We understand you have questions about Butler Camp 2021. We have carefully reviewed each of our camp offerings and have rebuilt our schedules from the ground up. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, every aspect of camp has been adjusted to comply with new safety measures and recommendations.

Some camp offerings did not fit well into current safety guidelines, which resulted in them being removed from the summer schedule. All remaining care options have undergone both programming and capacity adjustments.

Changes we have made for everyone’s safety:

• Capacity of our camp has been reduced.
• While in camp, campers will be sorted and kept to groups of 12 -14 with 2 counselors..
• Siblings will be allowed to be in separate groups.
• Activities have been adjusted to observe social distancing.
• Elimination of large group gatherings. We are using our 22 acres and dedicated classrooms to maintain individual and group-to-group distancing.
• Additional sanitizing stations and built in times for regular hand washing.
• Wellness check for all campers and staff at check in. Temperatures of 100° or more will not be allowed to come to camp
• Whenever feasible, campers will be doing their activities outside in the fresh air
• Reduced bus capacity
• Face coverings are worn by all staff and campers
• Face mask breaks to spread out and drink water will be announced hourly
• Staggered pickup and drop off times

For Additional Information please read our Butler Camp Facts around Covid19 for our 2021 year.

Because our camp is group-centered, we will address challenges related to the individual camper behavior by addressing both the campers needs and the needs of the other children in the group.

When a child demonstrates negative behavior, we will work with the child to adjust their behavior. If the behavior is serious or repeated, a director will step in to provide additional support. Parents will be called when a behavior is serious in nature, not easily resolved, repeated, or is affecting the whole group.

Participation at Butler Camp is a privilege, and we believe that all children have a right to a physically and emotionally safe environment.  If a child repeatedly demonstrates inappropriate behavior at Butler Camp, we will work to resolve the issue. If it becomes a larger issue, Butler reserves the right to remove the child from the program.

Specifically: To maintain our staff/camper ratio, if one child consistently requires one on one attention thus changing the ratio and quality of the program, and the behavior is not changing with reasonable amount of effort made by staff and directors, the child will be asked to leave. If a child demonstrates a serious negative behavior that is not likely to improve and is detrimental to the group and camp culture, the child will be asked to leave camp immediately.

YES. Forms need to be filled out annually in compliance with Maryland laws. It only takes a few minutes! Forms must be filled out prior to your camper starting camp. Click here to access your Parent Portal account and find your forms.

Carpool usually takes about 15-20 minutes. We understand that waiting can be frustrating. However, we ask parents and caregivers to be patient especially at the start of each session as new families learn the system. In order to keep carpool moving and ensure the safety of all our campers, we kindly ask you to refrain from exiting your car during drop off or pick up. Our staff and counselors are trained to safely bring your child to and from your car. If you must exit your car or stop, we ask you to pull over to our visitor parking. If you’d prefer to skip the carpool altogether, we offer affordable bus service to many nearby locations (note: Due to COVID-19, this option is not available for Summer 2021). 

No problem! Please call the Camp Office in advance and we will coordinate with Counselors to have campers outside the Camp Office with their things.Early pick up must happen before 2:45 to ease any carpool calamity. Please park in the Guest Parking area or in front of the camp office sign, then call the Camp Office to sign out your camper. For our safety and your camper’s, we will walk your camper out to you.

Activities are modified to allow less time in the sun, and more time in the water and the woods. Outdoor campers will use air-conditioned rooms in the afternoon, or at other times as needed, for some “cool down” time. Drinking water is important EVERY DAY and on “code red” days we are especially insistent that the children take regular water breaks. The campers also enjoy our “water misting” system to cool off after activities throughout the camp season. The staff is trained to be especially alert on hot days for any change in the physical condition of a camper.

Due to COVID bus transportation is not scheduled for summer 2021

During non-COVID years, there will be bus transportation on three routes with designated cluster stops (limited seats available). See the Bus Information page for full details.

All fees may be paid in full upon registration or contact Scott Chidakel ([email protected] or 301-977-6600) to set up a payment plan. See the Payment Policies page for full details.

If you cancel between February 1 and March 31, 2021, you’ll receive a 50% refund. No camp fees will be refunded after April 1, 2021. However, any fees for before & after care or bus transportation will be refunded in full at any time prior to the start of a session.

