Life at Camp

A Day In The Life

7:30	Rise & Shine
8:00	Breakfast
8:30-8:45	Warm up
8:45-9:15	Drills
9:20-12:15	Three 50-minute classes*
3:15-3:30	Snack
3:30-4:30	Bonus Workshop**
4:35-5:35	Class
5:40-6:00	Cooldown
6:00-6:30	Free Time
6:30-7:00	Dinner
7:00	Evening Activity***

What Our Campers Have to Say

“I have been going to camp for 5 years since I was 8 and I am always so excited when I get to go back. Everyone at CRC is so helpful and welcoming. The friendships and memories made at camp last a lifetime”
– Camper Vivian, (13)

“This was our first year my daughter got to go to camp and she is 7 year old. I was as nervous as a mom can be – first sleep away camp ever. I could have not asked for a better experience. My daughter came home asking to go again the following week. She was more confident and a stronger dancer! She even placed to move up to the next level on 3 of her dances! The counselors are amazing – getting the daily update of pictures made me way less nervous especially when I saw a huge grin on my daughter’s face!!”
– Meghan, Mom of Emily (7)

“CRC is THE BEST! I come all the way from MEXICO to go to CRC in NY for 2 weeks! You learn a lot each day and have a lot of fun! I hope to be back at camp this summer!”
– Camper, Ana (14)

“My daughter attended NY Session 1 and she had a blast! It was her first year attending and made so many friends, recognizes so many familiar faces at feisanna and had an all-around great experience. She LOVED her instructors, loved the “big kid college feel” of being there and is already making plans with friends to return in 2024! ”
– Kate, Mom of Tessa (10)

“I started attending CRC, at the age of 9, not knowing anyone else. I am now 16 and CRC is still a highlight of my summer! Some of my best friends are because of CRC and I am so thankful! Camp is my happy place. The instructors are INCREDIBLY talented and help us work on our technique, skills with various drills, help build up our confidence! CRC truly is the best place for Irish Dancers to spend their summer. ”
– Camper Katie, (16)

“As a first time CRC camp family we were nervous about the week away, but the entire staff was amazing, caring and made us feel comfortable from start to finish. My girls absolutely loved making new friends and spending the week in a new environment perfecting skill. The girls wish they would have started going sooner and are very excited to return in 2024!!”
– Erin, Mom of Brielle (13) & Kylee (17)

“This was our daughter’s first summer at camp. I was so nervous to leave her and just knew I’d be getting a homesick call within hours of drop-off. Instead, she was paired with the sweetest roommate and had the best time ever. She learned so much, made new friends, built confidence, and did not want to come home at the end! She is already looking forward to next year and loves getting to say hi to camp friends at feisanna! Thank you, CRC!”
– Margaret, Mom of Charlotte (10)

“This was my first time at CRC, my first sleep away camp, and I loved it!! I have made so many friendships from CRC and I talk to them on Snapchat still. All the counselors and instructors were very nice and helpful! CRC has helped me improve a lot with my dancing. CRC has so many fun activities like trivia night, waterslide, and so much more. My favorite part about CRC was showcase because we got to be creative on what we wanted to do and be!”
– Camper Emma (12)

“I loved CRC! Everyone was so nice, and the activities were so much fun. The things I learned helped me move up in my dancing. I can’t wait to go back!”
– Camper Alexa (13)

“Maggie first attended CRC Midwest at age 11. She did Camp In A Box in 2020, allowing her to dance through Covid. For the past three summers she attended CRC New York, building friendships & memories.
Dancing with CRC, from Novice to OC, has helped Maggie to grow as an Irish Dancer.”
– Sarah, Mom of Maggie (16)

“As a first time adult camper and new dancer who started as an adult, I was awed by the community at camp! From the staff to my fellow dancers everyone was helpful and answered all my questions. They never made me feel less than for being a beginner with less experience, quite the opposite in fact, they were encouraging and as excited as I was when I learned something new. I can’t wait to attend camp again this summer!”
– Adult Camper Erin

FAQ’s

Below are the most frequently asked questions when parents call or write. If this does not answer all your questions, please call or email and we will be happy to help.

What is the age eligibility for camp?

We accept campers starting at age 7. If the camper is over 6.5 years, we first ask that you call the office and speak to the director. We will ask for some information about the camper to make sure that he/she is ready for an overnight experience and also the responsibility that goes along with camp. We accept campers till age 18 (as of Jan 1st of that camp year).

Has CRC been granted Open Status? What does Open Status mean?

Camp Rince Ceol is happy to announce that we have been granted Open Status to operate a summer program which means we are exempt from any and all association rules through CLRG. Association Rule: A CLRG rule that stipulates that any person, whether registered with An Coimisiún or not, who gives a workshop in any form to a class should be regarded as being associated with that class and any other dancing school in which they have an involvement, whether directly or indirectly. All classes associated with such a person should be regarded as being connected by association.

Can you explain what Bonus Workshops are? Is there an extra charge? And how do we register for those?

