BYM Camps
Registration & Costs
When does registration open?
- Priority Registration for the 2026 season will open in mid-November of 2026
- Regular Registration opens in mid-December
Who is eligible for Priority Registration?
- 2025 Campers and their siblings
- 2025 Waitlisted Campers
- Members of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Children of Camp Alumni
What is due at Registration?
Your deposit is due at time of Registration. Each level of the Sliding Scale pays a different size of deposit.
When are payments and forms due?
April 1: Cancellation deadline (no refunds after this date).
May 15: Full tuition balance and all required camper forms (medical forms, health insurance info, “Tell Us More” forms, etc.) are due.
What payment methods can I use for camp?
Check payable to BYM Camps and mailed to BYM Camps, 17100 Quaker Lane Sandy Spring, MD 20860. Please remember to put your camper’s name and camp location in the subject line on your check.
Credit card (3.8% charge)
Do you have payment plans?
Yes, anyone can sign up for a payment plan and all plans are customized. Just email info@bymcamps.org and we will work with you to create a payment plan that works for you!
What kind of financial aid is available?
- See our Sliding Scale FAQ
- Outside of our sliding scale, we have Work Grant opportunities. Please see our Work Grant information.
Arrival & Departure
What time is drop-off and pick-up?
- Drop-off typically occurs between 1–4 PM on opening day.
- Pick-up is between 10 AM–12 PM on the last day of your camper’s session.
You will receive specific drop-off and pick-up information from the camp your camper will be attending closer to the start of camp.
What happens at drop-off?
- Staff will greet families, check campers in, review medications, and perform health checks as needed. Campers learn about camp, their groupings and the structure of days and activities.
- At our residential camps, parents go with campers and staff to their cabin to get set up, and then say goodbye so their children can begin participating in camp life.
- After many years of running camp, we recommend keeping your goodbyes relatively brief to ease homesickness and help campers transition into camp life.
Can parents tour camp on arrival or departure day?
Families are welcome to help their camper get oriented on arrival day and see the main areas of our camps. On pick up day, families may take a short tour led by their campers.
What if someone other than a parent, guardian or emergency contact will be picking up my child?
Please notify camp staff in advance via email zoratucker@bym-rsf.org or info@bymcamps.org and call us if you have questions.
Packing, Gear and Belongings
Is there a packing list?
Yes — we have packing lists available to see in our Family Portal. Before each summer, each camp updates their packing list and it is sent out via email in the Spring. If you have questions before then about packing, please reach out to us! info@bymcamps.org
Should clothing be labeled?
Yes — label everything! This is the best way to prevent lost items. You can use permanent markers or buy labels (easy to find online) that can be attached to camper clothing and belongings.
This year we have an add-on at the end of our registration that allows you to buy labels, if you are interested in that option.
What about bedding?
All of our bunk bed are single/twin sized, but they do not come with mattresses. A small number of loaner mattresses are available at each camp, and can be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Campers should bring:
- a camp mattress, which should be made of foam, and preferably not inflatable
- a bottom sheet
- a sleeping bag or warm blanket
- a pillow
- 1-2 towels
Can campers do laundry?
One-week campers:
- no laundry at any camp.
Two-week campers:
- At Catoctin and Shiloh, two week campers will not have a chance to do laundry and should bring enough laundry for their entire time at camp.
- At Opequon only: we do laundry once per two-week session, so two week campers can bring clothing for a little over one-week.
Four week campers:
- will have laundry done once.
Electronics & Personal Items
Are electronics allowed?
All BYM camps are “unplugged” and screen–free. Campers may not use phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, or e-readers. Digital and disposable cameras are permitted, but camps are not responsible for lost or damaged devices.
Should campers bring food, candy, or money?
No. Food in cabins attracts wildlife, and snacks are provided throughout the day.
Money is unnecessary — there is no camp store.
What items should stay at home?
- The general rule of thumb is: campers should not bring anything to camp that they (or their families) could not bear to lose.
- Leave valuables, jewelry, electronics, lighters, matches, fireworks, and weapons at home.
Mail & Communication
Can campers call home?
Campers cannot make or receive phone calls except in emergencies.
Staff will contact parents if needed, and families may reach out to leadership for updates.
How can campers communicate with me?
Campers have time to write home during camp during daily rest periods; we encourage but do not require campers to write home. However, we find that pre-addressed, stamped envelopes help get those letters in the mail!
Can I send mail?
Letters are encouraged! Send mail to your camper early in the session — letters sent fewer than four days before closing may arrive too late. If your camper is at camp for a one-week session, we encourage you to send them mail BEFORE they leave for camp!