No refunds are available for camp absences due to illness or vacation. The required application fee of $25 is non-refundable.

If we must cancel a session for any reason, we will offer a full refund or the option to move your tuition to 2022.

Life is busy and we understand you may have misplaced your camp information. Please login to your Parent Portal to access your forms and view your sessions. It’s located at the top right-hand corner of our website.

Yes! When a camp family loves our camp and refers a friend, we give them a $50 camp referral reward. This can be taken off their camp session fee. There is no limit to the amount of families you can refer to us or the amount of referral rewards you receive!

Please note, your friend needs to enter your name upon registration and needs to pay for the camp session in order for you to qualify for the $50 camp referral reward.

Siblings receive a 5% discount automatically!

Interested in more promotions? Check our camp website and social media for fun and fabulous camp specials!

We will do our best to group your child with a friend who is coming to the same session. 

Cookout is held during the afternoon on the second Friday of each session for Wilderness Explorers. We will serve Kosher Beef Hot Dogs/Buns and S’mores. Campers are asked to bring other food items to balance out their meals according to their needs.

Campout is held on Tuesday night of the second week of each session for Pathfinders (ages 10-12). This is an overnight experience where we will have a cookout and a late swim after a very busy day of hiking/tubing. *weather permitting

Campout is held on Wednesday and Thursday nights for Trailblazers (ages 12-14). These two overnight experiences where we will have a cookout and a late swim after a very busy day of hiking/tubing on day one. Day two starts with a hearty breakfast, a full day of mountain biking, hiking, and an outdoor movie in the field. This is the highlight of the Trailblazer experience.*weather permitting*

Yes! Each camper brings a bag lunch and snack. We recommend that your camper’s lunch and snack include healthy items that fuel them for a day of adventure (ex: protein, carb, fruit, veggie). Many campers use small coolers with ice packs which keep food and drinks satisfactorily cold for the day. Water breaks are taken frequently throughout the day. Water is provided, but campers need to bring their own refillable water bottles (labeled with name).

A healthy lunch and snack fuels campers for adventure. Consider including healthy options like fresh fruit, vegetables, sandwiches, and muffins in your child’s lunch (ex: protein, carb, fruit, and veggie). Snack options could include two items, such as fruit and protein. Please label snacks in a separate bag within the lunch bag or else a separate container in the backpack.

Please, no sugary foods/drinks or glass beverages! Remember to pack ice packs and include foods that won’t spoil.

Please note that we are not a nut-free camp. However, we try to make our campers feel included by seating children with allergies at a table with other children who do not have allergy-foods in their lunches.

Campers swim daily in our pool, with the exception of Pathfinders and Trailblazers, who are off campus some days. The two-foot shallow end allows even the youngest camper to comfortably stand and start their swimming experience. Children are not expected to be “swimmers” when they arrive at camp. On the first day of a session, campers who wish to swim in the deeper end of the pool must pass a swim test, otherwise they are restricted to the “roped off” shallow end (2 to 3 feet depth). There are two lifeguards at the pool at all times. Lifeguards and counselors will guide campers in their swimming progress to acquire basic skills and confidence in the water. 

Nature Navigators (ages 4.5-6) have up to 12 campers with two counselors. Wilderness Explorers (ages 7-9), Pathfinders (ages 10-12) and Trailblazers (ages 12-14) are in groups of 12-14 with two counselors (1:7 ratio). Additional certified instructors join the Wilderness Explorers, Pathfinders and Trailblazers for various activities, as needed. 

Nature Navigators spend time both outside on campus and inside our air-conditioned classrooms. Wilderness Explorers, Pathfinders and Trailblazers are outside all day. These groups will hike to local creeks and ponds for fishing, canoeing, and other water activities. Pathfinders and Trailblazers will be further out on Seneca hiking, tubing, and mountain biking, while preparing for and their overnight “survival skills” campout on our campus. 

Every week we’ll post photos from camp on our Facebook page. We suggest you share the photos with your camper and ask about the activity and adventures they did that week. It's a great dinner table talk! Please be sure to sign your photo waiver so that we can include all campers in camp photos that we share on Facebook and Instagram (no names are used).