Bearnstow Day Camp for Children

Day Camp 2020

For children of school age (6–14 years)

Directed by Molly Hess

Assisted by Eliza Malecki and Shawn Williams

June 29–July 3; July 6–10 (two weeks, Mon–Fri)

As with our other programs at Bearnstow, Day Camp for summer 2020 was suspended due to the pandemic.
Please return to this page again to learn about plans for Day Camp in summer 2021.

In 2020, Bearnstow offers Day Camp for children of school age for one, two-week session on weekdays: June 29–July 3 and July 6–10; 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Early drop-off and late pickup may be individually arranged. Children should be sufficiently mature to participate in a full day of activities. During these two weeks of Day Camp we open registration to all past campers who wish to stay at camp with their children so that they may share the Bearnstow camping experience.

Swim gear, sturdy shoes, long and short pants, sweatshirts, and rain gear are strongly recommended; these items may be kept at camp. We supply towels, helmets (for riding), and some PFDs (personal flotation devices, life preservers). If the camper has a PFD, it would be good to bring it. The program varies daily, starting with chores (help with animals, cooking, simple maintenance) and includes swimming, horseback riding, campcraft, nature, the arts, and free play. For further information, contact Bearnstow Administration.

For Young People, 15–18

Young people ages 15–18 are invited to attend adult workshop classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Permission of the instructor is needed for admission. Fee is $75 for the five morning sessions. To apply, email Bearnstow Administration, detailing the student’s interest.

has directed Bearnstow Day Camp since 2011 and every summer looks forward to new adventures at camp. Originally from

Massachusetts, Molly is a New York City–based dance artist, educator, and administrator who values process, collaboration, curiosity, and transparency in all her work. When she is not leading Day Camp, she teaches with Cambridge Performance Project, and Dance Place in Arlington, MA. She also is the Program and Education Director of Green Street Studios. Molly has a B.A. in dance from St. Olaf College and a certificate in Brain-Compatible Dance education from Creative Dance Center. Molly is a member of Back Pocket Dancers, an intergenerational dance company, as well as an independent choreographer and performer.

Day Camp Counselors

Shawn Williams was a day camper for many years and now serves as senior counselor. Eliza Malecki was an Artist Resident in 2016 and has assisted with Day Camp each summer since then. This will be her second year as a full-time staff member.

Fee for Day Camp: Two weeks’ Day Camp, Mondays through Fridays, including lunch is $275. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place (which will be applied toward the total fee; the balance will be due upon arrival at Bearnstow).

Six children Attend 2019 Leadership Day Camp

For children grades 6–12
Directed by Molly Hess

August 19–23 (Mon–Fri) • 10 am–4 pm

The leadership camp children with Bearnstow Founder/Director Ruth Grauert (at left)
and camp faculty Shawn Williams and Molly Hess (right)

Leadership camp is for children entering grades 6–12. Campers learned more deeply about Bearnstow’s natural environment and about camp’s history and how to care for it, practiced leadership skills, develop and lead their own lessons in an area of their choosing, and had the opportunity to create and perform in Bearnstow’s final show alongside the Young Artist Residents at Vienna Union Hall on August 24. Of course, we will also work in plenty of time for games, art, and swimming in Parker Pond!'