Counselors Bring International Flavor to College Settlement Camp

As College Settlement Camp summer staff member Mhairi Gilroy rounds up a group of campers on the soccer field and directs them to the dining hall for lunch, it’s impossible not to notice the thick Scottish brogue giving her instructions an extra kick. In fact, the unmistakable accent is a common sound for most of the campers during their 12-day stay at the Horsham overnight camp, with quite a few counselors originating from Great Britain.

“There are several organizations that help graduates interested in working with children find work abroad for the summer,” said Gilroy. “It’s a great opportunity to travel and to gain great experience for the education field.”

Gilroy, 24, from Edinburgh, Scotland, majored in drama and performance at university and has set her sights on becoming a full time drama teacher, making her a good choice to help organize each camp session’s talent show. It’s her third year with College Settlement Camp, starting as a counselor and currently working as unit leader, keeping the 8 to 10 -year-old campers busy.

“I love everything about this place,” said Gilroy. “It’s so much fun to speak with the kids and find out what they are about.”

Exposure to a foreign culture is just the beginning of the countless perks for the kids at the Horsham-based camp. It’s just two weeks into the season, and College Settlement Camp is already experiencing one of its best summers ever with record enrollment bringing young guests from all over the area to enjoy a slew of outdoor activities on the 150-acre overnight camp.

Open to campers aged 8 to 14 years old, College Settlement Camp offers a full day of excitement designed to get the most out of their experience. Activities include the swimming pool, boats and kayaks on the lake, wall-climbing, gardening at the next-door Pennypack Farm and arts and crafts. Even more amazing, the entire session is held without a single cell phone in sight.

“That’s one of our first rules when the kids come the first day,” said Karyn Bonner, camp director. “No electronics or cell phones are allowed. The campers can send postcards to their parents every day and receive mail.”

The complete cut-off is one of the reasons why College Settlement Camp begins and ends the summer with a shorter, five-day session. The truncated schedule gives first-time campers an opportunity to find out if they could handle being away from their homes and familiar routines. Not only can they handle it, the vast majority of campers want to stay longer.

College Settlement Camp is accepting registration for its remaining overnight summer sessions. Session Three runs from July 13 to July 24; Session Four runs from July 27 to August 7, and the final, five-day Session Five runs from August 10 to August 14. The camp is located at 593-97 Witmer Road, between Norristown and Dresher roads in Horsham. Visit http://www.collegesettlement.org/ to learn more about the Summer Camps at College Settlement or call the Camp Office at 215-542-7974.