Did you ever wonder what it’s like to come to camp for the first time… as an adult? Each summer, we welcome new staff members, and they experience many of the same feelings that you may be feeling right now! We asked our pool director, Jess, and athletic director, Anya, to tell us about their first summer at camp (and what they’re doing to prepare for Summer 2025!).
Camp News & Blog
Liza’s Tradition Time: Our Bryn Mawr ‘Halloween’
Believe it or not, I am often asked if we have Halloween at camp! The short answer is… well, no, but sort of! We do not trick-or-treat, but we do dress up with our friends, have a costume parade and indulge in sweets and fun and games! It all happens on what is personally one of my favorite days of the summer: CARNIVAL!
Carnival starts with a costume parade. Every cabin dresses up together and makes their costume as a group. I love seeing how creative the cabins (and groups of staff) get every year. In the middle office, we division heads always try and come up with something clever. The parade takes place in the Apple O and each group gets the chance to come onstage and strut across to a song of their choice. It is so much fun to watch and see what all of the cabins came up with! In 2022, we started a new tradition of having a theme to inspire costumes. For our first “theme” year, we picked TV shows, and our division head group dressed up as the “Fresh Princesses of the Middle Office!” I wonder what the theme will be in 2023… (Psst: If you have any suggestions, DM them to Najah on Instagram!)
There’s so much more to Carnival that I’ll have to save most of it for another Tradition Time… because there is JUST TOO MUCH TO SAY! But since it’s #spookyseason, I have to talk about one more aspect. After the costume parade, everyone goes up to Main Campus for games, snacks and surprises — including the traditional Bunk One haunted house! Each year our Bunk One campers bring a little taste of Halloween to Carnival. They come up with a story for their haunted house, work together to build it, create costumes, and run the show themselves! To make sure the frights are fun for all, there are different times for each age group to go through the haunted house. As you get older, it gets scarier… and scarier!
Feeling spooky yet? Don’t worry — just like our adventure courses, the haunted house is “challenge by choice,” and only those thrill-seekers who want a scare choose to enter the haunted house.
What are your favorite Carnival memories? What do you hope next year’s costume theme will be? Comment below and let us know!
Love,
Eliza
Today is Somebody’s AUTUMN Birthday…
Happy birthday to all of our September and October Angels!
September
Birthstone: Sapphire
Flower: Aster (represents wisdom, valor, and faith) and morning glory (represents love and affection)
Famous September birthdays: Zendaya (Sept. 1), Keanu Reeves (Sept. 2), Beyonce (Sept. 4), Sydney Sweeney (Sept. 12), Ben Platt (Sept. 24)
Happy September birthday to Hayley (Upper Seniors), Willow (Bunk Two), Hailey (Upper Juniors), Charlotte (Lower Seniors), Madeline (Lower Juniors), Orli (Lodge), Daphne (Lower Juniors), Sarah (LIT), Maia (Bunk Two), Leah (Upper Juniors), Savannah (Upper Juniors), Alessandra (Lower Juniors), Sydney (Lower Juniors), Alice (Upper Seniors), Ava (Upper Seniors), Raphie (Manor House), Tessa (Lodge), Willa (Upper Juniors), Sophie (LIT), Liv (Manor House), Charlotte (Upper Juniors), Juliet (Upper Juniors), Layla (Upper Juniors), Josephine (Manor House), Lexi (Upper Juniors), Tallie (Bunk One), Chloe (Upper Seniors), Stella (LIT), Kameryn (Upper Juniors), Avery (Bunk Two), Ella (Lower Juniors), Layla (Upper Juniors), Kate (Upper Juniors), Dylan (Manor House), Gigi (Upper Juniors), and Summer (Upper Seniors)!
