Incarnation Camp

Last updated
Incarnation Camp
Coordinates 41°21′15″N72°28′02″W / 41.3543°N 72.4672°W / 41.3543; -72.4672
Operated byIncarnation Center
Established1886 (1886)
Website www.incarnationcamp.org

Incarnation Camp is a non-profit, traditional year-round camp, retreat and education center located in Essex, Connecticut. The camp was established in 1886. It is the oldest co-ed, continually operated camp in the United States. [1] Each year, Incarnation hosts thousands of children and adults from across the US and around the world.

Contents

Early history

In 1886, the Church of the Incarnation in Manhattan, located on Madison Ave. and 35th Street, New York City, rented a farmhouse in Mohegan Lake from R. Horne as part of a "fresh air" program sponsored by the New York Tribune. Children from the tenements of New York's lower East Side, many of whom immigrated here from Europe with their families during the 1880s, were taken from often squalid living conditions to spend a week in the fresh country air of upstate New York. The Rev. Arthur Brooks of Incarnation persuaded his parishioners to rent the furnished farmhouse, and on June 19, 1886, 25 young boys and girls from the east side of Manhattan became the first campers. Each summer, some 230 children benefited from the experience.

Eight years later, in 1894, Incarnation parish raised $7000 for the purchase of the farmhouse, an adjacent barn and five acres "to be used for the purposes of a summer home for the poor of the parish." Also that year, a parishioner made a contribution to have a swimming pool installed, complete with pumps that replenished it with water from Lake Mohegan, half a mile away. A second home was built in 1895, called Brooks Cottage, which was used specifically for the parish's Bethlehem Day Nursery. [2] In 1925 Incarnation Camp was relocated to St. Johnsland in Kings Park, New York [3]

Later history

In 1929, Incarnation Camp was relocated to its permanent site on the border between Ivoryton and Deep River in Connecticut.

In 1949, Incarnation Camp was incorporated as a non-profit. The first chairman of the Board was John A. Bell.

The mile-long and spring-fed lake at the center of the camp property was created in 1873, when the Clarke family which owned the land at the time allowed the Comstock, Cheney and Co. piano makers to build a 20-foot dam that impounded a brook flowing through the property.

Water flowing from the lake powered the main shop of the company, which became Pratt, Read and Co. after a 1936 merger with a similar operation in Deep River. [4] In early June 1982 the dam which held the mile long Bushy Hill Lake gave way due to heavy rain and drained the lake. [5] That summer the camp operated successfully using remote swimming and boating facilities at Lake Messerschmidt. The following year Incarnation Camp was able to rebuild the dam because of a massive fund raising effort garnering donations from alumni and the local community including Katharine Hepburn [6]

Programs

Incarnation Center's programs include a year-round retreat and conference center, Bushy Hill Nature Center (which operates Bushy Hill Day Camp for campers aged 6–12), Incarnation Camp (co-ed sleepaway camp for campers aged 6–13), Pequot Sherwood Day Camp (co-ed day camp for campers aged 6–13), Pioneer Village (co-ed sleepaway camp for campers aged 14–16), Nature's Playground After School, Steward Outdoor School (a residential school for middle school students) and a variety of community-based education and recreation programs. Additionally, Incarnation hosts Nature's Classroom and a preschool.

Naming

Although founded and now known as "Incarnation Camp", Incarnation has also been known as: "ECCC", "The Episcopal Camp & Conference Center," & Camp Pequot for Boys and Sherwood for Girls.

Camp life

Incarnation's conference and retreat facilities offer a serene and natural setting that invites guests to relax as they reconnect with themselves and one another. The retreat center hosts a variety of groups throughout the year, including: youth & adult retreats, religious retreats, family reunions, weddings, choir camps, educational retreats, and more.

Incarnation's two day camps include Pequot Sherwood Day Camp and Bushy Hill Day Camp. Campers for both programs range in age from 4–15 years old. Through traditional camp activities and nature exploration, children gain leadership, teamwork and independence skills. Both day camp programs offer counselor in training programs.

Campers at Incarnation Camp (overnight camp) range from age 6 to 16. Campers sleep in 16 foot platform tents with their tent mates and counselors. Meals are served in Gibney Dining Hall. [7] Pioneer Village is Incarnation Camp's program for teenage campers, ages 14–15. This program offers a more rustic camping experience. Campers work in groups to cook their own breakfasts and dinners over open fires daily. Campers go out on week-long wilderness excursions that include hiking on the Appalachian Trail, canoeing down the Connecticut River and biking along the New England Coast. If a Pioneer Village (see Programs, above) graduate is 16 or older at the start of the summer season, they may apply to become a Counselor's Assistant (CA) in an area of their choice. Many CAs go on to become Counselors once they are 18 or older.

