A brand new program has been in the works since last spring that will change the face of Darlington’s Upper School campus this summer by attracting several hundred middle school-aged boarders. Summer Session is out; Darlington Summer Camps is in … and in a big way! “LET THE FUN BEGIN”—as the marketing materials already being distributed say.
From June 1 through Aug.1, 2003, the new Darlington Summer Camps will offer 14 overnight camps for middle school boys and girls. The camps will provide unique learning and playing environments, passionate, caring teachers and counselors, quality, well-trained staff, and jam-packed schedules—all to help campers grow intellectually, physically, socially, culturally, morally, and spiritually.
Led by Gordon Hight ’94, director of summer programs, and Ballard Betz ’96, assistant director of admission and summer programs, Darlington Summer Camps are designed specifically to encourage middle school age girls and boys to try out Darlington this summer in the hopes that they will want to enroll for regular school when they are ready to enter ninth grade.
The following camps will be offered: girls and boys basketball, soccer, football, fast-pitch softball, tennis, rockets and robotics, steel drums, musical theater, environmental science, Adventure Darlington, and golf. Darlington instructors and coaches will run ten of the camps. The other four, Southern Tennis Academy, Nike Volleyball, No. 1 Soccer, and National Kicking Service, are also part of the program as outside affiliates.
Parents and alumni can play crucial roles in getting the word out about Darlington’s special boarding experience. Board of Visitors members Mary and Walt Beaver, parents of Christopher, sophomore, and Drew, freshman, have enthusiastically helped admission efforts this fall by hosting two different gatherings in their Charlotte, N.C. home. Mary graduated from Darlington in 1978 and comes from a Darlington legacy family, including her sister, K.B. Harvey Kenum ’80, brother David Harvey ’88, and father David Harvey ’54. Her deep-rooted love of the School was evident to the families the Beavers invited to an admission gathering and a Darlington summer camps gathering.
On Nov. 7, 14 families gathered with President David Hicks and his wife Betsy, Kristen Fox ’97, national advancement representative for the School, and the Beavers, including Christopher and Drew, who were happy to miss a couple of days of school to talk to relay their personal Darlington experiences to these families. Fox presented a CD slide show created by Larry Liebler, junior, to show life in Barnes House where he lives at Darlington. The event exposed families in Charlotte to the concept of boarding school in general and to Darlington in particular and to gave the families who attended information about Darlington that they can share with other families. “It was a well-attended and very positive gathering, thanks to the Beavers’ efforts,” Fox said. “The families who attended asked a lot of good questions and several talked about setting up dates to visit the School.” As a result of the Beavers’ efforts, one family has already scheduled a visit to campus in early December.
Fourteen potential campers and their parents attended a Darlington Summer Camps gathering hosted again by the Beavers just a week later on Nov. 13. The Beavers’ younger middle school-aged sons, Clay and Burns, Ballard Betz, assistant director of summer programs and admission, and Brian Boone, director of admission, attended the gathering. Guests enjoyed light snacks while being shown a camp slide show. A mystery box game in which the guests had to answer questions related to information they had been given during the slide show presentation gave Betz the opportunity to hand out fun gifts in the mystery box and Darlington T-shirts as well. Each potential camper was given a Darlington carabiner key chain, pencil, and pen for the road. Several have already inquired further about enrolling in one of the camps this summer.
Happy, motivated, and successful boarders perpetuate the warm family-like environment that sets Darlington apart. Plus, their tuition provides additional income that supports programs benefiting all students, day and boarding, and their instructors.
Darlington Summer Camps replaces Summer Session, which largely offered classes to high school students needing extra help. As for camps that the School has previously offered in the summer, Adventure Darlington, formerly a day camp, is being reincarnated as one of the 14 overnight camps for middle schoolers, and Camp Darlington and Delightascope will be offered in the same format as in past years.
While Darlington Summer Camps are designed to attract overnight campers, limited spaces for day students will be available. Click on the Darlington Summer Camps icon on the home page of the Darlington Web site, www.darlingtonschool.org, or call 235-6051 or 1-800-368-4437 for more information. Have information about Darlington Summer Camps sent to potential campers—nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighborhood children—by completing the “Request an application” form in Darlington Summer Camps on the Web site or arrange to host a in-home gathering by calling the toll free number above.