October
Birthstone: Opal and tourmaline
Flower: Marigold (represents success, energy, the sun) and cosmos (represents tranquility, peace, and love)
Famous October birthdays: Camilla Belle (Oct. 2), Tessa Thompson (Oct. 3), Cardi B (Oct. 11), Felicity Jones (Oct. 17)
Happy birthday to Gabby (Lodge), Ivy (Lower Seniors), Isabel (Upper Seniors), Willa (Manor House), Willa (Upper Seniors), Lucy (Lower Seniors), Sadie (Lower Juniors), Lila (Lower Seniors), Shoshana (Lower Juniors), Liv (Upper Juniors), Emma (LIT), Rowan (Manor House), Isabelle (Upper Seniors), Addison (Bunk Two), Liv (Lower Juniors), Mia (Lower Juniors), Sydney (Upper Juniors), Brandi (Upper Seniors), Olivia (Bunk Two), Elle (Upper Seniors), Maya (Bunk One), Harlow (Lower Juniors), Olivia (Bunk Two), Lailah (Lodge), Emily (Upper Seniors), Morgan (Upper Seniors), Lila (Lower Seniors), Morgan (LIT), and Hallie (Lower Juniors)!
2022 New Camper Poplar Post
The countdown to camp is ON, and we can’t wait to welcome our newest Angels to Summer 2022 at Bryn Mawr! In this special edition of the Poplar Post, you and your parents can read all about what to expect on the first day of camp.
Click here to read the New Camper Poplar Post!
Prefer a hard copy? Click here for a printable PDF!
Today is Somebody’s MAY Birthday…
Happy birthday to all of our May Angels!
Birthstone: Emerald
Flower: Lily of the valley (represents sweetness, humility, and good luck), hawthorn (represents hope)
Famous May birthdays: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (May 2), Adele (May 5), Billy Joel (May 9), Debby Ryan (May 13), Miranda Cosgrove (May 14), Lily-Rose Depp (May 27)
Happy May birthday to Ann (Manor House), Anna (Lodge), Ariana (Bunk One), Grace (Bunk Two), Eden (Upper Juniors), Ella (Lower Seniors), Charlotte (Upper Juniors), Joley (Upper Seniors), Alana (Upper Seniors), Sasha (Lodge), Joia (Upper Juniors), Lily (Bunk One), Ashley (Lodge), Olivia (Bunk Two), Belle (Lodge), Chloe (Upper Seniors), Leah (Bunk Two), Taylor (Lodge), Vera (Lower Seniors), Grace (Lower Juniors), Carly (Bunk Two), and Mikayla (Upper Seniors)!
Staff Spotlight: How Did Working at Camp Defy Your Expectations?
Every year, we welcome staff from around the country and around the world. Some of them have been working at camp for many years, but even the most experienced camp staff member was once brand new to LBMC! We asked some of our returning staff members how working at Camp Bryn Mawr is is different from what they expected when they first came to camp.
“I truly had no idea what was in store for me before I arrived for my first summer. It turned out to be the hardest, most wonderful and one of a kind experience I could have asked for. I left a piece of my heart at Bryn Mawr, and I had no idea that camp would hold that much power!”
“I went to camp growing up for after-school, track-out, and summer camp. But the culture at Bryn Mawr goes beyond its function as childcare. It cares for the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of every kid in addition to the physical, and I would argue that it cares for its staff to the same degree. Bryn Mawr is a family at heart.”
“I expected to make the biggest impacts on campers in my program area. It turned out the biggest impacts often happen outside of a program area.”
“I expected great experiences, but honestly, Bryn Mawr never stopped giving me happy surprises throughout the summer. I didn’t expect to make those deep connections with campers and also gain new staff friendships that I know will last for a lifetime.”
“The idea of working a full summer was daunting, but once I was there, I was having so much fun and time really flew by.”
“I think I felt a stronger sense of community and belonging than I expected to, being an international staff member. I also feel like I was valued more than I expected to be, and was given more responsibility, which felt really nice.”
“It was way more fun than I expected. I liked that, especially at the beginning, there was an introspection part to it.”
“There are moments and conversations I had with people that I never expected, and it was so good to fully feel alive! Like I was experiencing all the emotions, and for once it was okay, and other people related to me too.”
