Much like the Olympics have a Closing Ceremony to wrap the preceding events, Maine Camps have end-of-season closing ceremonies. Olympic closing includes a parade of flags and athletes, speeches, a final medal ceremony and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame. The Olympic flag is handed over to the next Olympics destination – in this case, it’s Los Angeles, which will host the summer games in 2028. 

At Maine Camps, there are also several beloved traditions that each camp hosts. Many have a last-night banquet with a traditional end-of-season meal. For some it is lobster; at others it is the campers’ favorite dinner. At some camps, the oldest group decorates the dining hall and helps set the menu.

A final campfire is often the crowning part of the summer. Oldest campers often lead the way down to the campfire – many times with candles that they light and carry to lead the way one final time as all younger campers follow behind. Camp directors and staff talk about this summer and about the graduating campers. And the oldest campers often share words about what this summer and the cumulation of all the previous summers have meant to them. It’s heartwarming and bittersweet that these incredible young adults – many who started as young children – have grown up at camp. They may pass the torch to the next ages group. Everyone sings songs from this summer and from forever ago, and there’s hardly a dry eye. Campers wrap their arms around each other – sad to say goodbye, but lucky to have had these experiences. Many camps burn the year’s numbers (this year 2024) in the campfire or set it out aflame on the water.

When campers go back to their cabins, many may push their mattresses and sleeping bags together as they talk well into the night about the fun times they’ve had. The morning departures and goodbyes are sad and hard, but means the camp summer was a success. Campers grew close with camp friends, learned new skills, and became more independent and confident.

Parents who are ready and excited to see their campers, should tread lightly as their children may feel “campsick,” missing their camp life and friends. Maine Camp summer 2024 has been one for the books!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

These all-camp competitions are called different names at different camps. Names include: Olympics, Color War, College Days, College League, The League, The Cup, Jamboree, World Games, and beyond. Some divide the camp into two teams, and others have four or even six teams. Some camps use the same colors and names each year, while some use different names and colors each summer. Some camps have the event run throughout the summer while some save it for a few days at the end of camp. At some, campers are on their same team forever (and families through several generations are bonded through this for life) while others have campers change each summer. 

There’s a great range of events! For sports loving campers, there are basketball games and dunk competitions, lacrosse, beach volleyball, soccer, hockey, baseball, and softball games, tennis matches, and dance competitions. Campers who love the lake enjoy competing in sailing, canoeing, paddle boarding, and swimming. There are additional fun events at the lake like bucket brigade. In the arts – campers love designing and decorating plaques (that are often hung in the dining and rec halls for years!). Teams also write and sing songs that reflect the current summer; these anthems are heartfelt, mesmerizing, and unforgettable! Campers dig deep for field day type events like tug-of-war, leapfrog, egg toss, and water balloon catch. There’s often an all-camp relay where campers are at different stations doing everything from eating crackers and whistling songs, to hula hooping, to sorting cereal by color, to cartwheeling, and beyond. Silent dinner where campers cannot laugh or talk or their team loses points is always a fun one as counselors do their best to act ridiculous to try to get campers to laugh. And Rope Burn is a “heated” match to see which team can build a fire fast to be the first to burn the rope suspended above.

Spirit is off the charts!! Campers give it their all during these days. They sing and cheer their hearts out. They wear their team colors with pride – everything from coordinated t-shirts and shorts, to bandanas, tutus, tights, socks, face paint, wigs, glasses, and more. It’s also a nice time for older campers to use their leadership skills as they inspire and lead teams.

It’s an exhilarating time full of love, grit, and spirit that campers will never forget! Win or lose … when it’s over … campers come back together to reunite as one big camp family.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

Trips for younger campers often begin as day trips like going lobster boat fishing, visiting Boothbay Harbor, blueberry and strawberry picking, taking scenic hikes, enjoying a beach day, and going to a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game and Funtown Splashtown. The youngest campers also often take a local overnight and many Maine Camps have outposts on the camps’ private islands or a remote part of camp that is still on campgrounds. These give campers the opportunity to smell the pine in the air as they pitch tents, make campfires, tell stories, see the stars, and of course – enjoy S’mores!

As campers get older, they progress to longer and more active trips. They hike, raft, kayak, canoe, and more in places such as the Kennebec River, Acadia National Park, and Mount Katahdin. Getting to see sunrise at Cadillac Mountain is something campers will hold in their hearts as a favorite experience for the rest of their lives.

Trips like these are unforgettable and we’re so lucky to have these incredible environs for our campers to enjoy!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

Take it all in, parents! Enjoy time with your camper as you see their cabin, meet friends and counselors, and visit activity areas. Parents may see their campers and even participate, too, in activities ranging from tennis, to ropes courses, to culinary arts, to arts and crafts. A refreshing dip in the camp lake is the cherry on top!

