Electives & Elections at Maine Camps

On this Election Day, we think about elections and electives at Maine Camps. Camp is a place where campers are empowered to make choices that lead them to fun new experiences and adventures, teach them independence, and build their confidence. Campers’ voices are heard as they make choices that will help chart their course.

At Maine Camps, children have the opportunity to choose exciting activities. Some Maine Camps have instructional mornings and choice afternoons. While other Maine Camps offer younger campers a choice activity period or two and then provide more elective periods to campers as they get older. Sometimes electives at the younger age will be a “guided choice” offering a couple different options in specific periods to ensure campers are getting to try everything and enjoy a good mix of lakefront time, sports, arts, and nature. Some Maine Camps are fully elective, giving campers the choice to make their own daily schedule from over 50 activity options. 

Campers are also empowered and enjoy making choices when they “elect” what they want to eat from the meal buffets served in the dining hall or at the grill, how they “elect” to spend free time at rest hour after lunch (e.g., playing cards, doing MadLibs, writing letters, making bracelets), and what they “elect” on an evening program where they occasionally may have the choice between two activities such as watching a movie or attending a social event. And beyond core trips, campers may “elect” to take certain out-of-camp trips like extra hikes or overnight trips.

In addition to electives, elections at camp are another way campers get to choose. At some camps, for example, there are elections for captains of Color War or Olympics. This is a way for campers to experience democracy in action, and for the elected campers to show leadership and serve the interest of their fellow campers. 

So, on this Election Day, ask your camper about electives and elections at their camp. And … the vote is in … we unanimously cannot wait for Maine Camp summer 2022!

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.