Catoctin Bahá’í Eco Camp Site Information 

 

Catoctin Quaker Camp, which the Bahá’ís rent in its entirety, consists of over 400 beautiful acres in the rural Catoctin Mountains of Thurmont, MD (Frederick County), in an area with many public parks and orchards nearby.  The camp is designed to accommodate a Quaker children's summer camp, which makes it ideal for our group.  Most of the property is wooded, but there are ample grassy areas for meeting and play.  There are also streams, paths and fire circles; plus a pond tested safe for swimming with a sandy beach, canoes and adult-size lifejackets available; and there is a large sand box away from the water for the little ones to play in.  A large main building houses a kitchen and dining hall.  There are boys' and girls' bathhouses with hot showers and electricity.  A washer and dryer on the kitchen porch are available to all.  Certified lifeguards will be on duty, in addition to parent volunteers, during all swimming and boating activities.

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Sleeping Facilities  

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There are 4 cabins with electricity, with 2 bedrooms each.  There are also 12 screenhouses with an average of 10 bunks each; these have no electricity.  Bed surfaces are bare plywood, which requires you to bring a camp mattress.  It is important for everyone to bring their own soft mat and bedroll or sleeping bag, with adequate blankets for unexpected mountain weather (it can be as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night even in August). There are no bathrooms in any of the sleeping structures, please note this in your registration if proximity to the bath houses is a priority.  There are also plenty of grassy areas for tents, which we encourage you to use.  There is no air conditioning in any of the buildings, but the mountain breezes are adequate, and fans are available to be used in structures with electricity. On the registration form, indicate which type of dwelling you prefer, or if you are bringing a tent – requests will be accommodated in the order of completed registrations received. If you arrive with a tent later than 6 PM on Friday, you may be asked to pitch it in a designated area by the entrance; but we very much discourage those late arrivals because their ripple-effect ends up being disruptive to other families' sleep.

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Meals

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Delicious family-friendly, home-cooked camp meals will be provided during camp by our volunteer staff.  There will also be afternoon snacks, and treats at the evening campfire each night.  Similar vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be available with every meal and snack.  On the registration form, please note any food restrictions such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or allergies, and we will sincerely endeavor to accommodate them.

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Menu for Camp Weekend 2025 - Coming soon!

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Responsibilities of All Campers

 

​Each attendee at camp - parent, youth, junior youth and child - is expected to help with chores.  There will be work groups assigned of junior youth groups, or children’s classes and their parents, to wash dishes, sweep and scrub, take out trash, gather wood, etc.  Parents, as they are able depending upon the needs of their children, will be asked to help with children's activities, cook, and help watch the pond for safety (plus, 2 seasoned lifeguards on staff).  Parents can sign up online when registering, and will either be contacted in advance, or given assignments upon arrival.  When we all do our share, everyone has an enjoyable time at camp!

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Arrivals and Departures

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Children and their accompanying parents are encouraged to arrive at 10 AM on Friday and to leave after cleanup on Sunday; however, the camp is designed so that busy families who cannot stay the whole time may arrive and leave with their children (but not JY) as necessary.  Formal children’s classes are scheduled for children on Friday and Saturday.  PLEASE NOTE: NO ONE MAY ARRIVE AT CAMP LATE ON FRIDAY AND SET UP A TENT THAT NIGHT.  ALL TENT CAMPERS MUST BE SET UP BY 6:00 PM ON FRIDAY, OR PLAN ON COMING AFTER 7:30 AM ON SATYURDAY MORNING.  TENT CAMPERS WHO FOR REASONS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL ARRIVE LATER THAN 6:00 PM ON FRIDAY WILL BE ASKED TO PITCH THEIR TENT BY THE MAIN ENTRANCE. Thank you.

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Junior Youth are required to arrive at Catoctin by noon on Friday in time for their important orientation and team-building activities; they must find a ride with someone else if their parents cannot bring them.  (Remember, pre-registration is required by the date on the home page - it is necessary for appropriate grouping; you may request friend grouping on the registration form).   After lunch on Sunday they will share presentations and a slide show.  Their parents can join them for lunch at Catoctin to see the presentations, then help clean up and depart after. Please note:  to respect the cohesiveness of their groups, Junior youth need to be able to attend for the whole weekend program; otherwise, sadly, we ask that they do not register.

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Counselors

 

This camp does not provide youth who are age 15 and up with activities for their age group and are not allowed to register (without special permission) unless they are counselors.  To qualify as a children's counselor, you must be at least age 15 and have completed Ruhi Books 1 and 3.  As a JY counselor, you must be at least age 17 and have completed Ruhi Books 1 and 5.  To apply to be a counselor, contact the committee by June 1, then register as soon as you have permission.  Every year, a committee member provides two intensive Ruhi Study sleepover weekends.  You can sign up for either or both.

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Contacting Camp Coordinators 

 

​For any questions regarding camp, please contact one of the members of the Catoctin Planning Committee - click on the "Contact Us" tab above.  During camp, you may contact any attendees on the Catoctin Camp landline, (301) 271-2184.  (Please be aware that cell phones are not allowed at camp for the children and junior youth.  Also, most cell carriers do not work well in the mountainous area).

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                                                                      No Pets Allowed at Camp

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