Seen and Heard at Maine Camps

What’s happening at Maine Camps? Everything! Olympics; hiking, rafting and kayaking trips; intercamp sports competitions; sailing regattas; horse shows; all-camp campfires; dance shows; carnivals; arts shows; and so much more - it’s hard to believe everything that is happening at Maine Camps. Many full season campers are starting their second rotation schedules, and several session camps just had Visiting Day and/or changeover (first session campers heading home; second session campers arriving).

From learning how to waterski on the lake or how to build a birdhouse in woodworking to putting on a theater production, participating in a soccer tournament, and making lifelong friendships, tens of thousands of campers are fully emerged in the Maine Camp experience right now. 

Maine Camp Experience’s Laurie and Andrea recently spent time at our Maine Camp Experience member camps; here are some things seen and heard over the past few days:

- A camper back from an awesome canoe trip discussing if he had head or tail winds propelling his craft (pretty cool that he knew!) - A director talking about longevity at camp and how some of the head staff have been at that MCE camp for a combined total of over 300 years - Excitement building for end-of-summer festivities at an MCE camp celebrating its 100th anniversary this year (a fantastic milestone that several of our Maine Camps have celebrated) - longevity speaks to how well run and sought after these camps are  - Campers being recognized at All-camp Cove for catching the biggest (and smallest) fish - extra dessert is the prize!  - “Pirate Day” in effect where different teams were trying to capture each other’s flags along the waterfront - Neon dance party remnants of a great night - Campers from Texas, California, and Colorado making and devouring blueberry crumble at Cooking - Campers in dress rehearsals for shows including: The Little Mermaid, Shrek, and Grease   - A horse show happening where campers from multiple Maine Camps were demonstrating their riding skills in the ring; another camp had a line of horseback riders being led through camp to trails - Campers suiting up and grabbing their foils to learn and practice fencing - Campers taking aim at archery - Campers having a peaceful time on the lake's dock - creating inspired watercolor art - Campers and staff having a jam session on guitars - An exciting basketball game going on the courts while incredible artistry was simultaneously happening where creative 3-D plaques were being painted - all part of one camp's Tribal Games - Campers challenging themselves on rock walls, high ropes, and ziplines  - Campers writing songs and creating posters for their age group’s show for the whole camp - Campers trying and discovering their new favorite foods including Orange Chicken - Campers (and Laurie and Andrea) enjoying 11:20am Cookie Line, one MCE camp's longstanding tradition - Campers making friendship bracelets together - Circles of campers in Crocs playing cards - Oldest campers gaining leadership by setting the tone with confidence, enthusiasm, spirit and excitement, and younger campers excited to become part of the community - Campers gaining resilience by living away from their parents; navigating the camp and their schedule, trying new things, and making new friends - Campers spending quality time with their cabin mates as well as others in their age group and older and younger campers too with programs like big and little brothers and sisters, some camps with rotating meal tables, on teams for special events, at elective activities - Campers of all ages excelling at waterskiing, sailing, tennis, lacrosse, basketball, pickleball, soccer, volleyball, golf, equestrian, stained glass, pottery, jewelry, rock climbing, dance, gymnastics, and so much more

There are 40 different camps in the Maine Camp Experience community, and each provides incredible opportunities to have fun, make friends, do what you already love, and try new things. Summers spent as a Maine camper are formative years learning great skills and having life experiences that can’t be beat! 

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.