Catoctin Quaker Camp (CQC) is a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

residential-wilderness

summer camp A summer camp, also known as a sleepaway camp or residential camp, is a supervised overnight program for children conducted during the summer vacation from school in many countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer residential camps ...

located near

Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a city in, and the county seat of, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Frederick's population was 78,171 people as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Maryland, second-largest ...

, 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. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...

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 climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...

, 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 U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, and

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

. 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 ...

. The camp is currently working on communication with the indigenous people that lived on the land the camp now dwells on.

References

* The book "The Last Runaway" by Tracy Chevalier is dedicated to Catoctin Quaker Camp and Oberlin College

External links

Catoctin Quaker Camp Home PageExclusive Outdoor Accommodations
{{coord, 39, 34, 48, N, 77, 29, 56, W, region:US-MD, display=title Summer camps in Maryland Quakerism in Maryland Christian summer camps in the United States