Dr. Tracy Brenner, “The Camp Counselor,” who is an alumna Maine camper and counselor, and a current camp parent shares great thoughts about Visiting Day:

There’s nothing like that first hug on Visiting Day! Although some campers and parents may feel like visiting day disrupts the summer, for many, it is a touchpoint that makes them feel more relaxed afterward. For parents and campers, camp tends to fly by after Visiting Day. 

To prepare yourself and your child: 

• Be ready for all emotions: The morning may be an adrenaline filled-high followed by a slower, more emotional afternoon anticipating goodbyes. 
• Be present with your child and follow their lead: This is your opportunity to see camp through their eyes. While you may be eager to see them perform certain activities or chat with the parents of their bunkmates, be present with your child and let them dictate the day.
• Plan for goodbye and make it quick: At some point in the day, well before departure time, give your child a roadmap for the actual goodbye. For example, say to them  “at 4 p.m. camp is going to announce that it’s time for parents to leave. We are going to give a quick hug, you’re going to run off to your activity, I’m going to walk to the parking lot and not look back.” Then when it’s close to the end of the day, remind them of the plan to make the goodbye quick. If you anticipate your child will have a hard time separating, cue a counselor early on to be near you and have them scoop your child right up to ease the separation. 
• Trust that your camper will recover quickly: Camps are very experienced in taking care of your children after visiting goodbyes and will be prepared to nurture, entertain, and distract so those separation pangs don’t last long. And remember, even with these hard moments, your child is learning they can do hard things and becoming more resilient, one of the true rewards of camp.  

After parents leave, camps quickly engage campers in fun activities so kids can get back into camp mode – having fun with their camp friends – with lots to look forward to – the coming weeks are full of great out-of-camp trips, special events, and traditions.

In addition to the “main attraction” (i.e., seeing your child in camp on Visiting Day), parents and younger siblings can also experience and enjoy all that Maine aka “Vacationland” has to offer in the days before and after camp Visiting Day. There are so many beautiful sights, exciting outdoor adventures, and delicious eats throughout the state of Maine. Some great resources for planning include: Visit Maine, Visit Portland, Visit Kennebunkport, Maine Day Ventures, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and more!

So, parents, enjoy time with your campers this weekend. It’s really a wonderful feeling to see your child at their camp through a new lens.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

The first year age group for many Maine Camps is age 7/going into third grade (there are some campers who start a year earlier, or campers can start anytime older, too). So, a good time to tour is age 6/going into second grade, give or take a year.

5 REASONS TO BOOK MAINE CAMP TOURS THIS SUMMER

• Nothing beats getting to see the camps first hand while they’re in action. You can get an idea of what the camp looks like and what the campers are like. You can talk to directors and staff onsite. You can see the facilities and activities. There’s also a feeling you get when you see the camps.
• You may think your child is young right now, but a whole year’s growth is a long time for them to develop and they may be a lot more mature and ready by next summer.
• Many camps fill early – Maine Camps are sought after; seeing the camps will help you make your decision so you’re ready to act when enrollment opens.
• Seeing the camp makes parents and campers more excited and more comfortable for the ensuing summer when the child/ren are heading off to camp. They know the lay of the land and what to expect.
• Maine is beautiful in the summer. In addition to touring camps, families can enjoy quality time in “Vacationland” where there are beautiful sights, fun activities, and delicious cuisine. Our Campcierge® Laurie can give great ideas of where to stay/eat/play: laurie@mainecampexperience.com

HOW TO PLAN TO TOUR MAINE CAMPS:

• Make your target list of camps based on factors including: desired session length, size, type (coed, single gender, brother/sister), programming, values, and budget. The Maine Camp Experience website (www.mainecampexperience.com) features overviews, videos, testimonials, and more about 40 incredible camps.
  • Use resources including our Select-A-Camp Tool and free personalized guidance from our Campcierge® Laurie: laurie@mainecampexperience.com
• Ideally we suggest seeing between 2 and 4 camps. We recommend seeing one in the morning and one in the afternoon so there’s ample time to get to the camp, tour, ask questions, and digest before putting it away and seeing another. Also, oftentimes, afternoon tours start after lunch and rest hour.
• Decide if you’d like to take younger siblings along or if better for them to stay back (either at home or doing a vacation activity in Maine with the other parent). 
• Stay hydrated, dress comfortably, bring sunscreen, get ready for fun!

