While the facilities are rather nice, the staff of this camp is nothing short of atrocious. Based on my own experience and that of people to whom I have spoken, the remarkably low quality of the staff begins with the owners and upper management and extends to essentially every person who works here. They tell you that they want to make this place a escape from the real world for campers, but in reality it is the staff who uses the camp to "escape reality." The owners and the staff are in general quite unattractive and use their "authority" to get back at the superficial world that mistreats them. In other words, if your child is charming and nice, do not send them to this place because they will be treated poorly. If you are a sad person who uses religion to hide from the world, then this is the place for you. If you are looking for a legitimately positive experience for your child or for a place where true spirituality and love for God are taught, then stay away.
This camped sucked. It was no fun the week I was there. Counselors were horrible and only cared for themselves. They were rude and sassy to everyone except other counselors. The pool is super small and all activities suck because the staff that were forced to teach them dont know what they're doing. the boys and girls werent even allowed to look at each other without at least being humiliated by staff. The cabins that we stayed in were DISGUSTING and tight. I was constantly bumping into bunkbeds while i was there. the only privacy i got was when i was in the shower, but even that was limited. having your foreign counselor standing outside the shower curtain yelling at you as your washing your hair was annoying and embarrassing. If you're thinking of going to this camp, i say dont waste your time, money, and summer going to this camp ITS NOT WORTH IT.
I LOVE THIS CAMP. Where do I start? If you're looking at the reviews, because you're thinking of going here, GO!For 1 and 2 weekers it's fun! I would recommend going for 2 weeks though. You get better quality. Like larger,cleaner lodges, more freetime, AND an amusement park trip! It has so many activities to do. It's very scheduled though. If yoou like being busy then this is the camp for you! You choose all of your activities online. And the food is SO GOOD!! If you want to go with a friend, then you can do a cabinmate request with a friend! I personally, for the first time, like it to be a surprise to get the experience. But if you're nervous than you can easily cabin request. You get to stay up late with evening activities! Well I'm not going to tell you all the activities because you can look at them online and all of the other stuff that you might want to know but I would seriously GO!!
AMAZING CAMP! My daughter has attended for 9 years and has brought many friends. Staff is incredible - wholesome, fun and caring. Beautiful facility on the Chesapeake Bay with constant upgrades by owners. My picky eater girl raves about the food and the many "extra" choices (salad bar, yogurt bar, fruit, cereal, bagels, PB&J). Owners very involved. Many activities - sailing, waterskiing, zipline, ropes course, arts, sports. Office folks are wonderful and website is very easy to use. This is how summer camp should be! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
As a parent of a child that has attended camp here for the past 3 years (2 weeks each summer), and, this same child has also attended other summer camps prior to this one which were supposed to be outstanding but allowed bullying and misbehavior, I will say this one is by far the best in every area. The owners clearly care about the children and are constantly updating the camp. They hire excellent staff as well. I am so glad my son had this camp to attend for the things he learned, the independence fostered and the friends he reconnects with year after year. Thank you Greg and Karen for your outstanding camp!!
SHC has an outgoing and dynamic staff, with 30% from outside the U.S. The owners are Greg & Kathy Ann, and each summer we can see how they have reinvested in SHC, with new lodges, updated pool, new gym and supporting functions like new boats, backup power and the solar farm. They plan for everything and care about the kids having a safe and fun time. Each week has waiting lists, which says a lot about the camp. Some activities remain and new ones are added for variety. Bay activities are my favorite. I've attended for the last seven summers and after reading some of the older posts it sounds like a few folks are venting here. Refund policies are clearly stated, and if you do need to cancel it stings to lose money, but the policy hasn't changed. SHC has been a positive influence on me and I'm fortunate to have attended. I've been to other summer camps, but none have compared to SHC in making me feel welcome and feel good about myself.
