Put on your sunscreen and swimsuits and fire up the grill – the unofficial start to summer has arrived! Memorial Day, which we celebrated at the start of this week, is one of my favorite holidays each year. I always make it a priority to get back to New England for a long weekend. From enjoying great, locally sourced foods and other delicious treats, to exploring beautiful mountains and swimming in crystal clear lakes – each year, this holiday is like an appetizer to the main course of summer in Maine that I know lies ahead.

There are myriad reasons to enjoy this wonderful holiday. There’s the tradition – all across the country families enjoy the rituals of cooking hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, playing outside with friends, visiting local swimming holes or pools, and taking in Memorial Day parades. And of course, there’s the fact that Memorial Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the American heroes who have given their lives in the line of duty, and it is also emblematic of the great familial and community bonds we share, the traditions that tie us together, and the great freedom we have to simply enjoy ourselves and relax on this wonderful holiday weekend.

But perhaps the reason I love Memorial Day most is because it means camp is just around the corner! Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer – the weather is warmer, the sun shines brighter, and all in all it just feels like summertime. And although one weekend isn’t quite enough to satiate my summer longing, I know that pretty soon I’ll be making the drive up to Maine once more for another summer spent in Vacationland!  When I arrive in June, the weather will be that much warmer, the sunshine that much brighter, and the inescapable energy of summer will be buzzing throughout the great state of Maine.

So with Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, camp is just around the corner – we can’t wait to see you in Maine!

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.