Our philosophy is that the camper should not have to match the camp, but that the camp should accommodate the camper.  The MLDC has a unique system that actually gives campers the power to choose their activities and progressively build upon their achievements.  Campers in grades 1 – 5 (Junior Discovery) participate in a core group of activities each session, however they may choose the remainder of their activities which account for 11 one-hour activity blocks. Because they decide as a group, their respective counselor assists in the cooperative process.  Further, it prepares these campers for having the background and experience to make daily, individual decisions when they are old enough for the Teen Exploration program. 

Campers in grades 6 – 10 may choose four activities each day over the course of the session which allows them to program their own calendar for 16 activity blocks. To ensure diversity, campers must choose at least five different activity areas throughout the week. This method of programming encourages teens to be confident in the decisions they are making to best meet their perceived needs, as well as develop a new camp experience each day and each week. It also allows campers to express their own interests if they are fine tuning their skills in the arts, or trying to get that edge on becoming a faster athlete.

Because our curriculum is based on progressions, campers will not be able to choose an activity that they are not prepared for. For example, if a child does not know how to swim, they may not be able to choose the boating option until they have demonstrated competencies for swimming. However, our exceptional staff works with each camper to achieve individual goals and assist in the decision making process so that the camper will be able to choose the boating option when s/he is ready. Our camp philosophy allows campers to make educated decisions and have opportunities they may not have in other camp programs all the while participating in activities they may have never considered.

Some camps will offer a few periods of electives as a solution, however the bulk of a camper's experience will be with the core program.  Other camps that have attempted to mimic our choice system typically do not have the same scope, duration or availability of activities.  Most importantly, it is the systematic integration of progressions that makes our choice curriculum uniquely effective.  Something that is exclusive to The MLDC.

As a result of our system, The MLDC is never the same camp twice...unless a camper would like it to be.

2.  Staff

The ages of our staff currently vary anywhere between 18-60, many of whom are professionals working within their respective fields year-round.  Both of those specifics are extremely important to us.  Our counselors are teachers who are expected to indoctrinate campers with both the knowledge of their trade as well as with the character qualities that are part of our philosophy.

We are one of the only day camps that calculate its ratios based on our adult population. Our typical 5:1 camper/counselor ratio does not include Counselors-in-Training or Leadership Assistants.

3. Cost & Commitment

Our undiscounted tuitions for our base camps are the lowest fees offered for a camp of our nature.  Other, more primary programs that are similar in price do not offer the spectrum of activities that are available to us. 

Additionally, parents often expressed that the flexibility of our weekly commitment versus a two or even four week minimum lifted a substantial burden from their shoulders.  Multi-week minimums are stipulations which benefit the camp but not the camper.  What if your child is not enjoying his or her experience after the first week or what if your summer plans change?

At The MLDC, even though we offer consecutive week discounts as one of our options, you will receive a FULL refund for ALL of your weeks if you wish to pull out of the program due to dissatisfaction.

4. Safety