Nature Calls at Maine Camps

For many Maine campers who spend their school years in cities, suburbs, or other well-paved walks of life, a summer spent at camp in Maine offers a unique opportunity to connect with the natural world around them. Of course, camps can be manicured in their own right, and living with your bunkmates in a professionally built cabin at camp is not exactly camping on Mount Kilimanjaro. However, by combining unique programming with the naturally beautiful landscape of Maine, these camps do allow campers to connect with nature in a meaningful way, and experience the fresh air and reprieve that only a summer in Maine can provide. Part of the opportunity to connect with nature that camp in Maine provides stems simply from the natural environment surrounding these wonderful camps. At camp, campers are situated on beautiful lakes which expose them directly to the incredible ecosystems of New England. Campers can hear a loon’s call from their bunks at nighttime, can safely examine the diverse flora of Maine’s woods, and can even take exciting, out-of-camp chaperoned trips to explore the Pine Tree state. Camp in Maine is truly a lifetime away from the world of concrete and car horns – even if you’re just a few thousand yards from the road into camp – and the opportunity to simply step away and experience the world in a different environment allows kids to connect with nature in a way that is simply impossible in other parts of the country. Maine Camps also build in specific programming opportunities that allow campers to connect with nature in safe and supervised environments. Camps will often times run “Nature” or “Discovery” activities, which are designed specifically to introduce kids to the environment around them. During these activities, campers may take nature hikes during which they learn about various critters or plants that they encounter. They might make bookmarks out of leaves, do a little fishing in one of the crystal clear lakes, or take a canoe out on the water. Some camps also have animals at camp – these might range from smaller animals like bunnies and lizards, to larger farm animals such as goats, and campers will have the opportunity to play with or feed these animals while at camp. On top of this, some camps offer well-developed Equestrian programs, and as part of this riders may learn how to feed and care for their horse while at camp. And, of course, campers are often exposed to the surrounding natural world on the many incredible trips that camps offer throughout the summers. Whether this consists of a hike to Mount Katahdin, a rafting trip down the Androscoggin River, or a few nights spent camping in Franconia Notch State Park – campers will have ample opportunity to experience the beauty of New England’s peaks and heart-racing rapids during their summers at camp. And the patient, well-trained, first-class staff who accompany them will ensure that every trip is safe and supervised. In today’s day and age, it is harder than ever for kids to connect with nature in a meaningful way – however, camp in Maine provides an opportunity for campers to do just that. During summers spent amidst the pines of Maine, and away from the digital and the concrete ecosystems that permeate their everyday lives, children and have a unique opportunity to see the stars at night, to hear the sounds of the natural world around them, and to experience what it truly means to make a connection with nature and the surrounding environment. At camp there’s no limit to how often nature calls.