SOCAPA MOUNTAIN CAMP is an educational adventure mtb camp geared towards avid mountain bikers, ages 11-13 and 14-17, who also have a passion for action filmmaking.
The camps, for both Day and Sleep-Away campers, are based at the Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center, a new luxury hotel that opened in the fall of 2016. The hotel has an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a swank bike storage room, two restaurants, and amazing views from every room. It is ideally located trailside to both the Burke Mountain Bike Park and the world-renowned Kingdom Trails, offering well-over 100 miles of x-country, single-track, gravity, and downhill MTB terrain.
Mountain Bike every day on what Bike Magazine has called the "Best Trail System in North America," Kingdom Trails and the Burke Mountain Bike Park. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels with professional instruction by leaders in the sport of mountain biking.
Capture dynamic imagery, both video and photography, of mountain biking and other summer activities. Take afternoon classes in Cinematography and Sound & Picture Editing, where you'll learn the fundamentals of filmmaking and special tricks of the action videography trade.
Create your own short action film - complete with titles, music, and sound - highlighting exciting moments from your time at camp and showcasing your talents as a mountain biker, summer adventurer, and action filmmaker. All the films are screened for friends and families at the Showcase Festival on the final evening of the program.
SOCAPA MOUNTAIN CAMP is the Mountain Biking and Action Filmmaking branch of SOCAPA ARTS, which has been running Filmmaking and Photography summer programs for teens for the past 19 years in New York City, Los Angeles and Vermont. Each summer, over 1000 students travel from across the United States and all corners of the globe to participate in SOCAPA Summer Intensives. Campers of all experience levels are challenged to advance their skills through hands-on learning with instructors who are leaders in their fields, surrounded by classmates who share their passion. Our faculty and coaches are dedicated to their craft and to passing on their knowledge to the next generation of artists and athletes. Our support staff are equally committed to ensuring that every participant enjoys a safe, rewarding camp experience. This combined effort allows our campers to have one of the most fulfilling experiences of their lives.
SOCAPA Founder and Filmmaking Program Director, Jamie Yerkes, was born and raised in Burke, Vermont. After receiving his MFA in Film Production from New York University and working for 12 years as a filmmaker, professor, and school director in New York City, Jamie returned to Burke to raise his three children. After falling in love with Burke and Kingdom Trails all over again - this time with his family - starting a mountain-bike, action-film camp was a "no-brainer."
Alex is a professional MTB racer (Team USA Cycling Downhill Elite Men '17) who has been racing for almost a decade and has been in the pro circuit for the last five years. Loyal to Transition Bikes out of Bellingham, Wa., you will be hard pressed to find someone who looks like they are having as much fun as Alex does on a bike! More than racing, Alex lives for helping others find the same enjoyment in biking that he has. Expect to progress when you are following Alex down the hill!
Ella is a professional MTB racer (USA Downhill Elite Women) originally from Ithaca, NY. Ella began mountain biking while living in California. Now hailing from East Burke, the tacky dirt and great trails here have her pretty stoked! She has a "go for it", "when in doubt, air out" mentality that keeps her progressing, and riding faster than most! Sharing her passion for mountain biking is what makes her tick.
Mark is a filmmaker and mountain biker living in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. He spent his early career in Burlington working in broadcast television. The unique landscape and the charm of rural life won him over. He constantly seeks inspiration in the natural environment that surrounds him and the unique people he meets along the way. He enjoys creating engaging media that tells a story and makes people smile.
Keara is a passionate mountain biker, skier, and photographer originally from Burke, Vermont. She has worked as a mountain bike coach and trailside guide at VSS on Kingdom Trails for many years. This will be Keara's third summer with the SOCAPA Mountain Camp.
Augie is an award-winning filmmaker from the University of Vermont. He is currently working in the camera department on Jay Craven's latest feature film shooting on Nantucket. Two of his own short films have taken the top prize at the Catamount Arts Tap into Film Slam here in the NEK.
"Awesome camp! Had a great time and learned a lot more about biking. Meet a lot of new people and ride awesome trails. Can’t wait to go back and create another video!... read on google"
"Awesome camp! Had a great time and learned a lot more about biking. Meet a lot of new people and ride awesome trails. Can’t wait to go back and create another video!"
"My 14-year-old daughter attended SOCAPA and she absolutely loved it! I only heard positive things about her experience. She came home with a new sense of self, new friends and a new energy for her pas... read on facebook"
"My 14-year-old daughter attended SOCAPA and she absolutely loved it! I only heard positive things about her experience. She came home with a new sense of self, new friends and a new energy for her passions."
"The counselors set the tone for a positive vibe throughout the week. Our daughter will definitely be back at Socapa Mountain Bike/Film Camp next year.... read on google"
"The counselors set the tone for a positive vibe throughout the week. Our daughter will definitely be back at Socapa Mountain Bike/Film Camp next year."
SOCAPA is honored to have been named one of seven "Best Summer Camps in the World for Kids and Teens in 2019" by Outside Magazine, the top adventure sports magazine in the world!
If you have any questions, please send us a message. We will contact you ASAP.
Resident (sleep-away) campers stay in the Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center. Most rooms are triples and include a kitchenette, a private bathroom, air-conditioning and complimentary wifi.
Witherall Room; 2559 Mountain Rd; East Burke, VT 05832
Our staff does airport transfers from Burlington Int Airport (BTV) on the opening Sunday and the final Saturday of each session. Flights should be scheduled to arrive and depart between 11am and 2pm (the closer to noon, the better). Upon arrival we will greet you at the baggage claim area for your flight wearing a SOCAPA t-shirt and holding a sign with your name on it. At the end of your program, we will help you check-in at your airline's check-in counter; unfortunately we cannot escort you beyond security unless you are an unaccompanied minor as designated by the airline.
Please note that you must fill out the online Travel Form in your online account at least 2 WEEKS PRIOR to the start of the program.
There is a fee of $85 per airport transfer from BTV to our Burlington Campus. There is an additional fee of $75 each way for unaccompanied minor service.
If you have made air arrangements outside our scheduled dates, times, or airports we service, you will need to arrange for transportation from the airport to the camp.