This camp is amazing. Those freaks have idea when they say the counclers are horrible they are totally nice and sweet and cool! The activities are awesome i just wish that there where more. People there are snotty but you do make great friends.The price is really high but you make friends, have fun, do 3 activities for one week or 7 for 2 weeks amazing food and it is like an all you can eat Buffet and you do awesome electives. There are horses and skis and soccer goals tennis courts gutairs and alot more.
I love Sandy Hill! This will be my sixth year going (weeks 1&2!!). This camp can be great if it's what your looking for. Honestly, a lot of it depends on how lucky you get. My first, second, and third years I had amazing counselors and cabinmates. During my fourth year I had great counselors but a few mean cabinmates. Last year I had 1 great and 1 bad counselor and THE MEANEST cabinmates. It didn't ruin my time though, because even if your cabinmates are stuck up you still make friends in your activities (I ended up having no activities with a single one of my cabinmates, so it worked out). The one bad thing is that a lot of the people there are rich and stuck up. People do a lot of gossiping and straightening hair and looking at magazines and talking about boys. If your into that then this is the place for you! If not, you can still have fun if you get with the right crowd. My advice would be to bring a friend with you so even if you get bad counselors or cabinmates you have someone!
I just went on the tour on Sunday, and the camp seems nice. The cabins could be a little nicer, but they are putting in lights and fans in 2011. Lodges are nice, they all have porches. Activities seem good, too. The challenge course looks awesome and they are making a new giant swing. The staff seems friendly. Food is buffet style and you can have cereal with every meal. Overall I would give this 4 1/2 stars.
I love this camp! I went here for my 6th grade overnight field trip it was spool much fun! We did the big swing the canoeing the sailing the boating and this course where u have a partner and you try to go across so me rope like 20feet in the air the food was good and the cabins could be a little bit more comfortable. All together it was awesome. I wish I could have stayed longer
Last year was my 9th and final year as a camper at SHC. Yes they are strict about male and female interaction but come on, you're going to camp to have fun not to hold hands with the opposite sex. Yes there is no electricity in the cabins because you're at a camp not a hotel. There's indoor plumbing and if you stay for 2 weeks, you sleep in a lodge that has AC and lighting. For 2 weekers you spend the weekend doing activities not offered during the week, as well as going to an amusement park like 6 flags along with bowling and roller skating. The bay is great, so I would recommend taking some waterfront activities. The horse back riding program is awesome too if you're a rider like me. Most of the counselors are there to make sure you have a good time, and you can go to them for almost anything. The food is buffet style so you can eat as much as you want, along with having a salad bar, PB&J, and cereal available at all meals. I would recommend this camp to anyone.
The counselors are way to strict. Lights out means lights out so if youre looking for a loose, sneak out, kind of fun, DONT GO HERE. I went for 5 years, but now im just getting sick of it. its more of a camp for younger people because if they see you like holding hands with the opposite gender, they get really angry. so yea. its way to strict
I went to Sandy Hill for 6 years, and it is my favorite place in the world. It's life changing. The staff are incredible, and great role models. The activities are all fun, and I have made tons of life long friends.
Staff: All very nice none are mean most come from different places its really really cool!!! Faculties: Site is pretty good there are no broken things there Activities: all good no explaining is needed Personal attention: good attention there are no kids there with disabilates because they forbid them. Monetairy Value: good cost, good camp, no bugs, lots of arachnids.