If you aren’t able to tour right now … the good news is that some camps host tours and visits in August and September – after camp sessions conclude. Also, many families (especially those not on the East Coast) do choose their camp without having toured first hand (by speaking with directors, viewing videos, etc.).

*There are also a few days you can’t tour camps such as Visiting Day, all-camp trip days (may be possible but not ideal), closing days.

Get started planning today. As tens of thousands of families can share – there’s no place like Maine Camps!  Alumni love their camper experiences and talk about the everlasting impact that Maine Camps have had on both their formative years, and their lives. 

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

They did it! Your children are at camp and are immersing themselves in camp culture. Most camps limit the number of calls and many have policies that mandate a certain amount of time before the first call. While it’s hard not to be able to speak to your child whenever you want, these policies really help the kids settle in and adjust to camp. 

• What to expect: Anything! Traditional phone calls can be unusual experiences because our kids typically don’t talk on the phone much. In my first call, I thought my child was quiet because he was so sad that he couldn’t even form words. Nope. He just accidentally hung up on us! So, if your call feels a little awkward, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong, this is just an unusual experience for your child. 
• Understand the environment: Calls and FaceTime often take place where there’s potential for distraction, so if your child seems less engaged, there just might be a lot going on.
• Prepare for emotion: It’s okay if your child becomes emotional – and it’s ok for you too! It’s a big moment to hear each other’s voices. Campers recover quickly after phone calls.
• Content of the call: Follow your child’s lead, but have some questions in your back pocket if they’re not super chatty. I like questions about their experience that are not particularly emotionally laden: What’s your favorite camp food? Tell me about the kids in your bunk. What’s something silly that has happened? 
• Don’t be insulted if they don’t want to talk: If your child is eager to get off the phone because they want to get to an activity or see their friend, rejoice! Your camper loves camp and is totally immersed in the experience! 
• Make the goodbye quick and hang up the phone: Most camps have time limits for calls. About halfway through, remind your child that when the time is up, you are going to say a quick goodbye and hang up the phone. Knowing that you’re going to respect the camp time limit and have a plan for goodbye will likely make your camper less anxious and make that goodbye easier. 

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

You did it! Your kids are off to camp, adapting to their summer homes and embracing this exciting adventure. Now, we parents wait in anticipation of mail delivery. I remember that deflated feeling when I opened my mailbox to see just bills and catalogs and nervous excitement when I spotted that familiar camp stationery inside. Whether the letters from camp are positive, neutral, sad or mixed, here are some tips and reminders for processing and responding to camp letters.

Scenario 1: The letter is glowing and positive, or neutral and brief!

Great! Enjoy that moment! Your camper is settling in and getting adjusted to camp. 

Scenario 2: Your child is having a hard time, feeling sad and homesick. 

While it pulls at our heartstrings to hear that our child is missing us and feeling sad at camp, take a deep breath and remember the following:

• Missing home is normal and expected, especially in the beginning of the summer. 
• Downtime is harder than active time: Letters are written during quiet time, and the prompt to write home makes kids think of home. This quiet moment, where your child is naturally thinking about you, is a recipe to feel the sadness of being away. 
• It’s old news! If you’re receiving the letter via USPS, remember that it was written several days ago and the feeling they had when they wrote it has very likely passed. Even with email, there’s still a time delay. The letter is a snapshot in time and may not be reflective of their entire camp experience. 
• Give the whole letter equal weight:  Oftentimes parents fixate on one sentence where their child expresses sadness or struggle and don’t notice all of the other positive content. Give as much importance to the fact that your child shared that she tried a new food or had fun at an activity as you do to her saying she misses you or gets sad at night. 
• Resist the urge to intervene (i.e. immediately rush to call camp). Remember, missing home is part of the experience of being away. If you can tolerate it, wait to see if there’s a pattern in letters before calling camp. If you do call camp, be open and curious. If they tell you that your camper is doing great at activities, making friends and seems happy, they are not lying to you. Remember, two things can be true at the same time: your camper can be having fun and still miss home.

What should parents write in their letters?

General content:

Parents sometimes ask me what they should or shouldn’t put into letters. In general, I suggest writing frequently (getting mail is really fun!) and when you share about your experiences, be mindful of not embellishing or playing up events so that your child doesn’t feel they are missing out. My child got fairly mundane reports of my experience and positive-focused questions about his (what are your favorite foods? What waterfront activity do you like best?) And, of course, I never got answers to those questions! 

