Valley Mill Camp

History

Valley Mill Camp for Girls started in Colesville, Maryland in 1956 by Robert "Mr. Mac" McEwan and May "Skipper" McEwan, and then moved to Darnestown, Maryland in 1973. The location in Darnestown is on over 60 acres of wooded land with a spring fed two acre lake. It is now run by Evelyn McEwan and Bruce Uthus.

About

Valley Mill Camp has been serving families in the Washington D.C. area since 1956, combining closeness to home with the atmosphere of an away camp. Located on more than sixty acres of deep woods and surrounding a two-acre spring fed lake, Valley Mill provides ample space for a vigorous camp program for both boys and girls. The counselors are selected for character and values that make them good role models. They care about the children and the camp, and they lead in the activities with a spirit of fun. Children are placed into an age group under the direction of a group counselor, and move through their activities with their groups for the entire summer. Activities include rock climbing, kayaking, and group trips off property. Activities of younger age groups are paced to their capacities, while older age groups have ample opportunity to excel. Valley Mill emphasizes the development of group cohesiveness and of resilience through outdoor challenge.

Activities

Boys Side offers activities such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming lessons, soccer, basketball, rock climbing, outdoor education, gymnastics, archery, air riflery.

Girls Side Offers activities such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming lessons, rock climbing, outdoor education, gymnastics, archery, air riflery, arts and crafts, drama, and horseback riding.

Junior Camp (4 and 5 years old) Offers activities such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming lessons, outdoor education, gymnastics, arts and crafts, drama, and horseback riding.

Adventure Camp Off site trips that include kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and leadership

Alumni

Kayak, Slalom, Whitewater, Redshirt

May McEwan, K-1W, 1973 Senior National Champion

Jamie McEwan, C-1 Slalom, 1972 National Champion, 1972 C-1 Slalom Bronze Medal Olympics, 1975 C-1 Slalom Champion, 1987 C-2 Slalom Silver Medal World Championships, 1988 & 1989 C-2 Slalom Gold Medal Whitewater Slalom World Cup, 1992 C-2, Olympics (placed 4th), 1996 Olympic Team member, 2005 International White Water Hall of Fame, Red Shirt

Tom McEwan, K-1 Wildwater and Slalom, 1973 National Wildwater Champion, 2005 International White Water Hall of Fame, Red Shirt

Angus Morrison, C-1 Slalom & Wildwater, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1985 National Champion

Kent Ford, C-1 Slalom, 1977 National Champion, C-2 Slalom 1987 National Champion, C-1 Slalom 1983 and 1985 World Champion, 2008 International White Water Hall of Fame

Cathy Hearn, K1-W Slalom & Wildwater and C-2, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986 and 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 National Champion, 1979 Gold Medal World Championships, 1981 Silver Medal World Championships, 1989 K-1W Slalom Bronze Medal World Championships, 1997 K-1W Slalom Bronze Medal World Championships, 1997 K-1W Slalom Bronze Medal Whitewater Slalom World Cup, 2007 International Hall of Fame

Dan Schnurrenberger, K-1 Wildwater, 1979, 1980, 1981 1991 (C-2) National Champion, 1984 Olympic Team member, Red Shirt

Howard Foer, C-2 Wildwater with Andy Bridge, US Team member, 1983 C-2 Wildwater National Champion

Andy Bridge, C-1 Wildwater, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996 National Champion, World Champion: 1990 - Silver, 91 - Bronze, 92 – Gold 1992 World Cup Champion, 1990 World Cup Silver medalist, 1991 World Cup Bronze medalist, 1991 Tour de Corse Champion, 5th place 1991 World Championships, U.S. Team member 1980, 1981, 1987-1993, Red Shirt

Joe Jacobi, C-2 Slalom, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 National Champion, 1992 Olympics – Gold Medal, Red Shirt

Norm Bellingham, K-2 Sprint, 1988 Gold Medal Summer Olympics, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Team member, Red Shirt

Bruce Uthus, K-4, 1988 Sprint National Champion, K2, 1991 Marathon National Champion and K-2, 1994 Marathon National Champion, 2010 Junior Olympics Coach’s Trophy for Valley Mill Racing Team, Red Shirt

Jason Beakes, K-1 Slalom, 1990 Junior Slalom Team member, 1994-2003 Senior National Team member, Red Shirt

Kirsten Brown, K-1W, 1991 Bronze Medal ICF Canoe World Championships, National Team member

Eliot Weintrob, C-2, 1992 Olympic Team member, 1993 C-2 Slalom National Champion, Red Shirt

Caroline Domenghino, K-1W Wildwater, 2001 National Champion, 1994 - 2002 Swiss Team Member, Red Shirt

Nelson Oldham, K-1 Wildwater, 1994, 1998, 1999 National Champion, Red Shirt

Andrew McEwan, K-1 Wildwater, 2000, 2001 and 2003 National Champion, Red Shirt

Geoff Calhoun, K-1 Wildwater, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 National Champion, Red Shirt

Ryan Bahn, C-1 Slalom, 2005 National Champion, Red Shirt

Casey Eichfeld (coached by Valley Mill’s Martin Nevaril), C-1 & C-2 Slalom, 2006 US National Slalom Champion, 2006 Silver Medal Junior Team Trials, 2006 Junior Champion Junior Olympics, 2006 Junior Champion US Cup #2, 2007 Silver Medal US Nationals, 2007 Gold Medal Junior National Team Trials, 2007 Gold Medal US Team Trials, 2007 Junior Champion Youth Olympic Festival, 2008 Olympian, 2008 Silver Medal Olympic Team Trials, 2008 Gold Medal Dickerson, 2008 Gold Medal Glacier Breaker, 2008 Gold Medal US Open, 2010 Charlotte Open Champion

Aaron Mann, K-1 Slalom, 2009 National Team Member

Simon Beardmore, K-1 WIldwater, US Wildwater Team, Red Shirt

Ashley Nee, K-1W Slalom, 2010 Gold Medal, Slalom National Championships, 2011 Silver Medal Pan American Championships, Red Shirt

Caroline Queen, K-1W Slalom, 2010 Silver Medal, Slalom National Championships

John Weld, owner of Immersion Research, never competed but well known expedition kayaker, Red Shirt

Baseball

Danny Hultzen, Second pick of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft to the Seattle Mariners.

Rock Climbing

Simon Williams