St. Johns River Base at Echockotee
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
St. Johns River Base at Echockotee is a highly-regarded summer camp, particularly for its extensive and unique range of water-based activities like waterskiing, tubing, canoeing, paddleboarding, motor boat driving, and sailing. Leveraging its Boy Scout River Base location, it offers a dynamic summer experience that keeps kids very active and involved, including opportunities for Scout merit badges and an optional one-night overnight stay. The camp boasts a strong legacy, with families returning for over a decade, and is praised for its organized, friendly staff and effective intervention in social issues like bullying.
Key Highlights
- ✓Unparalleled variety of unique water activities including waterskiing, tubing, canoeing, paddleboarding, motor boat driving, and sailing.
- ✓Offers additional adventure activities such as rock climbing, archery, and BB shooting.
- ✓Provides merit badge opportunities for Scouts.
- ✓Kids (ages 8 and 13 mentioned) loved the camp and counselors, with staff described as organized and engaging.
- ✓Camp director and counselors proactively and quickly addressed bullying incidents, ensuring child comfort.
- ✓Capable of keeping kids busy and engaged even during rainy weather.
- ✓Facilities are clean, well-organized, and staff is friendly and cordial.
- ✓Offers an optional one-night overnight camp experience.
- ✓Has a long-standing tradition, with families returning for over a decade, and former campers volunteering as counselors.
Standout Features
- ⭐Extensive and unique water sports programs (waterskiing, tubing, canoeing, paddleboarding, motor boat driving, sailing).
- ⭐Adventure activities like rock climbing, archery, and BB shooting.
- ⭐Opportunity for Scout merit badges.
- ⭐Staff (including camp director) are highly effective and quick in resolving bullying incidents.
- ⭐Provides engaging activities that can continue even on rainy days.
- ⭐Optional single-night overnight stay adds a unique dimension to the day camp experience.
- ⭐Friendly, cordial, and organized staff.
- ⭐Clean and well-maintained facilities.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If considering for younger children (under ~9-10 years old or if they are not allowed to pick activities), inquire specifically about their daily schedule and detailed activity options to ensure they are age-appropriate and engaging.
- →If structured swimming lessons are a priority for younger campers, specifically request information on how these are delivered, as they may not be a standard, proactive offering.
- →Consider the 'Aquatics Camp' for children who love a wide range of water-based activities.
- →For Scouts, leverage the merit badge opportunities available.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Not considered worth the money for 'smaller children' or 'little ones' (e.g., 8-year-olds if they cannot choose activities) due to limited age-appropriate engagement.
- ⚠Younger campers reportedly spent most time playing in the pool, with 'swimming lessons' needing to be specifically requested.
- ⚠Science activities for younger children described as superficial (e.g., 'unicorn poop' for an 8-year-old).
- ⚠Art activities for younger children deemed 'more appropriate for preschool' by an 8-year-old.
- ⚠Younger children may become bored and express a desire to return to daycare.
Price & Value
Generally offers high value for older children and Scouts, as evidenced by consistent return customers, extended family attendance, and kids volunteering as counselors. One reviewer considered it the 'best camp experience he has ever had' after attending many camps. However, it is explicitly stated 'Not worth the money if you have smaller children' due to a perceived lack of engaging and age-appropriate activities for that age group. No specific pricing details are mentioned.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information about food and drink rules mentioned.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information about parking mentioned.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No information about crowd levels mentioned.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Camp director and counselors demonstrated proactive and quick intervention to resolve bullying situations.
- •Implied supervision for a wide range of water and land adventure activities.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families with 'smaller children' or 'little ones' (likely under ~9-10 years old, especially if they expect structured, diverse, and educational activities beyond basic pool time and simple crafts).
- • If your primary goal is for your child to receive consistent, structured swimming lessons without prior arrangement or specific inquiry.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Early Bird Camp
$325/weekDuration: Weekly
Must register and be paid in full by 11:59PM May 2, 2025.
Includes:
- •Lunch (value $40)
Regular Camp
$375/weekDuration: Weekly
Paid after May 2, 2025 and 2 Weeks before 5pm Tuesday before your camp week.
Late Registration Camp
$425/weekDuration: Weekly
Paid after 5pm Tuesday 2 Weeks before your camp week starts.
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • Free lunch included with Early Bird registration paid in full by May 2, 2025.
