Camp Burgess
Camp Burgess is a boys camp located in Sandwich, Massachusetts, run by the South Shore YMCA. It is situated between three ponds, Spectacle, Triangle, and Lawrence. Its sister camp, Camp Hayward, is located across Spectacle Pond. The camp primarily functions as a summer camp, but offers an offseason outdoor education program to schools and business groups.
Summer
This summer camp is made up of four two-week sessions, with another week of "specialty camp" at the end of the fourth. The campers' ages range from 7 to 15 years. Cabins are assigned primarily by age, although special requests are taken into consideration. Once a camper turns sixteen, he or she can then apply to become a CIT (or Counselor In Training). These CITs are required to stay for either the first or second half of the summer, but throughout this month they will be taught many skills that will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives! Seventeen year-olds are also welcome to apply for their first jobs as JCs (or Junior Counselors). JCs are expected to live on camp, although they are welcome to go home during their day's off. Anyone eighteen years or older can apply to become a counselor, although other positions involving such skills as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, horse keeping, etc., are also available. There is always at least one counselor per cabin; the majority of counselors are expected to be accompanied by either a fellow counselor or a JC. Many of these counselors are from outside the United States, although the South Shore YMCA is always waiting for new and talented teenagers to apply. In the past, most of the camp staff have come from the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, in the Summer of 2006 a new record of twenty-five different countries were represented at Camp Burgess!