has owned this camp since the Eisenhower administration), the horseback riding lessons (separate fee), the variety of activities (especially water sports), the fun counselors—and of course enduring friendships our girls made over the years. But here is the real value, I am realizing: Our older daughter is now in the process of applying to colleges, and the traits that she is highlighting in her essays are all rooted in her summer camp experiences at Nashoba. Nashoba doesn't teach archery so your kids become better at archery; they teach archery because no one is good at archery at first, and it gives the children plenty of practice in dealing with disappointment. Each camper needs to pass their boater's test (i.e., swim test) if they want to get in the water, and accomplishing this, and advancing through the levels over the years, gives the children such a profound sense of self-achievement. Activities like tubing seemed terrifying at first to both my girls, but is now their favorite thrill. Summer camp is an investment, but summer camp at Camp Nashoba is an investment that pays dividends in spades: children who become adults with confidence, grace, and excitement at learning new things.

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Dina Engel

Extremely unprofessional and unhelpful responses when attempts were made to inquire details about the camp. Would not feel comfortable sending my child there.

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Emily Harvey

Awesome