- • Lunch is not included with Regular or Late registration packages.
- • Campers can bring their own lunch or purchase from the Lagoon Lounge.
- • Pre-ordered lunch is not refundable under any circumstances.
- • Scouts receiving Campership benefits do not qualify for free lunch.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Camp is accredited by the National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP), meeting strict guidelines in health, safety, staffing qualifications, and programming.
- • Managed by trained, certified staffers.
- • Medical forms and health insurance card copies are required at check-in.
- • Any person picking up a camper must provide a government-issued ID and be listed on the camper's medical form.
- • Early pick-up ends at 3:30pm; no early pick-up allowed after 3:30pm for safety reasons.
- • If a camper is scheduled for lake activities, the office must be notified by 3pm for early pick-up, as boats cannot turn back early.
- • Visitors must check in at the Camp Office, show a Government Issued ID, and are prohibited from participating in activities.
- • Visitors may only take pictures of their own camper.
- • Tennis shoes or other closed-toed shoes are required for participation; campers will be sent home if not wearing appropriate footwear.
- • Female campers must wear a one-piece swimsuit for adventurous activities.
📅Booking Policy
- • Online registration and schedule system available via https://users.tentaroo.com/.
- • A $60 deposit per camper is required to register and hold a spot.
- • All activities have limits based on staff-to-camper ratio or equipment restrictions and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
- • Paying in full will lock in your camper's schedule.
- • Campers must select a full schedule before paying their deposit.
- • Incomplete reservations will be canceled after 24 hours.
- • Voyager program (ages 6-8) is limited to 40 spots per week on a first-come, first-served basis.
- • Monday check-in requires prior registration and is limited to 5 campers per week.
🚗Parking Information
- • Drop-off begins at 8:00am; follow signs and come to a complete stop before allowing campers to exit.
- • Afternoon pick-up car line is from 4:30pm-5:00pm.
- • Campers are grouped for pick-up by Car Tag: Group A (Voyagers 6-8 and anyone carpooling with them), Group B (9-11 not carpooling with a Voyager), Group C (12-14 not carpooling with anyone younger).
- • An official Group A, B, or C Car Tag is required for pick-up; otherwise, proceed to the office with ID to receive one.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Aaron Harrell
2 years agoI love this camp. I camped her 30 years ago when I was in scouts and now my kids are camping here. Its amazing to see all the changes that have been made to the camp, especially the water activities. The current ranger is doing a great job here. Cant wait till the summer when aquatics camp starts up again.
Jonni Bravo
3 years agoThe kids 13 and 8 loved this camp. The variety of activities was excellent. They are ready to go again. It rained part of everyday but the kids were kept busy. The counselors are organized and the kids loved them. Great experiences fir kids.
Indigenous Scorpio
8 years agoNot worth the money if you have smaller children. They let them play in the pool mostly. I had to request "swimming lessons." According my 8 y/o, making "unicorn poop" was the lesson in science class. Daily, they were sent home with watercolor paintings that were more appropriate for preschool. My kids were begging to go back to their daycare by Wednesday. This camp may keep the older kids entertained because they get to pick their own activities. However, this place is definitely not for little ones.
JR nJax
6 years agoMy kids have been coming to Camp Echockotee for Aquatics Camp for the past 12 summers. My older son enjoyed camp so much, that he volunteered as a counselor one summer as well! My younger son has been going since his early days as a Voyager (younger campers). Aquatics Camp is a day camp that offers a very wide range of activities to keep kids very active & involved. Being located at the Boy Scouts River Base - there's plenty of water-related fun: waterskiing, tubing, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing & swimming (in their pool) to name a few. Kids can also get introduced to new activities like rock climbing, archery and bb shooting. For Scouts, there are merit badge opportunities as well. For the overnight camp experience - campers have the option to stay one night before camp is over. The facilities are clean & well organized, the staff is friendly & cordial. Dropping off is always tough, because I'd love to stay and have some fun too!
Carol Ann Paulton
6 years agoI know of no other day camp with such a wide variety of activities is offered. Learn to drive a motor boat, tube, water ski, sail, or learn a new skill. My son encountered a couple of bullies the first day (kids can be jerks) but the camp director and counselors addressed the situation quickly and ensured he felt comfortable. Hands down, this was the best camp experience he has ever had (and he's been to A LOT of camps).