The idea of Bonus Classes came to us in 2001. We wanted campers to have the opportunity to be involved in the daily scheduling, so we designed these classes based on the location’s extracurricular activities.
Our Bonus Workshops are held 1 hour each day (Monday-Thursday). We provide 8-12 choices per day. The student and parent make their decisions based on which class is best for them and what they would like to focus on while at camp. You can choose to take more dance classes to work on your overall technique, or you can take cultural classes to focus on Irish traditions. Classes are limited to 25 campers and are based on first come first serve. Classes close quickly! The earlier you register, the more likely you are to receive your first choice. There is no extra charge as it is included in the full tuition. You can register online, or you can simply send an email listing your first choice and alternate.

What are the eligibility requirements for roommates?

We require those roommate choices be within two years of your child’s age and of similar dance level. We realize that for some, the camp experience is much more fun and memorable if they are sharing it with their close friends. We at CRC do not like to break friends up, but we assign dormitory rooms to campers based on age. We prefer not to mix ages as this would make things confusing for the camper, wondering where her/his group is located and also much harder for the counselor to supervise.

I am having problems finding the TCRG form.

Here is the link for our TCRG form. Also, if your dance teacher is traveling out of town, it may be easier for them just to send us an email. All we would need is for them to list the name of the camper, certify that they are registered with CLRG, and they are aware that camper is attending and the dates of attendance.

What are your staff and security like?

The State Health Departments require us to provide a ratio of 1 staff member to every 10-12 campers, but our staff ratio is actually 1:8. All staff are vetted and undergo interviews prior to hiring. We provide nightly security checks, and all dorms are locked by 11:00 pm. All venues provide additional security and nightly checks, we have a close relationship with each locations Campus Security. If you would like more information on our staff and security, send the camp office an email and we will happily answers your questions in more detail!

Do you hold any certifications?

Yes, we are certified and permitted to operate a dance camp by State Health Departments. We also are certified with The American Camp Nurse Association and are members of The American Camp Association. All of our nurses are certified with Red Cross and/or American Heart Association.

What is your cell phone policy?

We have a strict NO cell phone or devices that connect to wifi policy. We want our campers to be focused on creating friendships and connections face to face, be present at social activities and in dance classes. Campers are training athletes while at CRC and need their rest, cell phones and wifi devices will hinder their sleep! We know this can be hard for parents, so we make sure to post pictures and videos daily on our social media to see your camper having fun! Campers caught with phones or devices will lose out on their bonus classes and pool time.

Can I mail packages to my camper?

YES! We encourage parents/relatives to mail letters and packages to campers. About two weeks before camp, we will email out the mailing address and ideas on what to mail!

How much is one week and what does it include?

A one-week session is $1,245.00. This price is all-inclusive: meals, beverages, accommodations, classes, social activities, supervision and the camp t-shirt are just a few of what CRC provides.

My child wants to come for multiple sessions. Do you provide weekend supervision?

Yes, we do. Weekends in between sessions 1&2 and 2&3 in New York are available for campers to attend with staff supervision. Campers will have time to relax, do laundry, go out for dinner, a trip to the movies, have an ice cream party and much more!

Who are your instructors?

Because we are still awaiting Instructors to receive their final tour dates, we cannot publicly list Instructors until they are contracted. Instructors will be announced on our social media in late spring. All of our Instructors are professional Irish dancers, TCRG certified with CLRG and vetted. All though we are permitted to hire ADCRG, we choose not to. Follow us on social media, we will share who our instructors will be come late spring.

Do you provide nurses on your staff?

Yes. We provide two full-time nurses and one part-time nurse. We also set-up a full working infirmary and stock it with everything a camper would need from bug spray to crutches. We hope they will not have to use the latter. If you are an RN, EMT, LPN and are interested in being a camp nurse, please refer to our staff page for more information.

Should we pack a first aid kit for my child?

We do ask you pack your own first aid kits stocking it with Band-Aids, ACE bandage, medical tape, blister pads, etc. Our supplies should only be a back-up to what your child brings. Do not pack any medications in your first aid kits. All medications (prescription and nonprescription) MUST be turned into camp nurse during camp check in.

Do you accept children with special conditions such as food/environmental allergies or special diets?

We think that every child should have the opportunity to experience an overnight camp. Therefore we try to accept every camper that registers. It is very unlikely that we will not accept your child based on any medical conditions, but we ask that you call the office first and speak with the director. It is also nice to develop a relationship with the Director before camp attendance. We do our best to accommodate lactose intolerant, gluten-free and vegetarian diets but ask that please contact CRC to discuss your child’s dietary needs.

My child sometimes gets homesick. How do you handle this?

It’s not unusual and can happen at almost any age. Our counselors are specially trained and are sensitive to the emotions experienced by campers who miss home. The most important antidotes we offer to a child who is missing home are love, caring, sympathy and things to do to keep them busy! It is important to acknowledge to the camper that what he or she is experiencing is real, that it can be painful, but with time will pass. We have a common sense approach — i.e., keep a child that is missing home as engaged in camp life as possible.

Do you sell CRC merchandise?

Yes, we will have merchandise for sale during camp check in and at check out. We also have LIMITED EDITION Holiday merch boxes (that are mailed) available to campers who register in November/ December and a VIP “Get Ready for Camp” merch box in the spring. Information on how to order a merchandise box will be emailed out to registered campers when they are available.