If you walk onto the Nobles campus in the middle of July, it doesn’t feel like your typical, over-scheduled day camp. There’s no single whistle telling everyone where to go, and you won’t see massive lines of bored kids waiting for their turn at a craft table. Instead, kids get to exercise their autonomy and decide what they want to do. “It’s all camper choice. Kids can choose the activity that they want to be in in the moment, and that hasn’t changed for years,” Director of Nobles Day Camp (NDC) Beth Johns-Thomas said.
For Johns-Thomas, a professional camp director for more than 30 years, the goal is to create a memorable experience. “It’s not about making a tennis pro or a great swimmer. It’s about the experience and the activity,” she said.
Abby Hartford (Class II), a former camper, remembers the cookouts and white-water rafting trips as the highlights, mostly because they brought everyone together. “I learned that you can make friends with people whom you wouldn’t normally be with at school. Everyone was just friends with each other,” she said.
Sophie Kalvelage (Class II), another former camper, agrees that there is something different about the bonds you make during the summer. “I think camp friendships are definitely a lot more special than school ones,” she said. “Camp friendships are in the moment. They feel so important for those two weeks … it’s a nice break to spend so much time with different people rather than spending every day with your classmates.”
That community feeling is exactly why so many campers return as counselors as soon as they’re old enough. Kai Schotland (Class II), who spent 11 years at NDC before becoming a counselor, felt he needed to give back to the next generation of kids by providing them with the same experience he had. “I felt like I owed it to the camp, and I owed it to the kids that were coming after me to try to give them the same experience that I had,” he said.
According to Schotland, being on the staff is actually a pretty intense leadership lesson. “It’s 105 degrees, and you’re dealing with energetic 10-year-olds who are running around and yelling at you,” he said. “It’s all about staying composed and being able to control yourself and be patient and have fun, but keep people safe.”
Even when it’s exhausting, Schotland said the job changes how he handles pressure. “It’s definitely an experience that taught me how to be the best person that I can be, even in the hardest circumstances,” he said.
The long-standing traditions keep the energy high even during the hottest weeks of summer. There’s “Wacky Wednesday,” where campers dress up in crazy clothes, and “Fun Friday” with DJ Mike, where the kids dance to fun music. Johns-Thomas said she’s noticed a change lately: Instead of just dressing up individually, campers are starting to do group costumes, which adds to the family feel.
For many, the camp is a core part of their identity. Kalvelage remembers how the camp helped her adjust when she first moved to the country. “That was the first thing I did when I moved to the United States. I went to camp before I even knew anybody. I think that was really helpful for me to assimilate,” she said.
It’s that inclusivity aspect that Johns-Thomas thinks is the most important. “When I talk to staff all winter long, [I often say] ‘I can’t wait to come back to my happy place,’” she said. “Camp is a very fun, free place for them to be whoever they want to be.”
For the counselors, the best part of camp usually happens on the last day of the session. “Probably the most rewarding moment is all the kids saying goodbye,” Schotland said. “They mess around and make jokes, but at the end of the summer, it’s clear that they appreciated you. It’s really special to have your name called out and know that you mean something to them.”
Whether you’re there to learn how to lead or just to find a place where you can be yourself, Nobles seems to stick with people long after the summer ends. “It’s more than just a program; it’s a place where kids can truly grow up,” Johns-Thomas said.
