So Many Activities!

Instructional Classes and Cabin Activities.
See the Typical Daily Schedule for details about when these activities are held and how they fit into each day of camp.

Instructional Activity Options

With over 30 different instructional activities to choose from, campers can truly customize their Sandy Hill experience. Campers have 3 instructional activities each week chosen from the extensive list below. These classes meet daily for 75 minutes, allowing campers to improve their skills under the guidance of skilled and experienced instructors. Campers attending for two weeks will have 3 new activities in their second week, for a total of 6. Classes are assigned based on the date of registration, so be sure to register as early as possible, as spaces are limited in some activities (especially waterskiing and horseback riding).

PLEASE NOTE: Camp is a great opportunity to try new things in a low-pressure environment. We love to work with campers to develop skills at their current level, but no previous experience is required for any of our activities. Feel free to try something new, stick with what you know and love, or do some of each!

Featured

Acting

Improve your audition! Do you enjoy acting or have plans to try out for a play? Campers select and memorize a short monologue, practice cold reading, do scene work, and hone their improvisation skills. Break a leg!

Archery

Our USA Archery-certified instructors will help you learn safety and skills for shooting a bow and arrow on our three ranges. Through practice and games, you will improve your technique and accuracy over the course of the week.

Art

Art class introduces varied media and techniques through different projects, which are new each summer. The primary focus is on drawing and painting, with an occasional 3D project. Have fun creating with watercolor, charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, pastels, acrylic paint, and more.

Basketball

Our instructors work with campers at all skill levels to develop fundamentals and improve their game, through fun drills and scrimmages. Most classes take place in our air-conditioned gym and occasionally on our outdoor courts.

Challenge Course

Build trust and teamwork and challenge yourself to achieve new heights! In pairs and small groups, campers climb and navigate obstacles on a different high ropes element each day.

Our uniquely designed, redundant belay system allows campers to safely climb and also learn to belay one another under the close supervision of our trained staff.

CPR and First Aid

NEW for 2025! For ages 13+
Do you know how to respond in a medical emergency? By successfully completing this class, you will not only receive training but also get Red Cross certification in Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED that is valid for two years. There is a $50 fee to cover Red Cross certification and materials fees.

Crafts

Do you like making things with your hands? The crafts class creates new projects each summer, using simple supplies like cardboard, glue, yarn, paint, paper, foam, wood, and more. Join us in the air-conditioned craft studio to make some really cool decor, gifts, and more!

Dance - Jazz/Hip Hop/Lyrical

After warming up and stretching, you will learn technique and a short combination from a different style of dance each day, such as jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. The second half of the week is spent learning and refining a routine that will be filmed on the final day, so you can show it to everyone at home! No previous experience required.

Field Hockey

Need to keep your skills fresh for field hockey season this fall, or want to try out a new sport? Bring your own shinguards and mouthguard, and your stick if you have one. If you don’t have a stick, we have plenty to share.

Fishing

Bait your hook and relax by the Elk River, where we catch a variety of freshwater fish like sunfish, perch, eels, catfish, and the occasional freshwater bass. Campers fish from two different Sandy Hill piers and also take some excursions on our 20-foot outboard fishing boat.

Fitness & Health Training

UPDATED for 2025! For ages 12+
Stay active and build healthy habits with our Health & Fitness Training class! Perfect for athletes or anyone looking to get in shape, this class offers varied daily workouts, including cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The class will also discuss topics such as nutrition, injury prevention, and fitness strategies to support a lifetime of health and well-being.

Guitar & Ukulele

UPDATED for 2025, we are adding ukuleles to our beginning guitar class! For brand new beginners and campers with small hands, the 4-string ukulele is a bit easier to master than the 6-string guitar. And for more experienced guitarists, the ukulele is a fun new challenge. Learn basic chords and strumming techniques on both, and come home playing some camp songs!

Horseback Riding

Campers are assessed and divided into lesson groups by experience and ability on the first day. English-style, small group lessons take place in our four sand arenas throughout the week. Our experienced equestrian staff target the instruction to the level of each group and lessons may include walk, trot, canter, and basic jumps.
Additional $140 fee - space is limited

International Cooking

Campers work in pairs in our special cooking classrooms to prepare tasty dishes from countries around the world. Not only will you get to hone your cooking skills, but you will get to enjoy delicious food from around the world with your friends.

International Team Games

Join some of our international staff to play games that are wildly popular in their home countries, such as rugby, cricket, netball, handball, Aussie rules football, rounders, sepak takraw, or "football" (a.k.a. soccer). A different game is played each day of the week.

Latin and International Dance

NEW for 2025!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to dance salsa or merengue? Our international counselors are ready to teach you, and no previous experience is necessary! Classes will include multiple Latin dance styles. One other style (such as Irish or African) may be added in, based on the specific instructor’s expertise. Please note that our regular Dance class (focusing on Jazz, Hip Hop, and Lyrical) still exists as a different activity.

Magic

Discover the secrets behind magic tricks and learn to amaze your family and friends. Campers will practice the basics of sleight of hand, performance, and presentation to master card tricks and other close-up illusions using everyday objects. They will also develop important skills like hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and public speaking, all while having fun and building their confidence.

Musical Theater

Every summer, campers learn songs from a different Broadway musical, adding in choreography, harmonies, and line solos. To capture our hard work and fun memories, the finished product is videoed at the end of the week. In 2025, we are excited to announce that we will be working on songs from the extremely popular musical and recent movie, Wicked!