Activities

Incarnation Camp offers many activities (see below) in which campers can choose to participate. In addition to more typical camp activities such as athletics and swimming, Incarnation Camp has full facilities offering expert instruction in arts and crafts, ceramics, culinary arts, woodworking, primitive skills and performing arts.

Selected activities: [8] Boating and Swimming Instruction, Ropes Course, Archery, Hiking, Drama, Land Sports, Arts and Crafts, Horseback Riding, Wilderness Trips, Farming

Facilities

Incarnation Camp is located in Ivoryton, Connecticut on 740 wooded acres, which surround a mile-long private lake. Its facilities include a Conference/ Retreat Center that can accommodate 300 guests, campgrounds, a working farm, miles of hiking trails (open to the public Sept.- May), a Nature Center (Bushy Hill Nature Center), two Chapels, and more. [9]

Notable staff and alumni

Related Research Articles

Scouting in Connecticut has experienced many organizational changes since 1910. With only eight counties, Connecticut has had 40 Boy Scout Councils since the Scouting movement began in 1910. In 1922, 17 Boy Scout Councils existed in Connecticut, but currently only four exist. The Girl Scouts of the USA has had at least 53 Girl Scout Councils in Connecticut since their program began in 1912. Today there is one, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, which assumed operation on October 1, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer camp</span> Supervised program for children conducted during the summer months

A summer camp or sleepaway camp is a supervised program for children conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camps are known as campers. Summer school is usually a part of the academic curriculum for a student to make up work not accomplished during the academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YMCA Camp Cory</span> Summer camp in New York State, U.S.

YMCA Camp Lawrence Cory, better known as "YMCA Camp Cory" or simply "Camp Cory," is a resident-style summer camp in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. It was founded in 1892 and established at its current location in 1921. The name comes from Lt. H. Lawrence Cory, an American World War I soldier who was killed in action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiness Is Camping</span>

Happiness Is Camping is a non-profit ACA-accredited overnight camp for kids with cancer, ages 6–16, and their siblings. The camp is located on 145 acres in Hardwick, New Jersey, United States. Happiness Is Camping is free to all who attend, and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) (3) organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day camp</span>

Day camps also known as summer camps in some areas, are recreational programs designed to provide children with a fun and enriching experience during the summer or school breaks. Unlike residential or overnight camps, day camps operate during daytime hours, allowing children to participate in various activities and return home each evening. These camps offer a wide range of supervised activities, fostering socialization, learning, and personal growth in a safe and supportive environment. Day camps can be booked by the day or by the week, or month depending on the institution organizing them. Programs are typically available for kids ages 3-17, but the specific age range can vary depending on the camp's focus and structure. The most popular ages for summer day camps are typically ages 5-10.

Camp Sealth is owned and operated by Camp Fire, a non-profit youth organization, and located on Vashon Island, Washington. Sealth hosts resident and day camp during the summer, environmental education for school groups during the spring and fall, and is a year-round conference and retreat center. Camp Sealth is accredited by the American Camp Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Alvernia</span>

Camp Alvernia is a non-profit recreational summer camp in Centerport, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. The camp is located on the east shore of Centerport Harbor, on the Little Neck peninsula. It was founded in 1888 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, who still run the facility now, over 130 years later. Alvernia was the first and is now the oldest Catholic camp in continuous operation in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YMCA Camp Fitch on Lake Erie</span>

YMCA Camp Fitch is a year-round camp in North Springfield, Pennsylvania, owned and operated by the YMCA of Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to 1914, all summer camps operated by the YMCA of Youngstown were experimental and temporary in nature. Since its founding in 1914, Camp Fitch has hosted campers every year to date. Originally a program of the YMCA's downtown branch, Camp Fitch now exists as a YMCA branch owned by the YMCA of Youngstown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Ramah in the Poconos</span>

Camp Ramah in the Poconos is a summer camp affiliated with the National Ramah Commission. Opened in 1950, it is located in the Pocono Mountains in High Lake, Pennsylvania.

The Pines Catholic Camp, located in Big Sandy, Texas outside of Tyler and 2 hours east of Dallas, is a Catholic summer camp and retreat center. As an accredited camp with the American Camp Association (ACA), The Pines seeks to continue to “give youth the confidence and the strength they need to continue their faith journey and to help them foster healthy vocations.” Although not affiliated with any diocese, The Pines has a close relationship with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas and follows their Safe Environment Guidelines.

