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The Marcus Lewis Day Camp (MLDC) is the result of a concept that was shaped through consumer feedback and ultimately put into motion. Since our first year of operation, the camp has been the highest rated day camp in the Metrowest area and has quickly become the benchmark for camper engagement and parent satisfaction for multi-recreational day camps in New England.
What Needs to be Better?
Prior to The MLDC's creation, parents were polled about issues they had with their current camp options. The feedback will undoubtedly resonate with anyone familiar with sending their child to summer camp: 1. Cost2. Staff maturity
3. Limited activities available
4. Minimally challenging
5. Child enjoys some/not all activities
The question that had to be answered was, is it possible to create a program that:
1. Is more affordable
2. Employs a staff that is at least 18 years of age
3. Offers an unprecedented number of activities
4. Becomes progressively more challenging
5. Offers campers a choice of their activities and the ability to design a more customized experience on a daily basis
After researching what would be required and the resources that were available, the answer was an emphatic "YES!"
Our fees are lower than any tier-one* multi-recreational program across the board and they are lower than most tier-two** operations when registering for multiple weeks. If you would like to see a comparison chart of programs of other, local tier-one programs, click here.
ALL of the lead
staff are minimally 18 years of age and our electives/specialists hail from
such organizations as
Animal Planet,
Tufts University,
Guard Up!,
Boston Improv, and many, many more.
There are an extraordinary number of
activities offered throughout the summer, many of which are exclusive
to the program, and exercises are designed to become more challenging as a camper's skill level
increases.
Often Imitated...NEVER Duplicated
When parents mention The Marcus Lewis Day Camp, it is synonymous with "choice" and
being able to design your own program. Besides having the widest range of activities and utilizing
professionals to instruct them, The MLDC allows campers to choose their activities EACH day. Since
our inception in 2002, many camps have begun attempting to add a choice option to their programs
and do their best to mimic our curriculum, however in those programs, campers must make their choices in
advance. If a camp does attempt to offer a daily choice, inquire as to how many options they have
for that period. It is likely only two or three choices at a time which will probably not
accommodate the various tastes of a few hundred campers.
Camps also often make the mistake of attempting to squeeze activities into a short, 45 or 50
minute session which is a challenging task. The MLDC remains the only camp that allows campers a
full hour to enjoy their activities and it is the only environment where they can pick from more
than just two ot three options at the beginning of each day.
Why is it so important to be able to choose daily and not a week, month or the day prior? What if your child has selected something new for a few activity blocks,
but realizes after trying the activity for one period, that he/she does not like it? This can
discourage further exploration. Conversely, what if your child tries another new activity for one
activity block and loves it? Unfortunately now he/she will not be able to do that activity again.
Within the framework of a daily-choice curriculum, campers have the freedom to explore without
being locked into an activity they may not fully enjoy.
Electives: Even More Options!
On top of the activity choices for that day, our teens are presented with special electives on Tuesdays and Thursdays that allow them to specialize for two-hour blocks of time. What if he/she does not find the special electives appealing? No problem! There is always the option to remain with the other activity choices. You can take a look at our electives calendar to see what is in store for those periods.Spirit: A New Meaning
The last piece of the puzzle before launching this program was to find a way to actively promote and reinforce specific, personal qualities to our campers. How do you truly encourage a camper to be responsible? How do you motivate a camper to interact when that is not their personality? Our exclusive Spirit System became the answer. Please click here if you would like to read about how we motivate campers to be the best they can be.
Money-Back Guarantee? Impossible!
a. A price structure that is less than others in your tier
b. Staffing that is truly superior (many camps say it, but how many will risk their income on it?)
c. Over 100 unique activities
d. A curriculum that campers design on a daily basis
e. A system of genuine, positive reinforcement that leaves campers feeling great about who they are
Regardless of personality type, age or disposition, The MLDC will fit the camper; the camper does not have to fit this program. That fact makes for an unusually low attrition rate and an extremely high satisfaction quotient. This is particularly true of our teen campers enrolling in the program. The MLDC is not labeled as a "kiddie camp" as can often be the case in this industry when an environment is adequate for younger campers but lacking stimulation for the older attendees.
Our program reviews have been exceptional, such that we are the only camp we know of that will make an offer of a money-back guarantee if a camper's experience is unsatisfactory. We are often queried about the differences between our organization and similar camps and have constructed comparison pages contrasting respective differences. If interested, please email us and we will direct you to the appropriate information via a link.
Membership in professional camp organizations keeps one apprised of the current standards in quality camp operation. At the Marcus Lewis Day Camp, our director is a proud associate member of the American Camping Association (ACA) and the Massachusetts Camping Association (MCA). Our standards are by far the highest in the industry for curriculum diversity, safety protocols and staff qualifications.
Family Involvement:
Our camping philosophy is based on
the belief that feedback and suggestions from campers, parents, and
staff play an integral role in the development of our programming.
We value our families’ thoughts about our camp and welcome
their perspectives in helping us assess our programs. We gather information
through a yearly parent survey, camp council, and feedback at our
website. This allows us to incorporate suggestions and feedback into the
tapestry of our camp community.
Camp Council:
Two campers from each group are selected to meet weekly with our administrative staff. As representatives of their camp groups, they express views and opinions about the organizational aspects of camp. This process allows campers to have an active role in our camp and provides a forum for campers to communicate openly with staff. Camp Council also facilitates leadership, decision-making and communication skills.
*Tier-One = Possessing both a comprehensive waterfront program & transportation services or can command a price of $600+/week for its base camp program
**Tier-two = Stronger than basic recreation programs yet not as expansive as tier-one operations
***Tier-three = Basic essentials/very inexpensive
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