Barrie Camp is held on the 45-acre campus of Barrie School in Silver Spring MD. Facilities used for the summer camp program include:

• 25-meter Olympic outdoor swimming pool: 2 to 5 ft. deep
• Fourteen air conditioned school buildings and cottages
• A pond for canoeing and nature study
• Makerspace classroom
• Two Gymnasiums – one full-size and one half-size
• Black Box theater
• Art building, ceramics studio, and arts & crafts classroom
• State of the art computer facilities
• Outdoor amphitheater and stage for morning assembly, special events, and entertainment
• Athletic fields, including a turf field
• Archery range
• Hiking trails including access to the Matthew Henson Trail
• Three playgrounds
• Tent platforms and fire pit for overnights
• Two pavilions and innumerable shaded picnic areas

Daily Schedule

• 9 am: The day begins with Flagpole, an all-camp assembly at the amphitheater. 
• 9:25 am to 3:15 pm: Camper groups rotate through nine, 30-minute activity periods.
• 3:15 pm to 3:55 pm: Campers transition to dismissal and enjoy an end of the day popsicle!
• 3:55 pm: The camp day ends with car pick-up from 3:55 to 4:30 pm.

The schedule of daily activities changes from day to day and week to week except for set swim times. Most activities are scheduled once per week, weather permitting.

Lunch & Snacks

Lunch and the occasional free period are included in the weekly schedule. Lower campers enjoy a rest or nap period after lunch.

Campers bring bagged lunches that are kept refrigerated until lunchtime. Snacks are offered in the morning to Lower campers and to all campers in PM Supervision. Popsicles are available at the end of the day for everyone. Campers are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle and are recommended to bring snacks.

Swim Program

Campers are scheduled for two, back to back, swim periods a day. Campers in Specialty or Super Camps have a single swim period. Seniors (rising 7th and 8th graders) swim once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Lifeguards are fully credentialed and have demonstrated rescue competence. The number of guards on duty is determined by the number of swimmers in the pool. Typically, three guards are on duty with an equal number of counselors assigned as "lookouts."

Please note: 

• All campers going into first grade and above are given a swim skills check when they first arrive at the pool to assess skill levels and determine in which areas of the pool they may safely swim.
• Rising Pre-K and Kindergarteners do not have their swim skills checked as they have a shallow section of the pool designated only for their age group.

Barrie Camp employs over 150 people each summer to execute the vast number of activities for the campers in a safe and fun environment. All staff undergo an interview with the year round team and must have multiple reference checks from non-family members. Before working with campers, all staff must complete a criminal background investigation. They participate in a comprehensive pre-camp training program as well as trainings throughout the summer and daily staff meetings.  Staff are trained to be patient, enthusiastic and playful, yet also understand how to manage camper safety and well­-being.

Two or three staff members are assigned to each group depending on the number of campers. The average number of campers per group is 18, though this can change based on the group, week, or program a camper is enrolled in. Staff to camper ratios are based on American Camp Association requirements:

• Lower Camp  1:6
• Middle Camp  1:8
• Upper Camp 1:10

Counselors-in-Training (CITs): CITS are staff who are rising 10th graders and are full-time volunteers assigned to assist camp counselors and activity specialists.

Camp Counselors: The camp counselors are a highlight of every camper's experience. Every group has senior counselors, who are high school graduates and college students, as well as junior counselors, who are rising juniors & seniors in high school. All counselors are trained to keep campers safe,  be mindful of individual needs, to be engaging, caring and provide encouragement and support. 

Activity Specialists:  We also employ experienced specialists who have relevant college degrees or specific training, experience or certifications to lead activities.

Lifeguards: All of our lifeguards are Red Cross certified. Two to three lifeguards are on duty at all times, depending on the number of groups assigned to the pool.

Leadership Team: Experienced professionals with degrees in education or fields related to their roles. They are available to provide support to counselors as well as campers and their families. They ensure program quality, supervise specialists, create weekly schedules, and coordinate special event days.

Registered Nurses: Two registered nurses or a nurse and emergency medical technician (EMT) or certified nursing assistant (CNA) are on duty during the regular camp day. Staff trained in First Aid and CPR are on site during extended care hours.

Montgomery County Public School Year Extension
We’ve been closely monitoring the Montgomery County Public Schools' extension of the school year, with their last day of school now being the half day on Monday, June 16th. With the likelihood of more snow this year looking pretty slim (fingers crossed!), we’re moving forward with a plan to support families if their child can’t attend Barrie Camp on Monday, June 16th. If your camper attends an MCPS school and they are unable to join us on the 16th, you’ll receive a $50 refund. This refund applies only to campers who miss that day, and aligns with our discounts for Barrie Camp being closed on Juneteenth and July 4th. Refunds will be processed during the first week of camp after we reconcile attendance for that Monday.