FAQ

Berkshire Lake Arts Camp is a sisterhood built around our core values of Belonging, Learning, Authenticity, and Creativity. Our community is warm, friendly, and down-to-earth, and we find that girls are generally very open, welcoming, and kind to one another. We strive to create an environment where girls feel comfortable being themselves, exploring their interests, and trying new things without the pressure of competition. We have a small, intimate community size that allows for an “everyone knows everyone” feel and ensures campers have opportunities to build friendships and feel like they belong.

No, we are an intentionally non-competitive program.

We aim to give every girl a healthy balance of fun and skill-building. Our philosophy places high emphasis on the process of learning and growing rather than on being “the best.” Our highest priority is ensuring each girl feels supported, encouraged and free to explore her interests in a safe, supportive environment. We provide individual attention to each camper, helping her develop skills at an age-appropriate, pressure-free pace.

No previous experience is required! Campers come to Berkshire Lake Arts Camp with a range of interests and experience levels. Whether your daughter is looking to develop an existing skill or try an art form for the first time, there are opportunities to learn and grow. We offer all classes at both beginner and upper levels to help campers find activities that are appropriate for their experience, while our noncompetitive approach encourages girls to explore their interests at their own pace.

Berkshire Lake Arts Camp offers a variety of visual and performing arts, including dance, theater, ceramics, fine arts, printmaking, and digital arts. Campers choose their activities based on their interests and experience level, allowing them to develop existing skills or try something new. Arts classes are balanced with traditional camp activities, giving girls the opportunity to explore their creativity while enjoying all that overnight camp has to offer.

At Berkshire Lake Arts Camp, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive community for all campers and staff. We welcome all girls, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, ability, identity or religious beliefs.

Our camp leadership is experienced and trained in supporting all types families’ individual needs and concerns. Please reach out to us to discuss your child’s specific circumstances - we welcome partnering with you to create a successful experience for them based on their individual needs. We strive to be as inclusive as possible and welcome all, but there may be some limitations to what we can accommodate. Please reach out to our Director Mandi at (413) 233-4950 or Mandi@berkshirelakeartscamp.com so we can start a conversation and see if our camp is the right fit for your child.

Berkshire Lake Arts Camp welcomes girls ages 7–15, from those entering 2nd grade through those entering 10th grade.

It's completely normal for girls to feel nervous before their first overnight camp experience! Being away from home can be a big step, and knowing that, we provide lots of support to help both campers and their families feel ready for the summer. Families receive a pre-camp guide with information about what to expect and how to prepare, and we host a Zoom New Family Orientation each spring to answer questions and help families feel more comfortable before arrival.

Once camp begins, our counselors and leadership team are there to help campers settle in, build connections, and gain confidence as they adjust to camp life. We know that every camper's transition is different, and we're here to support girls along the way.

Yes! Berkshire Lake Arts Camp is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). This accreditation represents our commitment to the highest industry standards in safety, programming, staffing and camper care.

ACA accreditation means our camp has been carefully reviewed in every area by an independent outside party, looking at everything from our programs to staff onboarding and supervision, to safety practices and facility. It’s a sign that our families can trust our commitment to providing a safe, quality place for our campers to call their summer home.

We are located in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, along the shores of beautiful Lake Ashmere in the town of Hinsdale. We are 2.5 hours from NYC and Boston.

Health and safety are our top priorities, and we take a proactive, communicative approach to care. We have a nurse on-site 24 hours a day. Before each session begins, our nurse thoroughly reviews each girl’s health history to prepare for any specific medical needs, allergies or concerns. When necessary, she reaches out to families ahead of camp to discuss specific questions or precautions.

During the session, our nurse oversees the well-being of all campers and staff, including arrival day health checks, medication administration (both prescription and as-needed over-the-counter treatments), first aid and treatment of illness or injury.

Campers have access to the health center at all hours, and whenever possible, care is provided on-site. Our medical staff are also trained to recognize when more advanced care is needed off-site, and if that occurs, we keep families fully informed every step of the way.

Our closest hospital is the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, about a 20 minute drive from camp. There is also an urgent care in Pittsfield for smaller concerns, about a 15 minute drive from camp.

• Berkshire Lake Arts Camp complies with all regulations from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and we are licensed with our local Board of Health annually.

• All staff are background checked annually, and proper certifications are in place for areas such as lifeguarding, archery, food service, CPR and first aid.

• Thorough emergency procedures are in place and rehearsed each summer.

Our food service is focused on preparing meals that are nutritious and delicious, with something for everyone. There is plenty of fresh produce, protein sources and whole grains, balanced with universal favorites like pancakes, chicken nuggets and pizza. In addition to our main hot meal, a salad bar is provided at lunch and dinner, along with alternatives for those who might need it (vegetarian, gluten free, etc). If your girl has a dietary restriction or allergy, we encourage you to reach out to us ahead of her session so we can discuss her particular needs and be prepared to partner with you on accommodating her - most often, the accommodation is a substitute that is similar to the main meal (rather than a completely different option) so that those girls with dietary needs still feel included.

Girls love getting snail mail while at camp, and we encourage our girls to write home about the experiences they’re having as well. Additionally, families can use our online system to send one-way emails that we print and hand out to girls daily during mail call. We do not allow packages.

Due to the short nature of our sessions and how immersive the camp community is, we do not do phone calls home and instead encourage use of posted mail and email for updates. The photos we post during the session are also a great way to see how your child is doing in place of phone calls! Families can also call and speak to staff at any time for an update and peace of mind without interrupting the girl’s experience.

We believe that unplugging at camp is extremely important for our campers! Today, more than ever, it is vital to make face-to-face connections, and the absence of technology at camp allows more room for these connections and relationships to grow. For that reason, we do not permit cell phones, tablets, ereaders, and portable electronic gaming devices at camp (or any other screen/internet capable devices). However, we do allow basic MP3 players that do not have internet capabilities such as iPod shuffles or Nanos so girls can listen to music in their bunks.

We also ask that you do not send your child to camp with any plug-in devices such as hair dryers, straighteners or curlers, or electric fans.

We get this question so frequently that we’ve devoted a whole blog post to it. Click here to read.

Yes, click here to learn more.

We get this question so frequently that we’ve devoted a whole blog post to it. Click here to read.

We get this question so frequently that we’ve devoted a whole blog post to it. Click here to read.

Many girls arrive at Berkshire Lake without knowing anyone beforehand. So much of the first few days of camp is our counselors helping campers get to know one another and feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Shared activities, bunk life, and camp-wide events give girls opportunities to make connections and build friendships throughout their time at camp. Creating a community where every girl feels welcome and included is an important part of the BLAC experience.