YMCA Camp Tecumseh Outdoor Center is located in Indiana near the towns of Brookston, Indiana and Delphi, Indiana on the Tippecanoe River. The closest large city to Camp Tecumseh is Lafayette, Indiana, which is just across the Wabash River from West Lafayette. Camp Tecumseh was established in 1924 when citizens of Delphi raised $3000 to purchase the land which lies on a bend on the Tippecanoe river. The camp is named after Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief. Camp Tecumseh is fully accredited by the American Camping Association and currently serves over 4,000 campers every summer from throughout the midwest USA and the world. Camp Tecumseh is also open throughout the year, providing an Outdoor Education service for schools and a facility for retreats and conferences of all kinds. The facility serves over 30,000 people per year. It is an independent YMCA branch and is operated independently of other metro YMCAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Lohikan</span> Summer camp in The Poconos

Camp Lohikan is a summer camp in The Poconos in Lake Como, Pennsylvania. The summer camp serves boys and girls ages 6–15.

Camp Anokijig is a residential youth summer camp located in Plymouth, Wisconsin on Little Elkhart Lake. Founded in 1926 by the Racine YMCA, Camp Anokijig is now independently owned and operated by the non-profit group Friends of Camp Anokijig, and operates year-round. Camp Anokijig is accredited by the American Camping Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Wekeela</span>

Camp Wekeela is a 60-acre sleep-away summer camp on Little Bear Pond in Hartford, Maine. It is a traditional resident summer camp for boys and girls ages 7–16, in season from June to August with an estimated 300 campers and 135 employees each summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Ralph S. Mason</span> Summer camp

YMCA Camp Mason is a YMCA summer camp located in Hardwick Township, New Jersey. The 650-acre site is located next to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Camp Mason annually serves approximately 800 campers in its summer camp programs, and 7,000 participants at its outdoor center.

Located on 150 acres on Cedar Lake in Chester, Connecticut, Camp Hazen YMCA provides positive youth camping experiences for over 1500 boys and girls each year from throughout the state. Group camping includes over 6000 participants annually. Camp Hazen YMCA serves youth from throughout Connecticut, New England and many states around the country. Each summer, Camp Hazen YMCA is also home to campers and counselors from more than 25 different countries. Campers come from all socio-economic backgrounds, and range in age from 5 to 18. Over 800 campers were provided with financial assistance in 2009. These funds, over $205,000, were provided through the generosity of individuals, foundations, businesses and service clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Ondessonk</span> Catholic youth camp

Camp Ondessonk is an outdoor, Catholic residential youth camp run by the Diocese of Belleville. It is located in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois, near Ozark, Illinois. The mission of the camp is "Exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures empowering kids of all ages." Camp Ondessonk is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Farm & Wilderness, also known as F&W, is a system of eight ACA-accredited Quaker-based summer camps for kids and summer programs for teens rooted in social justice, environmental sustainability, homegrown fun, and wilderness adventure situated in and around Plymouth, Vermont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Cody (summer camp)</span> Overnight, international, co-ed summer camp in Freedom, New Hampshire

Camp Cody in Freedom, New Hampshire, is a traditional, overnight, international, and co-ed summer camp, located along the shore of Ossipee Lake. Established in 1926 by Philip Axman in Cambridge, Maryland, Camp Cody began as a camp for boys, named after William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. It moved to its current site of Freedom, New Hampshire in 1941, where it remained a boys camp until 2001. Beginning as a camp with just 50 campers enrolled, the camp now serves hundreds of families from all over the USA and around the world, with a typical camper stay of two or four weeks. The campus, also referred to as the Cody Outdoor Center, is currently host to weddings, outsourced camp groups, events, conferences, and its own nature education program. The site functions year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City's YMCA Camp</span>

The New York City's YMCA Camp is a former recreational and educational sleepover camp in Huguenot, New York that belonged to the YMCA of Greater New York. While the YMCA operates day camps in the five boroughs of New York City, the Huguenot Camp was the only sleepover camp of the YMCA of New York City. The camp was created in 1918. In March 2021, it was announced that the camp was to be closed and sold.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. OLDEST CAMPS" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Kiederer, Linda. "INCARNATION CAMP 1886-1924" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "History of the Incarnation Conference Center" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Stannard, Charles. "Finding Peace In Wooded Connecticut" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Woodside, Christine (Spring 2008). "The 100 Year Storm" (PDF). Connecticut Woodlands. 73 (1): 8–9. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Connecticut Journal". The New York Times. 17 April 1983. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Gibney Dining Hall" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Camps, ACA. "ACA Find A Camp" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Camps, ACA. "ACA Find A Camp" . Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Buckley, Christopher (10 November 2006). "How To Give Away a Million Dollars". Slate. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.