[1] Camp Beaverbrook was founded in 1956 by Robert and Marian Lessman Brown of Orinda, California, opening to campers in 1961.
[3][4] Camp activities included riflery, archery, horseback riding, hiking, nature walks, backpacking, arts and crafts projects, drama (the camp regularly produced several musicals each summer),[5] swimming, water skiing at nearby Clear Lake, music, volleyball, boating and overnight canoe trips on the Russian River.
Campers, known as "Beaverbods", were mainly from the San Francisco Bay Area, though some came from as far away as Europe, Mexico, Canada and Japan.
Campers were rarely put into direct competition with one another, rather, a supportive and mutually nurturing environment was cultivated.
While a rigid daily structure was in place, there was also an abundance of choice and each day included several unstructured "free time" periods.