What Maine Campers Gained from the Summer(s)

So long, Maine Camp summer ‘23. You were a great one! As the kids have now been home for a bit, we reflect on what the Maine Camp summer meant and what campers gained. 

First time campers should be very proud of themselves. They left home, lived in a new place, made new friends, experienced new activities, and learned their camp’s songs and traditions. They learned to manage their schedule and navigate the camp, and take care of their personal space in the cabin, and live communally. 

Returning campers who came for their second through seventh summers built on everything they learned in their first year with a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. They had fun, played hard, and continued gaining confidence, independence, and resilience. They got to take trips they looked forward to, they got to take activities they loved or wanted to try, and many got to be big brothers and sisters to younger campers. 

Campers in their final camp summer (often 8 years or more in) had the times of their lives in their “last ride.” They knew their time as a camper was coming to a close and they appreciated every moment of every camp day as they led the camp in spirit, events, and community. They relished their final camper summer experiences and tried not to think about it being their last time as campers - though every event, trip, campfire, and experience already held a hint of nostalgia. Even in their final summer, campers were fully engaged - spending action-packed days and nights sailing, swimming, playing soccer and lacrosse, creating art, climbing ropes and rock walls, leading all-camp events, and living each camp day to the fullest.

As her youngest child just completed her last Maine camper summer, Laurie, our MCE Director and Campcierge®, shares thoughts about everything kids and parents gain:

“That’s a wrap on this summer and 10 summers with my kids as Maine campers.  I am so thankful for the friends they made, the skills they learned, and the experiences they had. It was so incredible for them (and us) to be a part of the Maine Camp community over this past decade and forge relationships that will last a lifetime.” 

And, as Laurie saw her younger daughter finish out her final camper summer, she also got to see her older daughter (who graduated out a couple years ago) return to camp for a visit with her camp friends whom she had grown up with at camp. “The girls have such a love for their forever summer camp home and the friendships they’ve built over the past decade. As they are now heading into their freshman year at college, it’s amazing to see how they’ve leaned on each other, shared experiences, and become well prepared for college and life beyond.”

Being a Maine camper means getting to live in a beautiful place and have fun! But that just scratches the surface when you think about everything campers gain from their time at Maine Camps. Skills learned are skills for life. Friendships formed are friendships forever. And knowing you will always be a part of your camp’s community and the overarching Maine Camp community is incredibly special.

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.