Plan Your Summer Trip to a Maine Camp!

  Spring is in full-swing, which means summer is just around the corner. If you haven’t yet, now is the time to start making your plans to come up to Maine this summer, as things can book far in advance (especially for high-traffic weekends like Visiting Day). If your camper will be attending a camp in Maine this summer, chances are you’ll be making the journey to see them at their summer home. Whether you’re dropping off or picking up your camper, or coming to see them during a formal Visiting Day weekend, seeing your child in their summer habitat is a great way to really soak in all of the development that occurs during a summer at camp. From showing you the facilities, to introducing you to friends and counselors, Visiting Day oftentimes shines a light on the newfound maturity and independence that campers learn during their summers spent in Maine. A visit to “Vacationland” can be equally valuable if you’re considering sending your child to a Maine Camp in the future. There’s no better way to get a feel for camp than to see a day in action. You’ll get to see the campers in their activities, and how the staff interact. You’ll get to meet the directors and camp leadership to talk about their camp philosophy. And perhaps most importantly, you’ll have a sense of the energy of the specific camp – something that can be hard to tell no matter how many times you scroll through the website. Of course, if you’re going to be spending a weekend (or more!) in Maine, you’ll need to make some plans ahead of time. Great options include the Inn By the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, The Tides and Hidden Pond in Kennebukport, and the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport – in fact, my parents regularly stayed at the Harraseeket Inn each summer while I was a camper, and even spent a weekend there a few summers ago while I was a counselor at a nearby Maine Camp Experience (MCE) camp. There are also wonderful hotels in Portland, such as the AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown/Waterfront, Westin Portland Harborview, and Hyatt Place in Old Port. And if you need help deciding where to stay, our “where to stay” tool is a great resource to help you identify the right options for you and your family. And of course, a trip to Maine wouldn’t be complete without all of the incredible dining options “Vacationland” provides – from grabbing a lobster roll at the many shacks and restaurants offering this Maine staple (my personal favorite is Fisherman’s Catch in Raymond), to enjoying some of the best restaurants in Portland – Eventide Oyster Co., Duckfat, and Fore Street Restaurant are just a few of the great options – you’ll want to be sure you get a taste of Maine during your visit! So make your reservations before it gets too late – there’s tremendous value in Visiting Maine this summer, and now is the time to act! — Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitude on our Memories of Camp section of our  website.

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  to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.