Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp

Summer Camp
New Milford, Connecticut

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For More Information, Contact
Mickey and Laura Morris, Directors
Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp
59 Buck’s Rock Road
New Milford, Connecticut 06776
860-354-5030
Fax: 860-354-1355
http://bucksrockcamp.com

Type of Program: Creative and performing arts
Participants: Coeducational, ages 9–16
Enrollment: 350–400
Program Dates: June 25 to August 16, 2008
Heads of Program: Mickey and Laura Morris

Location

Situated on 125 acres of deeply wooded forest, only 85 miles from New York City (1½ hours by car), Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp is located in the heart of many cultural facilities.

Background and Philosophy

The challenge to create, to strive, and to know the triumph of achievement: this is the challenge that Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp offers teens. Buck’s Rock provides campers with the freedom of choice—the ability to choose their own activities and spend as much time at them as they need. Campers are thus able to commit themselves wholeheartedly to their chosen activities, gaining self-confidence and, in the process, developing a better sense of purpose and direction.
     Ernst and Ilse Bulova, European educators who studied under Maria Montessori, founded Buck’s Rock in 1942. Dr. and Mrs. Bulova left Nazi Germany for England and then came to the United States. They chose a camp setting to apply their convictions about how young people learn. At a time when camps were highly regimented, their approach was daring. In its early years, Buck’s Rock emphasized farming, crafts, music, and drama. Gradually, fine arts and additional crafts were introduced, and studios and workshops were built to house them. The performing arts—music, drama, dance, clowning, and improvisation—flourished, as did programs in science, technology, sports, and creative and journalistic writing.

Program Offerings

Buck’s Rock is extremely proud of its performing arts program. The Theater Department produces eight to ten fully mounted plays each summer at one of the many performance stages. Campers may choose to participate not only as actors, but also as stage lighting, sound system, costume, and set design crew members. At the Actor’s Studio, daily classes in improvisation, movement, scene study, and characterization are also offered. Clowning workshops include improvisation, standup and sketch comedy, pantomime, slapstick, and juggling, among other circus arts. The Music program features many wonderful concerts and houses the orchestra, chorus, a cappella chorus, madrigals, jazz band, and chamber ensembles. Private lessons are available for most instruments. The extensive guitar program includes folk, rock, jazz, and alternative music and is a large part of camp life. Buck’s Rock’s own recording studio has state-of-the-art professional recording and mixing equipment, a full music-sequencing keyboard workstation, a digital keyboard and drum kit, a sound booth, a band room, and a vocal/drum room. Dance classes are offered at all levels in modern, jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, and swing. Campers may also choose to perform in the Dance Recital, which features pieces choreographed by both campers and instructors.
    The high level of instruction in the studio arts includes painting and drawing using various techniques and paints; printmaking, in which students may create posters, cards, hand-printed fabrics for clothing, quilts, or three-dimensional pieces using silkscreen, intaglio, monotype, etching, linoleum, and woodcuts; and sculpture, in which campers use plaster, wood, steel, aluminum, and various combinations of these materials, in addition to casting in bronze. Campers interested in photography can explore the new digital photography studio and be inspired by Buck’s Rock’s beautiful surroundings. Studio photography and photojournalism workshops are also available. Other fine arts include woodworking, ceramics, metalsmithing, glass blowing, lamp work, and a variety of other glass techniques, in addition to a new culinary arts program. The fiber arts feature batik, sewing, weaving, leather, book arts, and papermaking.
    Superb opportunities in communications are offered. The publications shop produces newspapers, literary art magazines, a yearbook, programs for Buck’s Rock’s many performing arts productions, and many other items using word processors, commercial art facilities, offset presses, and digital photography. Creative writing groups, journalism workshops, and poetry and short story seminars meet regularly to produce materials for publication. Campers work on the layout, design, graphics, and art for all projects. WBBC, the camp’s radio voice, broadcasts news, reviews, talk shows, radio plays, forums, documentaries, and music seven days a week on its own FM frequency; campers are announcers, performers, DJs, script writers, commentators, and panelists. The digital video program is used as a teaching device, as a recorder of special programs and events, and as an opportunity for creative endeavors in acting and cinematography.
    The computer program provides instruction using state-of-the-art equipment. Campers may work on a variety of projects, including the design and implementation of personal programs, HTML, graphics, animation, and games.
    Campers may also enjoy working on the animal farm. The animal farm offers an alternative experience to many of the other studios. Campers may choose to adopt an animal, which then becomes their responsibility and playmate during their stay. Opportunities are available to groom and care for the animals, learning much about basic biology and animal care.
    Augmenting these excellent programs is a noncompetitive yet comprehensive sports program in which fun and recreation are emphasized. Sports include tennis, fencing, martial arts, basketball, swimming, softball, archery, horseback riding, volleyball, and spelunking.

