wake up
Cabins wake up at different times; most cabins start getting up and taking showers around 7:30. Campers and staff use this time to prepare themselves and their cabins for the day. Many cabins tune into 'WBAY' camp radio for the live, camper produced 'morning show.'
special mornings
Around 7:45 some campers are already starting their program day. For instance:
• The hosts, guests, and engineer of the live morning radio show are in the studio beginning their broadcast.
• Early-morning Tai Chi is happening under the weeping willows outside the radio studio.
• A cabin fishing trip is well on its way at the camp lake.
• A group of campers and staff are beginning their day with a morning yoga class, meditation, or warmup.
Only a small portion of the camp is going this early; interested campers will do live morning radio about once a week, and other morning activities rarely if ever meet more then three times a week. All early morning programs are optional.
breakfast
We run a "quiet dining hall" -- no chanting or singing, banging on tables or running around. Quiet, pleasant conversation is the norm.
Visit our food website for menus, chef bios, and details on our outstanding foodservice; emphasizing fresh, local, and sustainably-produced foods.
After breakfast there are announcements; Staff announce the morning's schedule, calling rehearsals, classes, lessons, and other activities.
Campers are encouraged to approach staff with their interests during mealtimes, when everyone in present, and staff seek out and plan with campers who have expressed interest in the dining hall as well.
morning activities
Following a little free time after breakfast, campers and staff go to program areas for the morning: 9:30-12:00
About half of the plays and musicals have regular full-cast work sessions in the mornings.
Campers in "half-day" theater will rehearse either in the morning or the afternoon. The evening activity period is always free for other, non-theater activities.
Dance classes, instrumental and vocal music lessons, video classes, radio shows, open art studios, riding, tennis, swimming lessons, rock band rehearsals, and more all happen in the morning.
"Free swim" is usually available 11:00-12:00.
afternoon activities
As in the morning, all campers and staff go to their rehearsals, classes, lessons, demonstrations and other activities.
About half of the plays and musicals will have a full cast work session during the afternoon. Shows going up will have their full-tech-dress rehearsal in the afternoon.
No one is in the cabin areas during these activity times: At Ballibay the cabins are not a focal point of camp life; the program areas are where campers make their important lasting friendships.
Free swim is available 4-5 most days.
lights out
'Lights out' time varies from cabin to cabin, from just a few minutes after the evening program for the youngest campers to 45 minutes or so after the evening program for the older cabins.
Some cabins will allow 'flashlight time' after lights out for reading and studying lines. Our staff makes sure that campers get enough sleep and that campers who want to sleep are not disturbed.
Our days are long and plenty of rest is essential for campers of all ages and our hardworking staff.
One counselor is always in the cabin from the end of the evening program through breakfast the next morning. Our office is staffed until 1:00 am every night for any nighttime difficulties, and directors, the deans, and our camp nurse are available 24 hours a day for any serious problems.
nighttime program
The majority of our nights are filled with theatrical productions, dance and music concerts, camper cabarets and special events including movie nights, dj dances, and a band night each session.
The nights are a particularly important part of what makes Ballibay a special place; over the course of three weeks at camp, a camper will see and/or participate in at least 3 cabarets, 5 plays, 2 musicals, a band night, a dance and/or ensemble concert, a dj dance, 2 movie nights, and a bonfire with songs & stories!
Campers not involved in the performing arts have live entertainment almost every night, and campers in the performing arts have a wide variety of performance opportunities, and constant inspiration!
dinner
Visit our food website for menus, chef bios, and details on our outstanding foodservice; emphasizing fresh, local, and sustainably-produced foods.
Each table in the dining hall seats 5 or 6 with at least one staffperson at each table in our main dining room.
Table assignments change every week.
free time & sports
A break in our program day, this is free time 'on the hill,' a chance for busy campers to play sports, read, or relax.
The sports field is very active every day at this time, with volleyball, softball, soccer, &c...
evening activities
During the evening activities all of our program areas are open and calling classes and lessons, and full-cast theatre rehearsals do not meet so that campers busy in theater all day can participate in other activities.
It is also a time for show preparation: soundchecks, costume and makeup, video team meetings, and technical theater cue-to-cues.
Rock bands, dance rehearsals, and instrumental and vocal ensembles have special priority in the evenings.
lunch
Visit our food website for menus, chef bios, and details on our outstanding foodservice; emphasizing fresh, local, and sustainably-produced foods.
Each table in the dining hall seats 5 or 6; with at least one staffperson at each table in our main dining room.
Table assignments change every week. Soup and salad bar are available every lunch.
rest period
Each day campers and staff return to their cabins to relax after lunch.
Campers write letters, play quiet games, and nap.
We run a very active program, and this mid-day rest is essential for everyone.
Every day during rest period, 'WBAY' camper radio broadcasts pre-recorded camper produced radio shows including music shows, talk radio, radio plays and more!
hillside meeting
Campers and staff gather on a shady hillside for a short meeting about the afternoon schedule of rehearsals, classes, and other activities, as well as news about upcoming productions and activities.
back to cabins
Campers and staff return to cabins at 12:00, 5:00, 8:00, and after the Nighttime program.
Since every camper has his or her own schedule during activity periods consisting of rehearsals, classes, time in the art studios or the sports area, this is an important time to 're-group' at the cabin before the meal.
These cabin times are part of our balance between structure and freedom in the program; although very little time is spent as a 'cabin group' during the day, these times are important to keep each busy day flowing smoothly.
Camers 'regroup' by cabin or dining hall table, and are accounted for, 11 times per day.
As one camp parent said of Ballibay, we are the most 'structured-unstructured camp.' We have a sensible structure to each day, but within that structure is a great deal of freedom for each camper to pursue his or her own interests. We combine organization and creativity in a well-designed program that is really a great opportunity for the motivated child.
click any activity for more information.
I want to thank you for the great experience that Monica had. She was very nervous before. I think because it was the first time that she had to speak in English all the time with English speakers.
She enjoyed her cabin, her teachers, and she wants to go back next year.
Mercedes
camp mom
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