How do I know what is happening at camp?
Each week, each camp sends out a newsletter with photos of campers, and brief summaries of what each age-group has been doing. We cannot guarantee a photo of your specific camper, but we try! The general rule of thumb is: If you have specific questions about your camper, reach out to info@bymcamps.org
Can I send packages?
Yes, “care packages” are welcome, but they cannot include food. Here is a helpful list of things you can send your camper that are not food!
Can I send packages?
Yes, “care packages” are welcome, but they cannot include food.
Here is a helpful list of things you can send your camper that are not food!
What if I need to reach my camper in an emergency?
Each camp has a direct summer phone line that you can call and staff will put you in touch with your camper. If possible, also email Program Manager zoratucker@bym-rsf.org with “URGENT” in the subject line.
Daily Life at Camp
What are chore groups?
All campers and counselors participate in chore groups, and are responsible for setting up and cleaning up after daily meals, as well as keeping the camp ground and buildings clean. At each meal, campers have a job to do, and they work with their chore groups, which are mixed-age groups led by counselors, to help make camp run!
How are campers assigned to cabins?
Campers share cabins with other campers their own age, or close to it. For more information on cabin groupings, please see our Cabin Group FAQ
What are cabins like?
Our cabins are four-walled structures with solid roofs. The walls are about 3 feet high, and the upper half of the walls are screens, creating a porch-like atmosphere, with large overhangs to keep the cabins dry. Six-to-ten campers sleep on wooden bunks with two or three counselors in each cabin.
What activities can my camper do at camp?
We offer a wide variety of activities. Each afternoon, there’s a combination of art-based activities, nature-based activities, and active/sporting activities. Some activities are very creative and unique and driven by staff ingenuity; it isn’t unusual for new types of activities to be created. During a given afternoon activity period, campers might be playing a camp-specific game like Frazzly-Ram, or a traditional game like soccer, while others choose to build fairy houses or go on a creek walk. Other campers might use afternoon activity to spend time with friends making friendship bracelets, playing a card game or making music. There is a lot of choice involved and a lot of novelty and creativity on behalf of staff.
How does swimming work?
- After arriving at camp and getting situated, all campers at Catoctin and Shiloh who want to swim go on a “Swim Quest.” It is entirely optional. If campers demonstrate an ability to swim independently, they can swim without a lifejacket. If they don’t, or don’t want to attempt the “Swim Quest” they can swim wearing a lifejacket.
- We have certified lifeguards overseeing all swimming and water-based activities.
- At our camps, we use a buddy system for swimming.
- On canoeing trips, everyone wears lifejackets.
- At Shiloh and Catoctin, there are two swim periods each day in our ponds for swimming on-site. At Opequon, campers are driven to a nearby lake to swim. They also complete a “Swim Quest” but not on the first day of camp.
- Swimming is never required –during swim periods, campers can engage in other activities like reading, hanging out with friends, ping-pong or other chosen activities within supervised areas of camp.
What happens on trips?
Trips are a cornerstone of our Camping Program, and a magical time for campers to connect with nature and each other without the distractions of daily life. This immersion in nature allows young people to holistically experience wild places in a way that we rarely achieve in daily life. Groups of campers leave camp with their age-groups for 2-3 days to engage in canoeing, hiking, rock-climbing and sometimes service project trips into local communities. During this time they carry their belongings and group gear in their backpacks, sleep on their sleeping pads under a tarp, eat food cooked over camp stove, and learn to navigate hygiene in the great outdoors. They are typically outside the whole time and trips happen in rain and shine. Our trips are led by 3-4 trained staff, with our base camp on call to help navigate challenges or emergencies. We have found that our trips are where much of camp growth happens as young people find capacity, build resilience, develop problem solving abilities, joy and connection to the natural world and each other. Sometimes campers visit natural landmarks, like the tops of mountains or waterfalls in state or national parks and forests. Other times, a trip can take campers to historic sites like Antietam Battlefield or Harper’s Ferry. It all depends on the trips that the staff run any given week, which are subject to a lot of logistical coordination and detail.
How rigorous are trips?
