FAQs

Where is Camp Mont Shenandoah located?

We are nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Bath County, Virginia. Our address is: 218 Mont Shenandoah Lane, Millboro Springs, VA 24460. (This address is not always recognized by search engines; please see directions).

How are campers assigned to cabins?

We place girls in cabins according to age and make every attempt to accommodate cabin requests whenever possible. We want to remind campers and parents that it’s great to come to camp with friends but we encourage all girls to meet new people and develop new friendships. Being in a cabin with girls other than those from home will help facilitate this process. Read more about cabin life here.

Can my child select the activities in which she wishes to participate?

Upon arrival, the campers will have the opportunity to create their own schedule. All campers take swimming every day and those campers that sign up to ride will have that scheduled as well. Because Roots & Shoots is an introductory camp experience, all campers participate in all of the activities offered.

How may I communicate with my daughter?

We encourage all parents to write their daughter. Letters may be received by Bunk Notes and snail mail.

A summer camp allows for the “creative distance” that is essential to a child’s growth. The instant availability to a person that a phone can provide can short-circuit that potential so we limit phone calls to campers on the occasion of a birthday and in the event of a family emergency. Additionally, we ask that campers NOT bring a cell phone to camp.

May my daughter bring her portable electronic devices to camp?

Our philosophy is the less technology while at camp, the better! Campers are here to learn and grow in a community and outdoor environment. Being plugged into a computer, smart phones and tablets, hand held game or similar device can prevent a camper from making valuable connections with other campers, staff and the great out-of-doors. Therefore, we do not allow any of the above items at camp as well as cell phones, iTouches or video iPods. Campers may bring an MP3 player such as an iPod as long as it doesn’t contain any videos. In the event a camper does bring an MP3 player, we ask that she use it only during her free time or rest hour. Please note that Camp Mont Shenandoah assumes no responsibility if a valuable item brought to camp is lost, damaged or stolen.

Does Camp Mont Shenandoah have any traditions?

The resounding answer is YES! They include our color teams, the Greens and the Buffs, The Fives (girls who have attended camp for five summers or more), Christmas on July 25, Wishing Boats, Songfest, Honor Meets, Final Banquet and our Camp Spirit Ceremony. Read more about our traditions.

May I visit my daughter while she is at Camp Mont Shenandoah?

We invite family and friends of campers to visit for special occasions and Parents’ Weekend but request that visitors refrain from coming at other times. It has been our experience that unscheduled family and friend appearances can hamper our program and be disruptive to the overall camp experience. Additionally, campers may not leave camp except for emergencies and family weddings.

How does Roots & Shoots differ from the three and six week programs?

Roots & Shoots was started in 2001 and is our one-week, introductory camp session for girls between the ages of 7 and 13 who aren’t quite ready for an extended time away from home. All campers participate in all activities offered, including swimming, archery, tennis, arts & crafts, athletics, soccer, drama and music. Horseback riding is an option also available to R&S campers. During the week, girls are brought together and introduced to summer camping in an intimate, inclusive and caring setting. Most CMS traditions are reserved for three and six week campers but we do introduce the girls to the concept of teams with the Roots and the Shoots.

Are scholarships available?

In 2005, Camp Mont Shenandoah started The Camp Spirit Scholarship to help campers attend camp that may not otherwise be able to due to financial constraints.  The Camp Spirit Scholarship is a fund within within the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany (CFRBA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The deadline for applications for the 2020 camp season is November 15th, 2019 with scholarships being awarded prior to year’s end.  For more information on the scholarship and to view the application, please click here.  If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the fund (as allowed by IRS code), please click here.

Families may wish to explore additional financial aid or payment options. Please do not hesitate to contact us to see what may be possible.

What are the Five Virtues of Camp Mont Shenandoah?

Love, Loyalty, Friendship, Sportsmanship and Spiritual Awareness. The five virtues are an integral part of our camp experience, and serve as our guiding principles.

Is Camp Mont Shenandoah a religiously based camp?

While we are not a religious camp we do find the spiritual in our everyday life here. Wednesday evening Vespers and Sunday Church services conducted by campers and counselors are character and morally based, often following Judeo-Christian principles as well as the Twelve Laws of Woodcraft that are based on values of the Navaho Indians.

The Twelve Laws of Woodcraft as born from the four lamps of Beauty, Truth, Fortitude and Love of the Great Fire are: Be brave, be silent, obey. Be clean, be strong, protect wild life always. Speak true, be reverent, play fair as you strive. Be kind, be helpful, glad you are alive.

Spiritual Awareness is one of our five virtues at camp. As defined by one camper, Spiritual Awareness “is about taking in the spirit of camp and letting it help you become who you really are deep down. It’s about being true to who you are and letting your own light shine as brightly as it can. I think camp lets everyone’s personal light be found and be deeply appreciated by everyone around them.”

I have some feedback to provide the camp that I feel may enhance the camp program. To whom should I speak?

You are our best sources for feedback! We want to hear it all – our goal is to provide the best traditional summer camp experience and you are our best experts upon whom we rely for ideas and suggestions to make this happen. Please call (540) 997-5994 or email the director, Ann M. Warner.

What does it mean to be accredited by the American Camp Association?  

The American Camp Association, which has been around for over 100 years, is the preeminent association for summer camps.  We are proud to state that we have been accredited by the ACA since 1954 when they first instituted the process.   As an accredited camp, we are evaluated every three years by the ACA in the areas of transportation, site, food service, health and wellness, operations and program.  The purpose of accreditation is to confirm that camps are offering quality programming and promote practices that ensure the safety and well-being of campers and staff.   For more information on the ACA’s accreditation process, please visit: http://www.campparents.org/funsafety

“Camp Mont Shenandoah made me feel like a part of a giant family — family that you still think about, talk about, talk to. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don’t think about the rolling hills, the river, my team, and the friends I made.”

– Former camper | Richmond, VA