Mission

Barrie Camp provides a safe, outdoor neighborhood where an enthusiastic staff helps campers find the time and confidence to explore and extend new interests, enhance and enrich passions, and participate in fun, inclusive and experiential activities.

Philosophy and Purpose  

Summer gives children time for themselves, a change of pace, and a break from their school-year concerns. They have time to explore, to develop friendships, to re-group, and to try new things. They also have time to just have fun.

We begin by creating an alternative neighborhood for campers - safe, well-supervised, low-stress, and full of friends. We offer an expansive, yet balanced, program of outdoor and indoor activities - some that are perennial favorites and some that require trying something new. Our specialists and counselors bring their own interests, passions, enthusiasm, energy, encouragement, and friendship to campers. They are companions, happy to walk a shady trail with a camper, and they are coaches, happy to guide campers toward what lies ahead.

Barrie Camp has been doing this for a long time. In 1932, Frances Littman Seldin founded a country day school on an old estate in Northwest Washington. In 1956, the summer program was relocated to the Layhill “ranch” – as it was known then. Our program has developed with and adapted to the changing needs and interests of our campers over the years, but it still reflects the Barrie spirit and traditions from years ago. Today, we are proud to be considered a Washington “institution.”

Barrie Camp offers a child a world of good.

Camps should emphasize social competence and group living; enhancing self-esteem and confidence; positive values and inner growth; and cognitive and physical development.

• We learn to work together and get along as a team.
• We learn to respect others and to value different kinds of people.
• We can be ourselves and find friends who can appreciate our unique qualities.
• We learn to trust others and ourselves.
• We gain confidence by making decisions on our own and living with them.
• We learn and practice anger management and conflict resolution skills.
• We develop life values and a vision and purpose for the future
• We learn new skills and develop interests.
• We assume responsibility and learn practical life skills.

We begin with respect for each child

Good camping experiences expose children to people of all kinds and broaden their respect for the characteristics that make people unique and interesting. At Barrie, we respect the unique character, strengths, interests, fears, and needs of each camper. Our daily routines and schedules are designed to accommodate every type of camper. We don’t believe in forcing a schedule or an activity on a child. Summertime, of course, should be relaxed and enjoyable. Instead, we encourage campers to give everything a try, to make it more fun by doing it with friends, and to accept the support and encouragement of counselors. Varying degrees of help are given according to each individual camper’s emotional and physical needs, as well as the situation. We are prepared to help campers successfully adjust to any new environment or activity and to accept them into the group when they are ready. We emphasize that success is not necessarily achieved by comparing oneself to another. We don’t hold the children to a uniform standard of performance. Instead, a camper’s success is defined by the reflection, recognition and acceptance of one’s personal best and, perhaps, by some degree of improvement. Our staff takes every opportunity to highlight the positive, since personal success is validated when someone else acknowledges a new strength or accomplishment.When working with the campers, we try to be patient, enthusiastic, and playful. We enjoy being with them. We try to trust the child and try not to be “in control,” refraining from attempting to impose our will on the children, unless their safety or well-being is at risk. Instead of demanding that they take action, we ask campers what they think needs to be done, encourage them to think things through for themselves, and to be self-selecting.

The greatest importance is placed on the safety and well-being of each camper

Barrie Camp has been accredited by the American Camp Association since 1976. The ACA is the only national camp accreditation agency, with comprehensive standards and guidelines that have served as the model for many state laws regulating summer camp operations, including those in Maryland. Our camp administrators and experts in the field routinely examine and re-examine our guidelines and procedures for health, safety and emergencies to make sure they reflect best, current practice. Staff members receive thorough training in safety and emergency procedures prior to the start of camp, and participate in drills and rehearsals conducted throughout the summer. A Registered Nurse is on duty during program hours and staff members with CPR and First Aid training are available throughout the day. Program specialists at the riding, swimming, archery and boating areas are required to be fully credentialed by certifying agencies. Candidates for camp staff positions are carefully screened and must undergo criminal background checks and reference checks.Our staff to camper ratio is very low: 1:6 for children ages four and five, and 1:7 for the older campers entering Grade One and above.