On our trips, your camper will be safe, have fun, and experience a measure of challenge in an outdoor setting. The goal of trips is fun, community-minded time in nature–not an extreme experience! That said, trips can be inherently challenging for some campers, because they take campers out of their comfort zone. However, our trips are scaled in rigor, based on camper age and skill. Older campers can expect to hike, canoe and/or rock-climb at a higher level and intensity than younger campers. Campers will also grow their confidence and independence with elements of backpacking and camping as they grow older, eventually learning to set up tarps and camp with minimal assistance. If your camper wants to go on trips, but feels some anxiety about it, we recommend taking them on a brief hike with a full pack in a local or regional park, if that option is available to you. If the idea of a trip is simply too much for your camper to entertain, we suggest registering your camper for our new trip-free sessions at Opequon.
What are workshops like at Opequon?
At Opequon, our arts camp, kids choose their top three workshop choices during workshop weeks. Workshops can encompass almost any art form, or creative practice. Staff are very devoted to offering creative and novel workshops. While not every camper gets their first workshop choice, we work hard to give them one of their top-three choices. Recent workshops have included Dance with a visiting artist, Gardening Design, Paint-a-Cabin, Camp Restaurant, Batik, Make-your-own-sport, Photography Intensive, Three-day Theatre, and making a Camp Movie.
Can campers call home?
Campers cannot make or receive phone calls except in emergencies.
Staff will contact parents if needed, and families may reach out to leadership for updates.
Does my camper choose activities or are they assigned?
At our camps, some activities happen in age or chore groups, but many are chosen. Campers can choose what to do directly before or after meals, during General Swim and during Afternoon Activity. During Unit Activity, campers do activities with their age group only. During Evening activity, the whole camp gathers together for one activity.
Do campers have free time?
Yes! We believe that free and relatively unstructured time is very important for children’s growing minds and hearts. There are many times when campers are supervised by our staff but have agency in what they would like to do. Examples include playing games, exploring the property, swimming in the goon/pond/lake, or just hanging with friends and their counselors in the lodge, Art Barn or a cabin.
What are the community expectations?
We seek to promote the Quaker Values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equity and Stewardship at our camps. Campers agree to uphold respect, honesty, and care for others. Bullying, discrimination, substance use, or unsafe behavior are not tolerated and may result in dismissal. All campers sign a Community Agreements form prior to arriving to camp that asks them to respect and care for other members of the community, to not jeopardize the future of camp with their behavior, and to work to settle conflicts, if and when they arise, together.
What happens if my child feels homesick?
Our staff members are well-trained to recognize symptoms of homesickness and to help campers adjust and build friendships. Homesickness is often a normal part of the growth that happens at camp and usually resolves once campers are engaged in camp life, so we work to make sure that homesick campers are closely supported by staff to stay busy and involved in activities they enjoy. If it is severe, we work with parents and campers to find the best solution for the camper in question.
Health & Wellness
What health forms are required?
- All campers must submit a completed Medical Form and Physical Exam Form through the registration portal by May 15.
- Due to Maryland law, Catoctincampers must also complete a Medication Administration Authorization Form for each and every medication they bring to camp including PRN or non-prescription medications and supplements. We will NOT be able to administer ANY medication without this documentation which must be signed by a physician. And yes, this includes vitamins, homeopathic remedies and NSAIDs.
How are medications handled?
- All medications (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal remedies) must be stored with and administered by camp medical staff. Bring them in original containers, with dosage instructions and, if applicable, a doctor’s note.
- At Catoctin, due to Maryland law, all prescriptions and non-prescription medications require a doctor’s note signed by a doctor
How are parents notified about health issues?
The camp will contact parents via phone and email if:
- A camper requires outside medical treatment
- A camper must spend the night in the health center.
- There’s a significant injury
- There’s a persistent illness
- A concussion or allergic reaction is suspected.
- Ongoing medical follow-up is needed.
Parents are not contacted for minor issues (e.g., blisters, mild headaches, sore muscles).
What about insurance and medical costs?
Basic care at camp is included in tuition. Any outside medical visits, prescriptions, or hospital care are billed to families’ insurance. If you do not have medical insurance, please reach out to us at info@bymcamps.org.
Are mental health needs supported?
Yes, we care deeply about our campers’ mental well-being. Each of our camps has a MESH Coordinator. MESH stands for Mental, Emotional and Social Health. This person’s primary role is caring for campers’ mental, emotional and social needs. All of our MESH Coordinators are supported by our Program-wide MESH Director who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The MESH Director provides 24/7 consultation and support for all of our directing staff. Staff are trained to recognize and assist with emotional and behavioral challenges.
What if my camper gets lice or a tick bite?
Campers are screened for lice upon arrival. If a lice-breakout happens at camp, we will screen campers, treat them and notify families. Because we screen on arrival, this is rare.
