Choice at Maine Camps

As election season has us thinking about the power of choice, it’s a great time to reflect on the choices Maine campers make each summer. Even within a structured camp environment — with scheduled activities, meals, and bedtimes — campers have countless opportunities to shape their own experiences. These choices foster independence, self-discovery, and growth.

Here are some of the ways Maine campers get to choose:

Elective Activities: At any Maine Camp, children will have some choice of activities. Some are fully elective, allowing campers to design their entire activity schedule, while others offer afternoon choice periods. Others offer more elective periods as campers grow older. With over 50 activities available, campers can choose from options like waterskiing, paddle boarding, soccer, ropes courses, fencing, fishing, photography, music, and yoga exploring their interests and trying new things.

Extracurriculars: Beyond the core camp schedule, campers can dive into additional activities. Aspiring actors can join the camp show, and competitive campers can represent their camp in intercamps like tennis, basketball, sailing regattas, and horse shows. For early risers, there are options like morning swims, runs, and woodworking. Campers can sign up for specialty clinics and extra lessons like lacrosse, tennis, golf, and equestrian. Campers can participate in traditions such as training for the 1-mile Lake Swim.

Trips: Many camps offer optional trips, particularly for older campers. These can range from extended, multi-day excursions that include adventurous hikes, rafting, and canoeing experiences, allowing campers to explore new environments and challenge themselves.

Special Roles & Themes: At some camps, voting is a cherished tradition. Campers may vote for peers for special roles, like Color War captains in their final summer, or decide on team themes or names for intramural leagues or socials. These moments give campers a voice in shaping camp culture and encourage them to support each other.

Downtime: Campers may have downtime like rest hour after lunch and free time during shower hour before dinner. Choices campers may make include things like writing letters, making friendship bracelets, playing cards, or doing Mad Libs in the cabin to playing ping pong or pop-a-shot basketball.

Daily Choices: Even small decisions, like what to pick from the salad bar to eat or what to put on when they get dressed in the morning, let campers express themselves and navigate their own preferences.

At Maine Camps, every camper has the chance to create an unforgettable summer, and no two experiences are exactly alike. With so many choices, campers can craft a summer that feels uniquely theirs.

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.