Camp Hawkeye

Camp Hawkeye brings together all types of people from many different backgrounds and family makeups, all under the diversity umbrella. The camp’s mission is to bridge social, economic, and cultural gaps in order to build positive relationships and deep mutual understanding. There are fun activities such as hiking, woodworking, outdoor skills, arts and crafts, fishing, boating, swimming, drama and other traditional summer camp activities.   

Seeing congruence between the mission of Christ’s Hospital and their own, Camp Hawkeye agreed to fund two free places for CH pupils, just as they did last year. Freddie and Elly were chosen by the School as they were felt to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a sense of social conscience and the potential to benefit from the experience of attending this 4-week summer camp. The BSB (Blues Supporting Blues) very generously agreed to cover the costs of travel and insurance, as part of its own on-going support of this wonderful opportunity for deserving young people.

Freddie, now a Deputy Grecian (Year 12), writes about his experience of attending Camp Hawkeye in New Hampshire, north of Boston, USA:

‘The motion to visit America had never been on my agenda; but then it was. I had heard dribs and drabs about Camp Hawkeye, from previous visitors and staff members. It seemed like my thing: travel, experience and meeting new people. After finding out more about the Camp, I was only more sure of this.

 And then everything just happened, and there was a plane ticket to Boston waiting in my inbox. Christs’s Hospital has a standing scholarship scheme with Camp Hawkeye and through a selection process at school I was lucky enough to be picked to go, along with Elly, a UF pupil.

In America, the trip started with a cross state journey into New Hampshire. I hadn’t realised how remote the camp was, and when I saw it I stood in awe of the mountains that surrounded the camp. But the county only got more beautiful; the White Mountains are simply stunning. But there was so much to see, from the lake that the camp uses everyday to the mandatory visit to Walmart and the American commercial experience.

In Camp, it wasn’t always easy. As a Counsellor in Training (CiT), which is the first half of a two year leadership course, there were many jobs to do. Dishes once a day, laundry every week (for the whole camp) and at the end I became a kitchen apprentice, which gave me a taste of what it’s like to work in a commercial kitchen.

But the people I met were fantastic: British and American and many other countries in between. The Camp describes itself as a community, and that’s wholly accurate. The spirit of the place is electric. It is possibly the best experience that the school has ever given me.’