“It’s completely incomparable to any job I’ve ever had or probably will ever have again. I really feel I gave LBMC my everything. It was a lot — but also a lot of fun and felt good.”
“Bryn Mawr was supposed to be a one-time summer experience while I was still in undergrad. As I go into my 16th summer I can easily say that Bryn Mawr is a special place to work! They call it the Bryn Mawr family for a reason. Working at camp is definitely not the easiest job, but I would say it is the most rewarding job! You are able to make friends with other staff from all over the world, you are in an environment which empowers staff to lead and try new things, you learn to be vulnerable and how to ask for help. This place has shaped me into the person I am today.”
How will working at camp defy your expectations? There’s only one way to find out! Click here to learn more about our summer staff positions and apply today!
Staff Spotlight: Why Summer Camp Is The Best Equestrian Job
It’s no secret that horses and riding are an important part of camp life at LBMC! For our Angels who love equestrian sports, as well as the girls who attend Bryn Mawr Riding Camp, the stables, arenas and trails are where amazing summer memories are made. To make this magic happen, we rely on staff members who love horses and riding just as much as our campers — but our campers aren’t the only ones who benefit! A summer equestrian job at camp comes with opportunities that our riding staff wouldn’t find anywhere else.
An equestrian summer job with a difference
Ask Emily Tyler, our riding camp director, why she has stayed at Bryn Mawr for more than a decade, and she’ll tell you: Working at camp is an experience like no other.
“The connections and bonds that you make with campers and staff are indescribable,” she said. “You also get to immerse yourself in an environment where you’re learning about all aspects of horse care, stable management, and teaching.”
Camp is a place where equestrians can share their love of horses and riding with the next generation.
“The campers who are here for the equestrian experience, they share that same passion,” Emily said.
Gain teaching experience without turning pro
For competitive amateur riders, there’s a significant benefit to working as a camp counselor: USEF rules have an exemption that specifically allows amateurs to work at camp.
Many equestrian summer jobs have a significant drawback for competitive riders. In order to teach riding lessons for pay, they must give up their amateur status with U.S. Equestrian. It can be a tough choice if you want to gain teaching experience but aren’t ready to compete as a professional.
Because our riding counselors also live in cabins and supervise campers away from the stables, they are able to take advantage of the camp exemption and maintain their amateur status! A summer camp equestrian job is the perfect way to develop your skills as a riding instructor while you continue to show at your preferred level.
Hone your stable management skills (and more)
Between our on-campus riding stable and our 50-acre Bryn Mawr Farms complex, our riding staff cares for about 40 horses each summer. Our horses come from the equestrian teams at the University of Findlay and Centenary University, and Emily and her staff take pride in caring for these animals, who need to remain in tip-top shape for intercollegiate competition. It’s a great opportunity to learn and improve stable management skills.
“We monitor for specific horses’ nutrition, hoof care, wound care, and basic health management,” Emily explained. “Our staff really get to learn a lot about caring for horses and running a stable.”
But one of the things that makes camp special, she added, is that there is so much to experience outside the barn.
“The benefit of being at camp is you get to try new things,” Emily said. “Campfires, paddle boarding, tubing, adventure programs — you get to do all the ‘camp’ things.” That includes favorite fun traditions in the arena as well, like horse shows, fun rides and games, horse beauty contests, and in-house competitions for staff and campers.
Make friendships that last
Above all else, Emily added, the best thing about an equestrian job at camp is the same thing that makes any camp job special: friendship.
“You make friends from all over,” she said. “You meet people from all different walks of life — not just staff but campers, too. You form close bonds with people from all over the world.”
When you combine that with the teaching experience, professional development, and fun, she said, it’s hard to compare working at camp to anything else.
“Camp is a one-of-a-kind experience,” Emily said. “There’s no other equestrian job quite like it.”
Are you looking for an equestrian summer job where you can gain experience in teaching, stable management and leadership — all while having the time of your life? Click here to learn more and apply today!
