Elections at Maine Camps

Happy Election Day! We cannot believe the day has arrived. We hope that every member of our Maine Camp Experience (MCE) family who is eligible to do so, has taken the opportunity to vote today (or voted early!).Election day has us thinking about what “electing” and “electives” mean at our Maine Camps. Many of our camps offer the opportunity for our campers to enjoy electives, and have a chance to choose some, or all, of their activities day to day. Whether every day of camp is fully elective, some days, or just a few afternoons, we at MCE think that electives give our campers an incredible opportunity to exert some independence, and to decide what they are truly passionate about. Having electives allows our campers to select more time in some activities over others, giving them the opportunity to become extra knowledgeable or skilled in a certain area. Campers can explore an interest or a talent, or even just spend an extra afternoon or two going deeper into an activity they might not have a chance to explore during the school year. Electives also give our campers a chance to have a little extra freedom, and, of course, have fun!Electives go beyond day-to-day activities. Many of our MCE camps offer elective trips. Whether it’s offering an extra overnight hike for those who love to camp, or simply a day trip outside of camp, campers can have a chance to pick and choose how they spend their summer outside of campgrounds. MCE blogger Emma notes, “While I’m not a huge hiker, my sister elected to take an extra hike in her second to last summer and had the opportunity to hike Mt. Katahdin for four days. She will always remember and be proud of this awesome experience.”Of course, election day in the US also makes us think of the elections our MCE camps hold each summer. Many of our camps offer their campers a chance to select their Color War captains or bunk representatives through election— giving a mini-democratic lesson and offering a great opportunity for older campers to show leadership and maturity. We love the many ways we see elections and electives play out each summer!So, while you take the opportunity to vote today, ask your camper what comes to mind when they think about elections or electives at Maine Camps! — 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.