Responding to homesick letters:

Respond to homesick letters with warmth and empathy. Communicate to your child that you believe them and you believe in their ability to get through these tough moments. Respond to any positive content in the letter as well, and offer some ideas for distraction and engagement in camp. Remind them of the tremendous support at camp. Here’s a sample:

Dear My Camper, 

I got your last letter and I can hear how much you missed us when you wrote it [validation]. I imagine that’s the hardest part about camp [compassion]. I want you to know that I hear you and I believe you [trust]. I also want you to know that I believe IN you [encouragement]. I believe in your ability to do hard things. Being away from home feels hard because it is hard [more validation]. Remember, it’s possible to miss home AND have fun at the same time. Even when it feels so hard to do so, try to throw yourself into something you love: a free period at gymnastics, a swim in the lake, a game with a friend [distraction/ engagement]. Remember the many people who are there to help you and reach out for a hug if you need one [reminders of support]. I’m sending one in this letter right here.  Remember, no matter what, the clock will tick [pep talk].  I love you. 

Love, Mom and Dad

Scenario 3: You still have not gotten a letter…or…you open the envelope and there’s a blank piece of paper inside. 

Celebrate! Your child is adjusting to camp, is fully in the moment and cannot be bothered to write home! While I know it’s hard not to hear from your child, reframe your disappointment as a symbol of their joy. You are giving the gift of camp and don’t need anything in return.

Whether the letters are good, bad or nonexistent, remember, they are moments in time. Your child can handle those tough moments and so can you!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

Leadership teams have met to put the finishing touches on daily programming, scenic trips, and special events. They’re focused on meaningful youth development, and are updating their skills in safety, staff training, operating procedures, and more.

Likewise, cabin and speciality staff have been busy in orientation – getting to know each other with fun events like dining hall dancing after dinner, paddling canoes on the camp lakes, and bonding over campfire S’mores. They’re practicing camp songs and traditions. They’re setting up and getting to work in their areas in everything from lifeguarding and boat driving certification at the lake, to installing and securing ropes at adventure courses, to setting up tennis equipment and gymnastics apparatus. Horses are arriving and stables are getting set up. Dining halls and health centers are getting stocked and organized. Many counselors are also setting up the cabins – unpacking campers’ duffles so campers can really hit the ground running as soon as they arrive.

The grounds at camp are also getting the full treatment. Crews are mowing, raking, planting, picking, painting, and building. Docks and boats are getting loaded in. Aqua toys are being inflated. All-camp meeting circles are being assembled.

Maine Camps are pulling out all the stops for incredible Opening Days and summer sessions to follow. We’re really excited to see our campers’ smiling faces as they arrive this week!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

The bags are packed, the duffles are gone and in a matter of days, your child will be off to camp. As parents, we often refer to this day as “departure day,” representing the sense that it’s the day we say goodbye and our kids leave home. Camps refer to this same day as “opening day,” though, because it’s not about leaving; it’s about arriving. It’s the kickoff to the summer, the start of something new, the welcome to a camper’s summer home. The different language – one word symbolizes loss, the other gain – reflects the very real and mixed feelings that campers and parents feel: sadness and worries associated with leaving mixed with excitement and anticipation of arriving. Today I’ll provide some tips for a smooth departure.

Keem ‘em busy:

In the week or so leading up to camp, if your child is done with school, try to keep them busy: go to sporting events, see a show; pick strawberries, visit a waterpark; take a day trip to a nearby city. More downtime can lead to excessive worrying. Distraction is a great tool. 

Make a plan for the night before:

Talk with your camper about how they’d like to spend the night before camp. Let them have control over the experience by choosing where and what they’d like to eat and whether they’d like to spend the evening with just immediate family or extended family and friends too. This may mean you have to say “no,” to friends and relatives who are eager for one last hug. That may disappoint them,  but it’s important to prioritize the needs of your child and give them autonomy on this special night.

Be open to a pivot:

Yes, I think it’s great to have a thoughtful “last night” plan. However, be flexible if the best laid plans don’t ultimately feel “right.” Last summer, my son chose to go to dinner at our local hibachi restaurant. When we sat at our table, we were on sensory overload: It was hot, loud and crowded. Feeling overwhelmed, my son turned to me and said, “I can’t do this!” Our family made a quick pivot: We grabbed takeout and had a fun night at home. When his initial vision of how he wanted to spend the night just didn’t feel right, we let him call an audible that felt like a better match for what he needed in that moment.  

Consider an alternative departure-day plan for younger siblings: 

Think about whether bringing younger sibling(s) to the bus/airport/drop-off is best for your camper and you. If the younger sibling(s) are likely to have big emotional reactions or will require a lot of your attention, think about asking a relative, friend or sitter to watch your younger one(s). It can also be hard for your camper, who may be sad to leave, to have the visual of the intact family unit, minus them. It’s fine If the whole immediate family needs/ wants to be there, but consider the benefits of having that special time for just the parents and camper. 

