Interview With
Beth Schaefer
French Woods was founded almost 45 years ago by my father, Ron Schaefer, who is still very active at camp. He was truly innovative with the individualized programing that French Woods offers. He comes from a background as a public school music teacher, and had personal experience with the way arts programs can positively impact kids lives.
We are on a private lake in the Catskill Mountains of upstate NY. We are about two and a half hours outside of New York City and not far from the Pennsylvania boarder.
At French Woods, we are all about individuality. The fully elective program allows kids to participate, not only in one area of interest, but in many different areas, with the ability to delve as deeply as they wish into any one of them. A child at French Woods can come to camp a dancer and leave a circus performer who takes private music lessons and plays soccer! This is a program that allows children to be themselves and to find friends, not only in their cabins, but in their activities of interest. Children at French Woods are popular at French Woods for the very reasons they can be ostracized at school. When my husband gives tours of the camp, a boy will run up to a prospective camper – “What are you into?….. Oh, that’s so cool that you’re a classical pianist! I’m really into Ballet, but I’m headed down for my theater rehearsal – you should come check it out!
We’re certainly known for our arts programs, particularly theater, circus & music. In fact, I just returned from a quick personal trip to New York City where I saw two camp alums perform in a Broadway musical, and an off Broadway show composed and directed by alumnus and Tony Winner Jason Robert Brown. While we are not a pre professional program, due in part to the high level of classes and programing in the arts, many of our kids have gone on to very successful careers.
We provide programs in Classical, Jazz & Rock Music, Art, Theater, Tech Theater Dance, Magic, Tennis, Sports, Circus, Waterfront, Horseback Riding, Cooking, Film, Ropes & Skatepark.
We run four, three-week sessions and the average weekly cost is about $1700 per week in a three-week session, but pricing reduces per week for longer stays. Additionally, we don’t charge for extras like private music lessons or horseback riding.
The camper to staff ratio at French Woods is nearly two to one. We do this because our programing is so diverse. Staff come from all around the world. They, typically, study, teach or work professionally in their area of specialty.
French Woods is a place for kids with an interest in anyone of the specialties that we offer, but beyond that, children who do particularly well are those who march to their own drummer. No every kid does well being shuttled from area to area as a group and due to our entirely individualized program these kids can focus on exactly what they are interested in for their summer. Additionally, this cuts down on cliquishness that can happen when kids are limited to interacting to kids in activities set up by bunk. We still create a strong bond with between the kids in each cabin, but at French Woods, some of ties that bind come from the classes that they take and the shows that they rehearse for. On another level, for example, there are very strong musicians who do not want to be limited to a strictly music program because they are athletes. At French Woods there is no limit to what you can do.
Early June through the end of August. Kids can attend one or multiple sessions.
French Woods offers a special program for our youngest campers, providing several general counselors whose job it is to help them navigate the program. They will help the kids figure out not only what activities they want to take, but actually take the children by the hand and make sure that they are learning what they want to learn. It’s also important to know that French Woods has many kids who enter our program for the first time when they are older – all the way up through their teens. We really work for kids who have aged out or “interested out” of their previous programs. We also have a bunch of kids who’ve never been to camp before, but as teens are drawn to our specialties. Don’t be afraid you’re child be the only new kid in the bunk.
We begin enrollment for the subsequent summer as early as June (when we offer reduced rates), but we begin to close our two middle sessions by January.