If lice is identified by staff upon arrival, families will be asked to treat camper’s hair, clothing, and bedding off site before returning with their camper. As such, we recommend doing a self-check in the week prior to arrival to catch it early and ease the arrival.
Ticks are common in our region — counselors teach prevention and campers are checked regularly. Parents are notified if a camper is bitten by a tick.
What about communicable illnesses (like COVID-19)?
If your child is ill or has been exposed to a contagious disease before camp, contact us immediately. If a child tests positive for a communicable disease that requires quarantine, they will be sent home immediately with a chance to return after they are no longer infectious. We must send campers with infectious diseases home, because we do not have space to quarantine sick people at our camp. We will work with families to determine if/when attendance is safe.
Food
What is mealtime like?
At Catoctin, Shiloh and Opequon, our food is planned and cooked from scratch by our Kitchen Managers and groups of work-granting and volunteer cooks, most of whom are parents of campers and alumni of camp. At Shiloh, Catoctin and Opequon, campers and staff eat family-style and help serve and clean-up every meal in their chore groups. At Teen Adventure, campers meal-plan together and then take their food on their 3-week journeys, cooking on the trail!
We regularly cook vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-safe options for members of our community. Families should list dietary needs on their registration forms so we can prepare accordingly. If you have special concerns or needs around diet, please reach out to us at info@bymcamps.org
What do campers eat?
Camp meals are designed to be kid-friendly and healthy. Our camps provide nutritious, balanced meals, using local food and vendors when possible. In our camper surveys, food is often something that campers report loving about our camp. A sample daily menu could include
- a breakfast of eggs and fruit salad and vanilla yogurt for breakfast, with oatmeal and dry cereal and a variety of milks available at a side bar in our dining hall
- a lunch of various fixings for sandwiches, with the always-available peanut-butter-and-jelly station
- Dinner: lasagna with garlic bread, a salad, and brownies for dessert.
Are outside snacks allowed?
No — food from home is not permitted in cabins or packages due to wildlife and allergy concerns.
Safety
What happens during a thunderstorm or other bad weather at camp?
For 99% of the bad weather at Camp, the construction of our cabins keeps people dry at camp . But, if a storm is looking particularly daunting on the weather radar, we will bring all campers into one of our buildings at Camp that has a foundation and solid walls. This is a rare occurrence, but when it does happen we spend time together playing indoor games and having fun while we wait out the weather. There might be times when we communicate with you regarding the weather, but we typically do not. Here at Camp, no news is good news.
What about bad weather during trips?
We keep a close eye on weather reports and safety is our primary concern. Staff are trained for best wilderness practices for thunder and lightning, heat advisories, and flash floods. It is not rare for a trip to weather a storm, and it is not unheard of for us to relocate a trip if we think the weather is potentially dangerous. If we encounter something concerning, directors communicate with their own staff and with the Program Manager, to make choices based on safety. There might be times when we communicate with you regarding the weather, but we typically do not. Here at Camp, no news is good news.
What about flooding at camp?
None of our camps are located in flood zones. Camp Shiloh has a large creek but it is very far away and lower in elevation from any cabins where staff or campers sleep. All of our camps have flash flood protocols and staff know what to do in case of emergency flooding.
What about heat at camp?
When temperatures rise significantly, we adjust our program to promote safety and comfort. During heat waves, we prioritize shaded and indoor activities, increase swimming time, set up water slides and do water-activities, and build in additional rest periods throughout the day. Counselors are trained to monitor campers for signs of heat-related illness and ensure that everyone is staying hydrated. We make frequent water breaks a part of our routine and encourage campers to rehydrate and refill their water bottles often. Our goal is always to keep Camp fun and safe, even when temperatures climb. While our camps do not provide air conditioning in general, we do have air-conditioning available for ill campers at our residential camps in our Health Centers.
What about bugs?
Camp is very much an outdoors place, and bugs live outdoors. Bugs are not an issue in our cabins because we do not permit food to be in them, and they are wooden and screened-in. On the trail, campers will encounter bugs. Our only real concern about bugs at camp and on trail is ticks. Campers are taught to do regular tick checks and if your child is bit by a tick, we will let you know. Please treat your camper’s clothing and outdoor equipment with permethrin before arrival (it needs time to set) and send your camper with skin safe bug spray. If your camper is feeling particularly anxious about bugs in general, we suggest you try to gently expose them to outdoor spaces with bugs before Camp.
Contact Information
- Program Manager: Zora Tucker — zoratucker@bym-rsf.org
- Family Portal: https://bymcamps.org/family-portal/
- Office Phone: 301-774-7663