Kingswood Boys Camp | Overnight Teen Summer Camps

The Kingswood Promise

“No boy slips through the cracks at Kingswood” was our opening remark to the staff in 1985 and remains as the foundation of every philosophical conversation to this day. By these words, we mean that campers will be safe both physically and emotionally under our watchful eye.

Of the two, the physical part is by far the easier to achieve. Every activity follows a “Plan A” script that has been designed, tweaked and approved by the camp’s administrators. Today, the number of leaders has expanded well beyond the camp’s founders to include a middle management team of more than a dozen dedicated educators. “Plan A” always evokes safety first and fun second. Our counselors are trained to follow strict protocols for all activities, including contact sports like lacrosse and rainy day hikes. Life being what it is, however, “Plan A” sometimes has to evolve to “Plan B” which also has been anticipated beforehand and with a safe outcome expected. There is never a “Plan C,” or an unauthorized diversion from time-tested approaches.

the kingswood promise Any camp director who is speaking the truth to families acknowledges it is the emotional well being of his charges that keeps him awake at night. No organization invested in young people can prevent kids from sometimes saying and doing hurtful things to others. What we can commit to 100% is our response. “No boy slips through the cracks at Kingswood” means we are always alert to signals from campers when things may not be going so well for them at the moment.

How do we learn about boys’ hidden feelings? It starts with the directors being hands-on leaders. We are the folks who delight in spending hours each day being out of the office observing and interacting with the boys. Bob (Mr. Wiff) posts a daily newsletter incorporating Sara’s professional photographs. Alice, attends to letters to and from home, and tracks down lost and found. Rob knows every boy’s name by the end of the first day. Mike works to create a schedule for each boy based on individual choice on a daily basis. Becky coordinates with the kitchen and infirmary on issues she knows that parents care about. We are all attuned to what is happening at camp day in and day out.

At meals, the directors stand by the dining room door, welcoming boys and looking for that sparkle of eye and skip to step. When those qualities are diminished or absent, we notice and act. Immediately, the boy’s counselors and appropriate administrators are consulted. We make it a priority to diagnose the cause of the unhappiness and create a plan of action. When deemed necessary, parents are contacted. Most of the time, happily, we get to the bottom of things without much ado.

But even then, a strong family commitment is just the beginning. The Kingswood Staff Manual opens with this statement: “The staff is everything.” So, how do we achieve our goal? A fair question, the answer to which also came to us in 1985, our first summer at the Kingswood helm: Grow our own counselors. Way back then, we started pegging young campers who seemed to have a special attachment to camp. Fast forward all these summers, and staff loyalty is undeniably the strongest evidence of our philosophy taking root.

Over the past several years, the cumulative Kingswood summers of staff has been in the 700+ years range. Think about that! These counselors have not only been trained to be on the lookout for the emotional well being of kids, but they also have experienced it – first hand and at Kingswood.

The result of our efforts, from the top on down, is a community that truly is one big family. In the Kingswood family, everyone – and we mean 100% – is known and valued. As a “known” person, each boy can count on help from all the others to find places where he can shine; and as a “valued” person, he can expect for his contributions to the community to be highlighted and celebrated. A star athlete, a shy ten year old, and a mostly unseen kitchen worker all get the same recognition at Kingswood. Our whole program is meant to be responsive – to individual interests, to weather, to energy – and inclusive.

kingswood_promise2 Nothing gives us greater pleasure than remarking to a group of young counselors, “Make this summer’s camp environment a safe and happy one for the boys, just like it was for you,” and receiving in turn an all-knowing smile and a “Yes, it will happen!”

Thus, when we say “No boy slips through the cracks at Kingswood,” we really mean it. And, when we get that very rare phone call to the contrary, our instant reply has been and always will be “We are on the case at once.” That’s a promise!

Kingswood Camp’s Goals

To place a boy in outdoor environment with its demands inherent in nature
To give a boy a community living experience where happiness is earned
To withdraw a boy from his traditional authority figures, exposing him instead to camp counselors of sterling character
To give a boy a myriad of adventures which leave indelible impressions on his mind
To foster in a boy enduring attitudes of both self-esteem and respect for others thus raising his consciousness of life’s values in a permanent way

Objectives

It is Kingswood’s objective to succeed with each of the following for every camper:

To complete the nature and campcraft orientation and to take at least one day trip and one overnight camping trip
To complete the swim test, which enables boys to participate in all aquatic activities
To attain “certification” status in at least two new activities each session
To participate in at least one new activity each week
To attain a passing inspection grade as a cabin member each week
To attend and participate in weekly cabin team building activities. Attend all-camp meetings each session: to listen, observe, ponder and respond to values-laden dialogue at each meeting
To make progress towards completion of The Kingswood Dozen and achievement of Varsity Club status.

SELECTED KINGSWOOD COMMENTARIES

Over the course of many years, the Wipfler family has produced many articles on camping. The bulleted points below indicate the subject matter. Commentaries from 2011 and earlier can be accessed by visiting the archives.

2019 Klaus’ Assistant Director’s Commentary

2018 State of the Kingswood Union

2017 Changes at Camp

2016 How Camp Builds Grit

2015 The Staff is Everything

2014 Technology and Kingswood: Our Philosophy and an Exciting Announcement

2013 Dual Commentary by Co-Directors Bob and Rob Wipfler

2012 Determining the Right Length of Time for a Child to Spend at Camp

2011 Clean Mirth (from a plaque we found deep in the woods)

2010 The Morality Dialogue

2009 The Beauty of a Skinned Knee

2008 Multigenerational Influences on Youngsters