Young People’s Camp 1

Campers often return home, citing Chapel as one of the most special parts of being at Rowe. Chapel serves as a space where campers gather together to reflect and share; often centered around deeper topics than explored in the rest of daily programming. While founded by Unitarian Universalists, the camps subscribe to the UU ethos in an ethical practice, as opposed to in any religious way. For our younger cohorts, evening programming alternates between Chapels and All Camp Activities. Campers walk to the Chapel each evening in our older camps, where most are structured in a Quaker Meeting sharing style; where staff introduce a theme, such as family, friendship, or technology, and give campers space to speak into the silence to share their lived experiences. We also host lighthearted Chapels, like Music Chapel where the community gathers to sing and play music, or Play Chapel, where the Chapel is filled with cardboard boxes and art materials for the group to cocreate together. In the older camps, Staff leave space on the camp calendar for campers to brainstorm their own Chapel ideas and bring those to fruition. 

Check-in is often held as one of the most important traditions at Rowe. Each night in cabins, after a jam-packed day of fun, campers spend time sharing and listening to each other in a time of  reflection. Each camper is given the opportunity to talk freely about their day and any emotions that come up, while the cabinmates listen. Check-in is a safe space for our campers to practice both sharing and being a support for one another. Cabins sometimes even make special Check-ins, i.e. Check-in under the stars outside, a Rose-Bud-Thorn sharing prompt, or even a music Check-in where campers share a song that is special to them. Check-in is a cornerstone in our community building at Rowe Camp. 

Founded over 100 years ago, Rowe has always been a space where minds could expand, and hearts could open. During Rowe Camp’s first summer, Campers came together to send a letter to President Coolidge outlining their protest of furthering war efforts after World War One. Coolidge responded, telling the campers they were, “misinformed,” to which the following camp session came together in resolution: “We are strongly in favor of the outlawry of war, of the peaceable solution of national disputes, [and] the adoption of the machinery of peace.”

Creating a world centered in liberation for all is at the heart of all Rowe Camp programming. From discussion based workshops that tackle topical issues, to helping our youngest campers identify their passions and host marches in solidarity, uplifting youth voices is woven into the foundation of each camp. The older cohorts participate in All Camp programming entitled Race and Class at Camp, while the younger ages engage with these themes more through play, focusing more on identifying power dynamics. Rowe also has a long and proud history of being a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth, being one of the first camps in the country to offer a gender-inclusive cabin option for campers. Our hope is that campers leave their experience here with a sense of deep belonging, empowerment, and the tools to create a better world.

Unlike Workshops that happen in smaller cohorts, All Camp Activities are programs larger in scale that all campers are invited to participate in! These are some of your more classic, camp traditions like talent shows, larger games, and dances. These are almost always held in the evenings. If there is a Theme Day, an All Camp Activity will often accompany it, like a giant scavenger hunt for a Pirate Theme Day, or themed sensory maze. Staff make sure to provide a variety of All Camp Activities to meet the variety of camper interests. 

At Rowe, we are lucky to have a talented set of Cooks who run a full kitchen for us over the Summer. Food is served family style, with campers and staff alike sitting together to enjoy every meal. Studies show that eating meals together show positive correlations for youth’s mental and dietary health. We offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and our responsive kitchen staff works to create Camp magic with Theme Meals scattered throughout the session! These range from silly themes such as: “EDM (Every Dessert Matters)”, with a side of optional EDM music, and “The Tables are Under Repair” where we all ate sitting in our chairs, but with no tables! Campers are split into groups (called KP for Kitchen Party) to help clean up after meals, as well as larger, weekly clean-ups of community spaces. Instilling a sense of stewardship is an important part of each Camp. 

Theme Days often become what a camp session is best known for! These range from more whimsical and structured, such as The Raccoons are Running the Show, to more introspective themes, such as A Better World is Possible! Themes invite campers into the programming that spans all the activities offered during the day. Meals, Chapels and All Camp activities may harken back to whatever is being highlighted. In our older camps, we leave space for campers to co-create theme days with staff later in the session; helping their ideas come to life! Designating space for campers to facilitate their own camp experience is central to our philosophy at Rowe. 

Workshops and All-Camp activities make up the majority of the day time at Camp. Some workshops are offered as one-offs, while others are ongoing, multi-day programming. The younger camps call them Playshops, where offerings range from soccer in the Orchard to covering yourself in paint in the art room! The older camps offer more on-going workshops; from creating a camp band, searching for critters in the woods, to even filming parodies of famous films, but this time, starring bugs! These activities are facilitated by staff, however are emergent, meaning they are catered to each camp's interests and passions. Each Camp session's programming is unique from the last!