Catoctin Quaker Camp (CQC) is a small
Quaker
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
residential-wilderness
summer camp
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 camp are known as ''campers''. Summer school is usually a part of the academ ...
located near
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in and the county seat of Frederick County, Maryland. It is part of the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area. Frederick has long been an important crossroads, located at the intersection of a major north–south Native ...
, operated by
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Baltimore Yearly Meeting (officially the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends) is a body of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) headquartered in Sandy Spring, Maryland that includes Friends from Virginia, Maryland, ...
. It welcomes both Quaker and non-Quaker children between the ages of 9 and 14, organizing them into "units" based on their age. These units consist of groups of campers who share cabins and participate in trips together.
During their two to four weeks at camp, children are immersed in the teachings of Quaker values such as simplicity, equality, and peace. They also experience the benefits of living within an intentional, child-centered, and loving community.
Each session at Catoctin Quaker Camp consists of eight days spent in-camp, complemented by two three-day trips. These trips offer exciting outdoor experiences such as
canoeing
Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...
,
backpacking
Backpacking may refer to:
* Backpacking (travel), low-cost, independent, international travel
* Backpacking (hiking), trekking and camping overnight in the wilderness
* Ultralight backpacking, a style of wilderness backpacking with an emphasis on ...
,
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
,
tubing, and various other activities. Additionally, the oldest campers embark on a special ten-day trip known as "The Ten Day," which takes them on a journey through the mountains of
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, and
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
.
Within the campgrounds, campers engage in a wide range of activities. They can swim in the lagoon, fondly referred to as the "goon," participate in arts and crafts, take part in chores, play games and sports, gather for Quaker worship at the fire circle, engage in singing, and explore other artistic pursuits.
The camp property, owned by Baltimore Yearly Meeting since 1953, is protected by a conservation easement with the state of Maryland. It serves as a habitat for several rare plant species and showcases geological rarities, including the presence of Catoctin Greenstone, which can be observed in the walls of the main lodge. The main lodge itself features large preserved beams and rafters crafted from American Chestnut trunks that were formed prior to the devastation caused by the
chestnut blight
The pathogenic fungus ''Cryphonectria parasitica'' (formerly ''Endothia parasitica'') is a member of the Ascomycota (sac fungi). This necrotrophic fungus is native to East Asia and South East Asia and was introduced into Europe and North America ...
.
References
* The book "The Last Runaway" by Tracy Chevalier is dedicated to Catoctin Quaker Camp and Oberlin College
External links
Catoctin Quaker Camp Home Page
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Summer camps in Maryland
Quakerism in Maryland