Sandy Hill was the time of my life! Even being as quiet as I was I became friends with everybody in my cabin in only a day or two. The Cabins don't have electricity but they hang lantern flashlights at night and the other times you are in your cabin its usually nice and sunny out. Plus the ability to pick many of your activities really makes in 10X more fun! I'd definitely reccommend it becuase it was a family, close knit type of camp and its hard to feel left out! Also, each week has a theme so the Spirit is Tremendous! THis Camp is truely AWESOME!=D
This camp was the WORST! The couselers hate everyone except other counselers. They also have secret love affairs in the showers at night. The food is the WORST and you can only have like 1/2 a sandwich for lunch with one piece of meat. The activities are bad and the couselers cant teach for their life. They try to make it "fun" but no way is it anywhere near fun. The pool is bad despite the pictures. The dunk tank is a joke so dont even go near it. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY FOR THIS CAMP
Sandy Hill Camp is the most amazing place in the WORLD!!! No camp can top this one!!!! Definately one to consider for anyone looking for a new summer camp to go to! Last summer was my fourth and I plan to go for as many years as I can, then be a counselor. Every minute there is jam packed with fun games and activites, the food is amazing, the people are nice, the faciities are a great mix of comfortable and rustic. It's a great place to try out new things cause they have sooo many different options. Waterfront and ropes course activities and electives are the best! Everyone should go to Sandy Hill Camp if they get the chance, there's a reason it fills up so fast! Wouldn't ever go anywhere else! The directors are really nice and since they have their kids there, it really gives the place a family feel. I cannot say enough good things about this camp and my only complaint is that I can't go for longer!!!!
this camp rox. but i always get swimers ear. but sailing and swiming were so worth it. i alwas get lucky and get a good counselor. always pick sailing it is the best activity ever!!!!
This camp is the worst place ever!!!! every one is suck up and full of them selves! the counselors are horrible, it costs way to much, its boring, and its just not fun. My biggest problem was the counselors. They are more worried about themselves having fun then the campers. i would never suggest any one going there
this is my 5th year going. that says a lot on its own. these poor ratings are probably people who jsut got stuck with bad counselors which CAN ruin it. i had terrible counselors my second year and i didnt know if i wanted to go back. but i kept to it and had the best times of my life. the food is SO good like the deserts and theres a lot of camp spirit. i cry a lot on the last day because i end up missing camp so much. honestly try this camp out, the bay activities are the best. my favorite classes are waterskiing, sailing, dance, and recreational swimming. i love this camp and i cant wait to go back. whoever says its bad is lying! haha but i cant say that i have tried horseback riding here, im not a big fan of horses and never tried it, but other than that this camp rocks my socks. i love the weekend trips for 2-weekers like the ammusement parks. i just wish they let you have your phone in case you want to call, but whatever i'll live! BEST CAMP EVER!
i luv this camp this year will be my 2nd year!!! i have to admitted i didnt want to go to the camp at first, but as soon as i got there i knew i was going to luv it there!!! and i did!!!! thanks for starting this camp!!!! it rocks!!!
its decent. The tennis is horrible. Pretty much all activities that do not associate with the bay are horrible, don't sign up for them. I wish you could pick more activities. The cabins have NO ELECTRICITY or no lights so a flashlight is a must! The food is okay but not very nutritious. The pool is tiny and not very fun. If you do go to this camp, keep all of your activities on the bay to ensure a fun camp experience (waterskiing, sailing, canoe- probably the best classes to take. & do not take horseback riding as a class, the horses are very disobedient and poorly trained in the ring and they are poorly groomed and stay tacked all day long :( )
as a 7 year camper, i mean that right there speaks for itself i totally wouldn't keep comming back if camp sucked. the owners are amazing people. and your always on your toes there. best camp i've ever been to.
SANDY HILL IS AWESOME! If you need a great camp, this is the place to go. There are counselors from all over the world, and super-duper activities. :D 7th year going, and still love it.
i've been going to this camp for 4 years, and am going back next year as a counselor. it is an amazing, educational, and FUN experience every time. if you want to have the time of your life, go.
This Camp is amazing, i made a lot of friends and i had so much fun, though the living conditions werent the best, they are remodeling it currently, as in MORE lodges and this year (2006) they got a new bath house for the boys, i learned a lot about waterskiing, magic, archery and all these other sports in the past 4 years i went, and i still have 5 more to go and i will go for all of them. Once you know the owners, they are really nice and just want to make your experiance better. so i suggest you give it a try :)
camp sandy hill owners are very hard to deal with. There are no refunds even in the event of a death,summer schools,or illness.i tried to cancelin march for a session in July and they wouldn't give a full refund even with that much notice up front.THE OWNERS DO NOT REALLY CARE WHAT TH PARENTS THINK> CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!!
