The Summer Camp That Only the YMCA and Rock Point Can Make

Amanda Chaulk (she/her), Director of Communications and Marketing, Greater Burlington YMCA 

The Greater Burlington YMCA launched its Y Adventure Camp at Rock Point in 2021. It was one of those times when children especially needed to be outdoors and to connect with others. It was also important that it be a summer camp at the Rock Point property since the Diocese had ended their 86-year camp tradition in 2019. It was the start of a wonderful and blossoming partnership between Rock Point Commons and the Y. 

These last five summers have shown what a special place Rock Point is, and how amenable it is to a summer camp experience. Having private beach access for our campers is an incredible benefit that keeps many families coming to camp year after year. As one parent of a camper told us, her daughter, “enjoyed her outings to the beach and being in the water. She really liked paddle boarding and being with her friends.” The ability to explore the outdoors, stay cool in the hot summer sun, and interact with other campers to make new friends is what has led to her daughter returning to camp for the past few years. They plan to return each summer until she ages out of the program. 

Another aspect that sets the Rock Point property and camp experience apart is the pizza oven. It is a Friday tradition each week of summer camp and one that engages campers not only in a communal meal but embedded science curriculum, from how the oven gets so hot to how the properties of pepperoni change when they get overcooked. Campers love and appreciate that they can pick fresh ingredients from the garden for their pizzas, helping them make the connection from the farm to the table. Parents love that experience for their children as well. The Rock Point location enables Y Adventure Camp participants to spread out. Over 130 acres, campers can access fields, forest trails, gardens, and shoreline. With more than two miles of trails, campers can take long hikes or wandering strolls in nature. 

While campers often home in on the water, their hike to get there is serene and offers them time to bond with fellow campers. As one parent observed of her daughter, “the routine of the day gave her many opportunities to interact with all the other campers. If you’re looking for a camp that truly allows your child to explore the great outdoors, have fun, and make new friends, then this is the place for you.”

Besides the physical attributes of Rock Point, the Y’s deepening partnership has led to new and engaging experiences for Y Adventure Camp participants. The community of Rock Point is strong. Including the YMCA, there are eight groups who work together on the property. Not only are we modeling what community building looks like for campers, they are getting access to different land-based practices that enrich their time at camp and expand their knowledge. Campers have an opportunity to connect with the beekeepers to learn the importance of bees and pollination, as well as how honey is made. They are also getting an education in land stewardship, whether it’s forest management, water conservation, or trail maintenance. This helps campers appreciate the property, be good stewards themselves, and gain insight into what goes into caring for land. Campers work in the community garden – and not only for pizza ingredients – which increases their understanding of where their food comes from and the care it takes to maintain fresh, seasonal produce. Without these other partnerships at Rock Point, the camper’s experience would be less diverse. Because of the property itself and the partnerships Rock Point fosters, the Greater Burlington Y Adventure Camp is a summer day camp like no other.