Launching Your Camp Search: 9 Tips to Choose the Best Camp for Your Child

As we launch into the new year, many parents are launching their camp search for summer 2024 or summer 2025 (with intent to tour in summer 2024).

Overnight camp in Maine is the most fun, exciting, life-enhancing experience where kids thrive! Our 40 Maine Camp Experience Camps all provide incredible natural beauty; strong traditions and values; incredible activities, including land and water sports, nature, and arts; top-notch instruction; memorable trips; and special events, but finding the RIGHT one is important. 

Check out these 9 factors to consider below and visit www.mainecampexperience.com, which features tools like Select-A-Camp, or contact our Campcierge® (laurie@mainecampexperience) for free expert guidance to find the best camp.

Factors to Consider:

- Session length? - Do you want full session (6-7 weeks); half session (3-4 weeks); or shorter session (2 weeks)? Longer sessions give campers more time to: become immersed; enjoy more activities and events; learn new skills; and make deep friendship connections. Shorter sessions are good for campers who want to experience camp, but who may also have other commitments like family trips or sports teams. - Tip: Think about the first summer and ensuing summers because some camps offer shorter in the first summer and then longer in future summers. And, conversely, if your camper eventually wants a full camp summer, it’s important to not select a camp that only offers shorter sessions.  - All boys/girls? Coed? Brother/sister? - Which camp type would you like for your child? Some people like the sister or brotherhood camaraderie of a single gender camp, while others like the “real world” experience of coed. There are also brother/sister camps, which can be a good balance. - (And, even if you’d like separate camps for girls and boys - brothers and sisters can still see each other. Some camps have a direct partnership, and many Maine Camps have connections with several camps.) - Size of camp? Some campers love the energy of a large camp with 300 or 500+ campers. Others like a smaller, more intimate environment with around 100. Some prefer somewhere in between. - Schedule? Some camps have a very structured schedule meaning that the camp plans campers’ days so they’re really rotating through all activities and getting to try everything - usually a mix of sports, arts, and nature. Other camps offer a fully elective schedule where campers get to pick every activity they do (or don’t do). Other camps offer a combination where there are some assigned periods and some choice. For camps that offer structured schedule, often more electives are offered as campers get older. Note: all camps have a schedule with specified periods through the day so campers will be engaged, accounted for, and moving to different activities. - Level of rusticity? While all Maine Camps’ facilities are well maintained, they vary. Accommodations range from platform tents to cabins that have toilets and showers within. Some camps offer more outdoorsy programming with lots of nature trips while others have more modern equipment and facilities in activities like gymnastics, fitness, and cooking. - Religion? Most of our 40 Maine Camps are non-denominational, meaning that they are not geared to any specific religion and don’t do anything religious. They may have a weekly campfire that talks about values (teamwork, respect, etc.). Or, we have three coed camps that are Jewish camps, and one boys camp that is Episcopalian. - Compete? Some campers LOVE friendly competition events like Olympics, Sports Leagues, Group Sing, College Days, and more. While other campers prefer no competition. Maine has both kinds of camps. - Activities? Excitingly, campers can take advantage of new and different activities at camp that they potentially don't do at home such as sail, waterski, paddle board, horseback ride, golf, create music, etc. And, if there is an activity or sport that your camper loves to do at home and wants to continue at camp - it’s important to know which camps offer that activity. - Budget? Camps range in price depending on which camp and length of session. They can run from approximately $4K-$15K, which covers: meals and snacks, activities and instruction, and living accommodations. Additional costs may include: travel to/from by bus or plane, out-of-camp trips, incidentals like laundry, and/or speciality instruction.

To note:

- Even if you don’t know the answer to every one of these factors, knowing a few helps narrow down the choices.  - It’s good to consider between 2-4 camps and speak with directors so you can learn which will be the best fit.  - It’s very useful to plan summer camp first since session dates are not flexible and then plan family travel and other activities. (Coming in late or leaving early is not ideal, and may not be possible.) - In most cases, the shortest sessions are around 2 weeks to give campers the opportunity to get acclimated, make friends, and enjoy activities and special traditions.  - Maine is an amazing destination for overnight camp! Check out our [recent guest post](https://www.mainecampexperience.com/blog/why-maine-a-mental-health-perspective-about-camp/) from Dr. Tracy Brenner about the mental health benefits of overnight camp in Maine.

We’re excited to help you find the best camp for your kids!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

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 contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.