Camp Thayer

 

Welcome to Camp Thayer

Camp Thayer is a place where children can spend part of the summer exercising their bodies and minds, while they learn new skills, make new friends, and have lots of fun. Each week offers a variety of sports and specialty camps, including baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and theater!

About

Camp Thayer is a co-ed day camp that runs from June 17 - August 9, 2024 with a wide variety of daily schedule options, providing children ages 3.9 to 14 with an engaging and stimulating setting where they can actively enjoy the summer.

At Camp Thayer, dedicated teachers and counselors provide support and guidance to campers in a wide range of activities, including:

  • Archery
  • Arts and crafts
  • Basketball
  • Boating and sailing
  • Canoeing
  • Capture the flag
  • Clay and pottery
  • Legos
  • Beads
  • Dance
  • Fishing
  • Floor hockey
  • Four square
  • Graphic design
  • Improv
  • Kickball
  • Lacrosse
  • Painting
  • Ping pong
  • Ropes course
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Wiffleball
  • and much, much more!

Lunch and snacks provided in our air-conditioned dining hall each and every day. Water is always available throughout the day. Please note: No outside food is allowed. Camp Thayer is free of peanuts and tree nuts. Thayer Academy's Camp Thayer complies with regulations of the Mass. Dept. of Public Health (105 CMR 430.000) and is licensed by the Braintree Board of Health.

NOTE: Camp Thayer will be closed June 19, July 4, and July 5, 2024.

Mission

Our mission is to provide children with an opportunity to develop in an atmosphere of respect, trust, and friendship. Our programs—including all sports camps—are intentionally non-competitive so that participants can strive for personal satisfaction and growth in whatever they do. Our diverse groups of campers bring their own unique talents and aptitudes to help create a fun and dynamic summer experience for all.

Staff

All Camp Thayer counselors are chosen for their dedication, enthusiasm, and ability to serve as positive role models. Many of our experienced head counselors are teaching professionals. Our senior counselors are typically college students, and our junior counselors are high school students.

All members of the aquatic staff are certified lifeguards and water safety instructors. All camp counselors are CORI-checked and fingerprinted under state law. A fully certified nurse will be at Camp Thayer daily.


Camp Programs

Camp sessions are packed with fun and exciting activities, and are complemented by special events throughout the summer. There is something for everyone at Camp Thayer!

Lower Camp

Ages 3.9 – 5 yrs old

Camp Thayer’s Lower Camp features activities that are scaled to size for young children, with a staff-to-child ratio of 1:5.

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General Camp

Ages 6 – 13 yrs old

At Camp Thayer’s General Camp, children enjoy a variety of activities and are grouped with other campers their age.

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CIT Program

Ages 14 – 16 yrs old

Counselors in Training (CITs) are apprentices, ages 14 through 16, who provide support to head and senior counselors and are assigned to specific groups and activities.

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Extended Day

All ages

Extended Day options are available for students of all ages in all programs, and are supervised by a head counselor who is assisted by senior and junior counselors.

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Sports Camps

Ages vary by program

Highly skilled instructors and coaches teach game strategies and offer a full range of instruction.

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Specialty Camps

Ages vary by program

Discover new talents, develop skills, and build confidence with fun new challenges!

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Why Camp Thayer?

Bill Maloney, Camp Thayer Ropes Course Director

I've worked as the Camp Thayer Ropes Course instructor since 1993, my kids have attended Thayer summer programs for 14 years and now they work as counselors, and I can't imagine a better camp experience, anywhere. On the ride home each day, my kids would tell me about how much fun they had, and how much they loved their counselors. I still keep in touch with many former campers—I have been invited to weddings and graduations of kids who I have known since they were five-year-olds at Camp Thayer. It's a really special place.

Bill Maloney, Camp Thayer Ropes Course Director

On summer mornings since 2002, my children have jumped out of the car each morning with smiles on their faces, eager to go to Camp Thayer! Without question, it is the best camp on the South Shore. The facilities are excellent, the staff and counselors are well trained and professional, and the activities are endless! There is early morning drop-off and late-day pickup for those parents who work. Camp Thayer has become an extension of our family!

Nancy Doyle, Milton, Mass., parent of campers

When I told my daughter that I attended Camp Thayer more than 35 years ago, her reaction was a delight. "How could that be?" she wondered! For my family, Camp Thayer has been all that we could hope for—modern athletic facilities, pools, tennis courts, fields, arts and crafts and drama classes, and certainly not to be left out, the very cool dining hall experience. But, aside from all of the everyday fun, it's the kindness, concern, and accessibility of the camp staff and directors that sets it apart from other camps. It's rare when you can mix the legacy and history of a place like Thayer Academy with the love and personal connections that make summer camp such a special gift that we can give to our children.

Suzanne Levine, parent of a camper

My connection to Camp Thayer began as a former camper (since age 5), continued as a former CIT, and now I serve as Upper Art head counselor in the summer programs. I love to help guide children as they express themselves through art and creativity. At Thayer, we have access to professional art equipment and materials that are typically unavailable outside of an undergraduate art school. It is always a pleasure to hear from the children every summer "I want to work here when I grow up!

Holly Nichols, Upper Art Director, and former camper

My husband and I first discovered Camp Thayer when our children were young and we both had busy careers. It has exceeded all of our expectations, year after year! It's convenient for us, fun for the kids, and when we drop them off, we know they'll be safe. Earlier and earlier each year, our kids ask us "Is it time to sign up for Camp Thayer?" Our oldest child has a passion for the theatre camp (it's truly amazing what they do in one week!). Our middle child likes to mix it up with theatre and science, while our youngest loves the day-to-day camp experience. Did I mention that swim lessons are included in the general camps? Even after seven years of attending, Camp Thayer still has so much to offer our family!

Jennifer Muir, parent of campers

As two working parents, my husband and I found it difficult to find one camp that could appeal to the varied interests of our three children. But now, after eight fun-filled summers, my kids can't wait to get back to Camp Thayer! From the moment they arrive each morning, they are welcomed by name into a caring community of counselors and campers. The hands-on involvement of the camp director and leadership staff is exceptional, and with access to the entire Thayer Academy campus, the activities are endless—art, sports, theater, dance, sailing, team-building competitions, off-site adventures, and much more. There are never complaints of boredom—only pleas to be there as many weeks as possible! Camp Thayer's athletic, educational and social activities have been a major influence on our kids, and we would highly recommend Camp Thayer to other families looking for an exceptional summer experience for their children.

Amy Delaney, parent of campers

After nine, wonderful summers working at Camp Thayer, and I do not think a better summer job exists anywhere. As I spent my days outdoors, creating a fun atmosphere for campers, teaching, learning, and laughing. I was part of a wonderful, supportive community of people committed to making Camp Thayer a magical place. My time as a summer counselor helped me develop leadership skills and taught me the importance of responsibility, problem-solving, creativity, empathy, and teamwork. I am so grateful for my time at Camp Thayer, and the friendships I formed there will last a lifetime.

Kendra Demakis

Camp Thayer

Join us for a fun-filled summer at Camp Thayer! We provide children with an opportunity to develop in an atmosphere of respect, trust, and friendship!