Enrollment

Many talented children attend camp each summer, but talent is not a prerequisite, since it is at Buck’s Rock that many first discover their talents and potential.

Daily Schedule

	7:30 8:00 9:00 12:00 2:00 6:00 After dinner 7:30 8:30 10:30 Wake-up (8:30 on Sundays) Breakfast (9:00 on Sundays) Open shop time, morning activities begin Lunch Open shop time, afternoon activities begin Dinner Team sports/early evening activities Shops and studios reopen on an alternating schedule Evening activities Bedtime (lights-out 20–30 minutes later)

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Evenings are for relaxation, recreation, and entertainment. In the early evening, campers may choose to participate in a team sport or engage in a choice of other activities, such as guest lectures, workshops, and speak-outs. The featured evening activity includes theater and dance performances, coffee houses, talent nights, poetry slams, weekly movies, concerts, carnivals, and more.
    Buck’s Rock holds many workshops throughout the summer. Visiting artists lecture and demonstrate their own methods, and trips are taken to nearby museums and galleries. Because the camp believes that an appreciation of the performing arts enriches the lives of young people, trips are made to the Shakespeare Theater, the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, and Jacob’s Pillow for dance. Professional musicians perform concerts during the summer, as do professional comedians.
    A main event of the summer is Buck’s Rock’s Festival, when parents, friends, and alumni are invited to see what campers have accomplished. Displays of fine arts and crafts, demonstrations in the studios, poetry readings, a fashion show, and performances by the orchestra, chorus, jazz band, Actor’s Studio, clowns, and dancers are enjoyed by all.
    Campers who have reached the age of 15½ are eligible to apply for the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program, in which they serve an apprentice internship in a specialty area of their choice.

Facilities

Dormitory rooms, most occupied by 4 campers, are well planned, practical, and comfortable. Each dormitory and house contains bathrooms with running hot and cold water and showers. The housekeeping staff cleans bathroom facilities daily; campers are responsible for cleaning their own living areas.
    Many large buildings house workshops and studios. Buck’s Rock’s Summer Theater compares favorably with professional theaters in both size and equipment; the music shed and dance studio permit camper concerts, and the recreation hall provides ample room for an actor’s studio. The dining hall includes a thoroughly modern kitchen, a bakery, a large dining room where meals are served buffet-style, and a full salad bar. The camp also has a fully stocked canteen, which is open daily.

Staff

The camper-staff ratio is 2:1, ensuring individualized attention in every area of interest. The large number of staff members who return to the program year after year ensures the stability and continuity of camp programs. Staff members are all college trained and are either teachers in leading schools or universities or talented young artists. All are selected based on their proven abilities in working successfully with teens.
    Guidance or house counselors supervise each camper living area. Similar to surrogate parents, these counselors provide leadership for the campers, stimulate initiative, and encourage participation in camp activities.

Medical Care

Every effort is made to protect the health and safety of campers. Buck’s Rock is equipped with an infirmary/dispensary. The camp physicians supervise medical care. Two to three nurses and a nurse’s aide are in residence throughout the summer.

Costs

For 2008, tuition is $8390 for the full season, $7290 for the six-week option, $5990 for the first half session, and $5790 for the second half session. Fees include laundry, short trips, and most shop materials. Fees do not include optional items such as horseback riding, the canteen, long trips, and some shop materials. First-year CITs receive a $500 reduction in tuition for the full season.

Transportation

Campers arriving at New York City airports and local bus and rail terminals can be met and picked up by Buck’s Rock staff members.

Application Timetable

Initial inquiry is welcome year-round. An open house is held in the spring. Tours are available during the summer. There is no application deadline or fee, space permitting.