Staff Spotlight: Our Summer Soundtrack
Music is a part of every day at camp! From the first sounds of Reveille to the final notes of Taps, we are always singing, dancing and getting energized by our favorite songs. Whether it’s a Dining Hall cheer, the Alma Mater, or the hit song of the summer, there are certain tunes that just feel like camp. We asked some of our summer camp staff about the songs that say “Bryn Mawr” to them:
You’re in charge of picking music for the new staff recruiting video. The first scene is a sweeping shot over Cabin Row as camp is coming to life first thing in the morning. What song do you pick to accompany this scene, and why?
“I would pick the song ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra. This song is upbeat and happy, which reminds me of the morning buzz at camp.”
“This is TOUGH, but I’m gonna go with ‘The Best Day’ by Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) or ‘It Would Be You’ by Ben Rector. They’re both telling stories of looking forward to another time where you’re back with someone or you’re remembering how beautiful it is when you’re with them.”
“An older classic like ‘I Want You Back’ by Jackson 5! Something fun and upbeat but also timeless.”
“I would choose the song ‘Love Myself’ by Hailee Steinfeld. In my time at Bryn Mawr, I found that I got to know myself better, learned to love myself, and relocated my inner child.”
“‘Beautiful Day’ by U2. I’m sure there are songs that campers may be more familiar with, but this is the first song that came to mind and was truly what I thought every single morning on the way to our early leadership meetings: ‘It’s a beautiful day!!’”
Are you already humming along? Come sing, dance and cheer with us this year! Click here to check out our summer camp staff positions.
Today is Somebody’s APRIL Birthday…
Happy birthday to all of our April Angels!
Birthstone: Diamond
Flower: Daisy (represents innocence) and sweet pea (represents greetings and goodbyes)
Famous April birthdays: Robert Downey Jr. (April 4), Paul Rudd (April 6), Elle Fanning (April 9), Brooklyn Decker (April 12), John Cena (April 23) and Lizzo (April 27)
Happy April birthday to Jordy (Bunk 2), Becca (Bunk 2), Emma (Bunk 1), Greta (Bunk 1), Julia (Manor House), Hailey (Lodge), Lucy (Lower Juniors), Sophia (Lodge), Julia (Upper Juniors), Mia (Manor House), Ruth (Upper Juniors), Zoey (Lower Seniors), Hannah (Upper Seniors), Lily (Upper Seniors), Saanvi (Lower Juniors), Jaden (Bunk 2), Reese (Upper Seniors), Yazzy (Lower Juniors), Sadie (Upper Juniors), Deia (Bunk 2) and Jenna (Lower Seniors)!
Liza’s Tradition Time: March Meeting
Some say the highlight every year during the month of March is March Madness Basketball. While I do love a good bracket, the highlight for me is my own personal form of March Madness: March Meeting!
March Meeting marks the moment when our rising Super Seniors officially become Bunk One and start preparing to take on all of the leadership roles that come with that title. The girls come up to camp for a night to participate in team building, design their special uniform, decide the Color War themes and more. The day is jam-packed with meetings, activities and fun. Of course, camp favorites like Asian Fusion are involved 🙂
For me as an alumna, March Meeting is so special because I can remember the feeling of becoming Bunk One back in 2010, and I get to watch girls have the same experience that I did: the pure joy and uncontainable excitement that it is finally their turn.
Somehow it seems that every year I say “I can’t believe these girls are Bunk One,” and this year, that could not be more true. The campers of BOS ’22 are the girls who were in the Manor House eight years ago when I came back to work at camp after spending a few summers away from LBMC. For that reason, this March Meeting was extra special to me — because in camp staff years, it’s like I made it to my own Bunk One summer all over again!
What else goes on at March Meeting? Well… Surprises are an important part of the magic of camp, and just like Chocolate Banana Night and Color War break, there are some things about March Meeting that we can’t tell you about until it is your turn! All I will say now is that I am SUPER excited about BOS ’22… and the Color War themes are AMAZING. Get ready for an unbelievable summer led by this awesome group!
Love,
Eliza