Motorboat Driving

NEW for 2025!
For ages 14+ with priority given to oldest campers.
Campers will learn hands-on boat skills, including basic boat driving, fueling, outboard engine troubleshooting, rules of the road, tying up, anchoring, and more. They will also register for and begin a free online boater safety course. While the primary focus at camp will be on hands-on skills, campers who go on to finish the online course at home will be legal to drive a boat in Maryland and most other states.

Outdoor Living Skills

If you enjoy camping and the outdoors or want to learn more about surviving in nature, this is the class for you. Campers learn to build fires and shelters, find their way using compasses, cook simple foods over a fire, and hike the scenic wooded trails at Sandy Hill Camp.

Paddlesports

Campers will refresh their skills and then get out and enjoy the river using three different types of paddle-powered boats - aluminum canoes, ocean kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Through games, races, and trips to nearby beaches, we will experience the fun and sun of paddling on the beautiful Elk River.

Photography

Learn the basics of photography using digital SLR cameras, including camera functions, composition, and lighting. There is no shortage of content to shoot at Sandy Hill, and campers will be encouraged to experiment with different subjects and angles before returning to the classroom to edit their photos on desktop computers. Campers will also submit a few of their favorites to appear in our nightly, camp-wide slideshow.

Recreational Swimming

Although all campers have the option to go to the pool during free time each day, the recreational swimming activity is for campers who want to spend an additional period at the pool each day. Lifeguards lead campers in group games like sharks and minnows, water polo, marco polo and more, followed by some time to just hang out and enjoy our beautiful 25-meter pool and 12-foot diving area.

Sailing

This class equips campers with the knowledge and skills to enjoy sailing as a fun hobby and also introduces them to the exciting sport of sailboat racing. Instruction is primarily done in Laser Picos with two sailors per boat, in addition to slightly larger Americans (14.6 and 18 ft) that allow instructors to take a group of campers out for a lesson. The goal is to help campers to become better and smarter sailors, building on any previous experience they may have.

Soccer

Work on the fundamentals of dribbling, passing, and shooting through fun drills and games, in a supportive and engaging environment. Our soccer instructors hail from around the world, bringing their fun accents and passion for “football” to each class they teach. By the end of the week, campers will have improved confidence on the field and a greater love for the game.

Stablehand

Get to know our amazing camp horses while helping with grooming, feeding, and barn chores. This activity is for kids who feel comfortable around horses, but no prior experience is necessary. Please note that there is no riding in this activity. You can choose Horseback Riding as well if you would like a riding class.

Racket Sports

NEW for 2025!
What do tennis, pickleball, and badminton have in common? They all played with a racquet - and are lots of fun! Develop your skills and strategy while playing all three sports over the course of the week.

Skill Toys

New for 2025!
Rubix Cubing, Juggling, Yoyo, Kendama, and Cup Stacking are different types of “skill toys,” which are hands-on games that challenge the brain and build hand-eye coordination. We will learn and have fun with many of these skill toys over the course of the week.

Swim Team

Keep up with your training while you are away at camp in our 25 meter, 5-lane, outdoor pool. Please note that this is not swim lessons - campers must be able to swim at least 50 meters of freestyle and backstroke. Coaches will help swimmers set personal training goals for the week and offer their expertise to help campers improve stroke technique, turns and underwaters, race strategy, and cardiovascular fitness. Perfect choice if you are missing a week of swim team while you are at camp!

Team Games

Join our enthusiastic instructors for a week full of your favorite "All-American" games! The class will play a different team game each day, such as kickball, flag football, capture the flag, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, and others. Most games are played on our outdoor fields, and some days we play in our air-conditioned gym.

Featured

Tumbling

Whether you do cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, or just tumble for fun, our small classes are designed to help you to develop skills at your level. We will work on flexibility, strength, and technique to improve your tumbling skills, jumps, and stunts. Over the course of the week, we will create a routine that shows off everyone’s hard work, which will be videoed at the end of the week, so you can show your friends and family.

Volleyball

For ages 11+
Focus on building technique, coordination, and game awareness in a fun and supportive setting. Through engaging drills and game play, coaches work with campers on serving, passing, spiking, and strategy. Our facilities include an indoor, air-conditioned by with a regulation volleyball court, as well as an outdoor sand volleyball court. No experience required - just a desire to improve your volleyball skills and have fun!

Waterski/Wakeboard

Beginning to advanced skiiers are welcome in this popular activity. Campers will work with our Waterski Works-certified instructors in small groups of four per boat. They have the opportunity to try waterskiing, wakeboarding, and/or kneeboarding, based on their interest and ability.
Additional $75 fee for this class

Cabin Activities

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Experience many of the most popular activities at camp with your cabin. Each day your cabin is assigned to one of the following activities. So one-week campers will get to do five. Two-week campers will get to do ten including two on their weekend.

One-Week Camper Cabin Activities

Banana Boat
Zipline
Tubing
Giant Swing
Pontoon Boat Trip

Two-Week Campers will do the five one-week activities above plus:

Archery
Banana boat (a 2nd time)
Crafts
Campfire Building with S’mores
Sweet Tooth

Why Sandy Hill <== BACK

NEXT ==> Daily Schedule

Activities

So Many Activities!

Instructional Classes and Cabin Activities.See the Typical Daily Schedule for details about when these activities are held and how they fit into each day of camp.

Instructional Activity Options

Cabin Activities

Instructional Classes and Cabin Activities.
See the Typical Daily Schedule for details about when these activities are held and how they fit into each day of camp.