Prepare for the actual goodbye; describe the departure scene:  

Kids feel less anxious when they know what to expect. Therefore, give them as many details as possible about the actual setting and experience of departure. For example, if your child is traveling by bus, share something like:

“We are going to go to a shopping center very early in the morning. There will be several buses there–lots of campers and their families. Some returning campers might be running to each other, screaming and hugging, so excited to be reunited and start the camp summer. Others might be more quiet and nervous standing close to their parents. That whole range of experiences and feelings is completely normal.”

If you’re driving your child to camp, make a clear plan for where and when you will say goodbye and tell your child in advance. That way you won’t get stuck in a “can you just stay a little longer?” struggle. 

Explore the likelihood of mixed feelings:

Ask your child what they expect they might feel, and what might be challenging about departure day. Validate their feelings. Explain that our bodies feel nervousness and excitement very similarly and it’s likely that they’ll feel mixtures of both. Explain that two things are true: They can feel sad about “departing” and excited about “arriving.” Parents, you probably have mixed feelings too! If you are prone to tears, rather than bottle it all up, tell your child you may get a little misty eyed because goodbyes are hard. If you cry, reassure your child that you are okay, you’re just having a natural reaction to a goodbye. 

Plan for the QUICK goodbye: 

Whether your child is traveling by bus, plane, or car, make that goodbye quick. Tell your child that as soon as they call campers to depart, you are going to give a quick hug, and they are going to put one foot in front of the other and go. Lingering makes it harder! If you or your child is worried about who they will sit with, or if you feel your child might need a little additional support letting go, signal a camp staff member for assistance. They are there to help!

Parents, you’re almost at the big day. Armed with these tools, you’re ready to set your child up to manage the feelings of both departure and arrival. 

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.

Around this time last year, my mind was in full camp mode. Excitement rushed through my veins as I organized my spirit gear by color, designed the perfect merch for my age groups’ last summer, and imagined the feeling of bliss at the opening campfire for one last time. 

For eight amazing summers, I had the privilege of calling camp my second home. Now, as an alumna, I have the privilege of looking back on all the extraordinary experiences and memories I created. Although my heart breaks that I will not return to camp this summer, I am eternally grateful for its impact on my life.

When people say camp is the time to experience new things, they mean it. With its judgment-free environment and positive influences, camp creates the perfect atmosphere to get out of your comfort zone. 

While at camp, buy in.

Go in with an open and positive mindset, always be up for a challenge, learn your camp cheers, and NEVER say no to a dress-up day. Although some may think they are too cool or old to dress up and learn old chants, it is part of the camp experience. Where else besides at camp could you casually walk around with a lobster hat on your head and a neon tutu on your waist? And even though the cheers may be childish and silly, learn them. The cheers will stay with you forever. The cheers that my friends and I discovered our first summer nine years ago, we still sing whenever we are together. 

While at camp, make use of the lakes. 

Maine camps are on some of the most pristine lakes, so soak in the views and do the various lake activities camp offers. My favorite skill I have ever learned was sailing. At a young age, a counselor taught me how to sail a Hobie 16 all by myself. After learning, I would take my friends out on a boat every day, and some of our best memories came from those hours together in the middle of the lake. Another cool thing these camps have to offer is waterskiing. Truthfully, it is never too late to learn. I was never interested in trying it, but for my last summer, I made a promise to myself: learn to waterski. And that’s precisely what I did. Even though it took me a few tries to get up, I kept trying and eventually could do it. Waterskiing and sailing may not be survival skills, but I left my comfort zone and learned to do such fantastic lake activities. 

While at camp, meet new people and make more friends.

The most memorable thing you will get out of camp is the friendships you make. Whether you start camp young or come in late, the bonds you will make are unbreakable. After living in a bunk with only a few girls and games, I have made friends who I can confidently say are my best friends. These friends you make are the people you will go to with all issues (even when home), the people you yearn to see throughout the year, and the people you brag about for being such amazing people. Be welcoming and friendly to everyone; these are the people who will become your go-to’s. 

While at camp, take in every moment.

I know everyone says to take in every moment because it flies by, but seriously, take in every moment because it does fly. In what felt like the blink of an eye, I was saying goodbye to camp as I knew it.  I will never get to experience waking up on a cool Maine morning as a camper surrounded by my second family again. If I could just experience one more summer, one more dress-up day, or one more sailing period, my heart would be so whole. Take in EVERY moment. Do that activity you would never try, stomp in puddles with goofy rain boots on, and be a camper immersed in the beauty your Maine camp offers.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  

Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.