2 SUMMER 026
X-FACTOR WHY BOYS NEED CAMP THE MEET OUR DIRECTOR
PLAYBOOK SECRETS The lowdown on our daily activities
B WHERE BOYS CAN JUST
CONTENTS 3 5 8 DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTOR ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS WHY BOYS NEED BAUERCREST
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DEAR CAMP MOM
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
CAMPER Q&A
OUR FACILITIES
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CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF BAUERCREST
DIRECTLY FROM THE DIRECTOR
BEN ARONSON
Hello!
I’m Ben, and I am honored to serve as the Director of Camp Bauercrest. For 28 summers, camp has been an integral part of my life, not just as a place of work, but as a home where I met my closest friends and was given the space to discover who I was. My love of hockey, my commitment to Jewish values and traditions, and my belief in the transformative power of camp have all shaped my journey here.
Bauercrest is where I’ve seen boys grow into young men, guided by a sense of community and shared purpose. It is a privilege to help nurture this environment in which every boy not only welcomed, but celebrated. At Bauercrest, we understand boys... their energy, their curiosity, and their need to be both challenged and supported. Our camp is built on the belief that every boy deserves a place where he can be himself, form lifelong friendships, and build character. Brotherhood is at the heart of everything we do. From the moment your son steps onto our Hillside, he becomes part of a community that recognizes each individual and fosters connections that last long after summer ends. Our facilities set the stage for adventure and growth. Whether it’s a game on our pristine sports fields, swimming in our competition pool, sailing across the lake, or creating in one of our makerspaces, every area is designed to encourage exploration and camaraderie. The traditions of a classic overnight camp come alive here, with spirited competitions, camp-wide events, and evenings spent sharing stories and making memories with friends.
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What truly sets Bauercrest apart is our team of dedicated counselors and staff... role models who embody the values we strive to instill in every camper. They lead by example, guiding our boys to try new things, show empathy, and take responsibility for themselves and their peers. Our staff understands that growth happens through shared experiences, healthy competition, and the daily practice of sportsmanship, kindness and respect. Parents choose Bauercrest because they see the transformation that happens when boys are challenged, supported, and inspired in a community built on trust and tradition. Here, your son will gain confidence as he explores new interests, overcomes challenges, and celebrates his achievements. He will discover the true meaning of brotherhood and carry those lessons with him for life.
I’m so excited to invite you to join our Bauercrest family, and to experience firsthand the joy, growth, and connection that define our camp. Please be in touch with any questions, or to arrange a visit, I would be honored to welcome you and your son to our community!
My best,
BEN ARONSON DIRECTOR
EMAIL BEN
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ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
EURO:
LEAGUE: CERAMICS & WOODWORKING This one-of-a-kind game is played on a soccer field and is a combination of soccer and basketball. It’s similar to European Handball. If you want to learn the ins and outs of the most popular sport at Bauercrest, you’ll have to come play it yourself! Our completely renovated Pottery/Ceramics and Woodworking studio has quickly become a fan favorite. Our talented staff make this elective one of the most sought-after destinations at camp, giving our campers the opportunity to explore their creative sides. At Bauercrest, our campers have the opportunity to be part of a bigger community. They are placed on a League team where campers compete in different sports that are predetermined by our staff. League is structured so that each camper plays against similarly-skilled opponents in every sport, making the competition fun and exciting for all!
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During the Great Depression, a group of YMHA and JCC volunteers joined forces with a common goal: To create a place where young boys could come together to make new friends, run around, swim, play sports, and just be kids. The volunteers presented their camp concept to the former mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts, Ralph S. Bauer, who was inspired by their mission. Bauer agreed to sell his 20-acre property on Lake Attitash to be the home of the camp. In 1931, Camp Bauercrest was born, providing a much-needed escape from a world of fear and uncertainty. The camp is named “Bauercrest” as a tribute to Ralph Bauer for his generosity, while “Crest” references the Hill on which it sits. Camp Bauercrest grew in prestige and continued to operate each and summer despite the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. Many of the traditions established over the years continue today, connecting our current generation of campers to our alumni. Throughout the years, Bauercrest’s philosophy has remained the same. We teach boys life lessons, both on and off the field, by encouraging our campers to explore their independence and cultivate friendships while building character and self-esteem.
THE CAMP IS NAMED AS A TRIBUTE TO RALPH BAUER BAUERCREST
We celebrate boys being boys, and this unique experience transforms them into great leaders and men.
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WATERFRONT:
Our BRAND-NEW waterfront is where the most popular elective happens. From tubing to water- skiing to wakeboarding to kayaking to our amazing new inflatables, Lake Attitash offers a boatload of fun. Speaking of boats, we have three motor boats and plenty of kayaks, canoes, sailboats, paddle boards and more. Our staff ensures that everyone understands the rules before jumping in!
