In July, BJP students will board our buses bound for Fairfield University in Connecticut for our annual Summer Leadership Academy, Camp Montmartre.
The extensive planning for camp began in the winter when a committee of dedicated faculty and staff members began organizing the details for our camp to ensure it is our best one yet.
Classrooms at camp look different than those at BJP during the school year. “It’s not about jamming a year of content into three weeks,” said Fr. Powell, President of BJP. “The goal of classroom time at camp is to focus on building skills in subject areas that students can use to accelerate their growth in the upcoming school year.” This different approach allows teachers to innovate and experiment with other techniques that can benefit our students during the school year. Last year, students in Ms. Locario’s math class spent more time on their feet working at the whiteboard and collaborating with their classmates than they did at their desks.
In addition to innovative, project-based learning, our camp curriculum gives students the chance to experience other opportunities that they would not otherwise benefit from through our Outdoor Leadership Training Program (BOLT). BOLT is a curriculum designed to teach and enhance students’ leadership, communication, and self-confidence skills. BOLT spans a student’s entire time at BJP, culminating in the 8th graders’ trip to the Ropes Course at the nearby Adventure Park in Storrs. The challenging course of ladders, bridges, and ziplines is a camp tradition that is eagerly anticipated and challenging to accomplish in Brooklyn! “The ropes course encourages you to push yourself and try new things. That’s how you grow,” says Kim Philanderer ‘09.
Experiential learning is a significant component of camp, allowing our students to absorb concepts outside the classroom. In addition to the 8th-grade ropes course trip, students visit the Mystic Aquarium, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and the Beardsley Zoo.
The final component of our camp is leadership development, where older students have the opportunity to mentor and work with younger students to create bonds and increase their independence. For many students, this is their first time being away from home for an extended time. Please follow along with us on our social media pages and school website for camp updates and highlights.
Our summer camp is a valuable experience for our students and does not come cheap. We are grateful to the many donors who support our summer camp!
