Two weeks, no phones, forty children and eleven staff on a lake in northern Vermont. We have been running the same four sessions since 1974 and the biggest change in fifty years is that we now ring you on day three whether or not anything has happened, because we learned that silence is worse than news.
A day at Pine Hollow
- Wake.A bell, not a shout. Nobody is made to run before breakfast.
- Breakfast in the hall.Everybody eats together. There is always something plain for the child who eats nothing.
- First block.Canoeing, climbing, woodwork or art. Chosen on Monday, kept for the week.
- Second block and free swim.Lifeguarded, two in the water, one on the dock, every time.
- Supper, then campfire.Songs, badly. This is not optional and everybody secretly likes it.
- Lights out.Eight to eleven year olds at nine, twelve and up at half past ten.
Who is awake at 2am
One counsellor sleeps in every cabin. Not nearby, in it.
A qualified nurse lives on site for the whole session and holds every medication.
Staff to camper ratio is one to four, and one to three on the water.
If a child cannot settle, we ring you. We would rather wake you at midnight than have you hear about it on day fourteen.
Sessions and fees
Fee covers everything including the bus from Burlington. Fifteen places each session are funded, ask and we will tell you plainly whether you qualify.
What to pack
Bring this
- Sleeping bag and a pillow
- Boots that are already worn in
- A swimming costume and a towel, two of each
- A warm layer, it drops to eight degrees at night
- A torch
- Letters and stamps if they like writing
Leave that at home
- Phones, and we mean it, they go in a box on day one
- Anything with a screen
- Sweets, because of allergies in the cabins
- Anything they would be heartbroken to lose
- New trainers
“He came back filthy, sunburnt and able to tie three knots. He also rang us on the camp phone in week two to say he was fine and could he stay another session.”
A place is held for ten days without a deposit. We will tell you how many are left in each session rather than making you ask.