POOL
SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR ACTIVITIES. campers work in the off -season at local pools and come back as staff members to instruct their own campers. Our pool is 160,000 gallons of fun. Each camper through 8th grade has swim instruction daily. We combine fun with learning to refine strokes so all can feel safe in an aquatic environment. We also offer lifeguard training for our rising 11th graders. Many of these
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BAUERCREST SUMMER 2026
WHY DO BOYS NEED BAUERCREST? BECAUSE IT’S AWESOME. Our campers, ranging in age from 7 to 16, spend their summers running up and down our fields and courts, making all sorts of hits, catches, shots and saves. They also miss all sorts of hits, catches, shots and saves. At Bauercrest, our campers learn how to win and lose. They learn to ask for help. They learn how to take care of themselves and each other. But what really sets Bauercrest apart is the feeling of brotherhood and camaraderie that comes from being together during the most formative years of their lives. Bauercrest is a place for boys to be themselves, away from all the pressures of the outside world. It’s a place where they can take risks and learn from their mistakes, all within the safety of a community that sees them and accepts them for who they truly are.
AT BAUERCREST , OUR CAMPERS LEARN HOW TO WIN AND LOSE.
We know that parents who try to protect their children from stepping outside their comfort zones and getting hurt are doing so with the best of intentions. But sometimes you have to let your children feel uncomfortable in order for them to grow. If you send your son to Bauercrest, we can’t promise that he won’t get bumped and bruised along the way. What we can promise is that we’ll be there to pick him up and brush him off every time. Bauercrest is awesome. Is it awesome 100% of the time? No... but nothing is. Our boys learn to overcome challenges and grow from those experiences, returning home stronger, healthier and happier than you ever could have imagined.
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DEAR CAMP MOM
Stacy Pollack, AKA Camp Mom, has been a part of the Bauercrest family since she married her husband Micah, a Bauercrest alum. Their two sons were destined to attend camp on the Hill, and now the whole family bleeds blue! Not only does Stacy work at Bauercrest year-round, but she spends the summers at
camp making sure that everyone is eating, sleeping, getting to their activities on time, having fun, making friends, being safe... all the things a mom is supposed to do! Stacy’s official job title is Director of Communications & Family Engagement. She is always just a phone call away and is truly every parent’s lifeline during the summer. These questions from Stacy’s “Dear Camp Mom” column answer some of the questions that are on every parent’s mind. CLICK NEXT TO EACH QUESTION FOR THE ANSWER
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My son was so excited to try overnight camp this summer, but when we went to sign him up, he freaked out. Any suggestions on what I can tell him?
Q Q
My son is a picky eater. Like, really picky. What if he just won’t eat?
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How do you handle disagreements between the boys?
Q
My son loves sports, but he’s not ultra competitive. Will he be ok at Bauercrest?
Q
How do you deal with homesickness?
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UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
All of our activities,
sports-related or not, are designed to challenge our campers, pique their curiosity, and provide a unique experience.
While sports are at the core of our program at Camp Bauercrest, we want our boys to have a well-rounded summer experience, and our programming reflects that. Waterfront has always been our most popular elective; with activities like waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and fishing, there’s never a dull moment on Lake Attitash! For those who want to explore their creative sides, we offer a robust Pottery & Ceramics program as well as Arts & Crafts and Woodworking, where our campers have done everything from hydrodipping to building benches. In Digital Media, they learn to mix their own music and lay those tracks into original video productions. We have a state-of-the-art Ninja Course with two warped walls, a cargo net, and three bays with changeable obstacles and challenges. On the heels of our esteemed Bauercrest Alumni who’ve gone on to do great things at ESPN, we offer a Sports Broadcasting elective, where campers host their own podcasts and report on sporting events and other goings-on at camp.
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CAMPER
Q&A Josh lives in Needham, MA, and has been coming to camp since he was in third grade. We asked him to give us a camper’s point of view. Here is what he has to say about Bauercrest.
CLICK NEXT TO EACH QUESTION FOR THE ANSWER
Q Q Q Q
How many years have you been coming to Bauercrest?
What is your favorite activity at camp? Do you have a favorite tradition?
Q Q Q
What are the bunks like?
Have you made good friends at camp?
What do you always bring to camp that is a must-have?
Is the food at camp good? What’s your favorite meal?
Do you have any tips you can share with a brand-new camper?
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We are located in Amesbury, Massachusetts, about 40 miles north of Boston, on the shores of beautiful Lake Attitash. The Hill is the center of camp where everything comes alive. Our outstanding facilities include:
Competition swimming pool Waterfront with inflatables, kayaks, sailboats, paddle boards, waterski boats, and fishing equipment Air-Conditioned Gymnasium/Rec Hall State-of-the-Art Ninja Warrior Course Illuminated Softball Field Illuminated Soccer Field and Second Soccer Field on Lower Camp Five Illuminated Tennis & Pickleball Courts Illuminated Basketball Court and 3 Additional Outdoor Basketball Courts Indoor Street Hockey Arena Batting Cages Newly Renovated Fitness Center Three Illuminated Regulation-Size Volleyball Courts Air-Conditioned Arts & Crafts Center Two Gaga Pits
Air-Conditioned Media Room for Digital Video & Photography Podcast station with studio equipment for live broadcasting Newly Renovated Air-Conditioned Health Center Outdoor Waterfront Chapel Spacious Dining Hall Yurt
BAUERCREST SUMMER 2022
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SCHEDULE A CALL WITH OUR DIRECTOR
17 OLD COUNTY ROAD AMESBURY, MA 01913 (978) 388-4732
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bauercrest.org • info@bauercrest.org
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