How To Choose a Camp
January 13, 2025
For many prospective camp parents, the question arises: How do I choose the best camp for my child? Many camps seem similar!
While camps in Maine and beyond may share some common features, each has its own unique personality, culture, and offerings. To help parents navigate this important decision, our Campcierge® shares four steps to help families find the right camp.
STEP 1: CONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES
Think about the type of camp experience you envision for your child. You don’t need to have all the answers right away, but narrowing down your preferences can help streamline your search. Factors to consider include:
Session length: Do you prefer a full-summer camp (6-7 weeks), half-summer (3-4 weeks), or a shorter session (10 days to 2 weeks)? Consider both the first summer and future summers. Some full-summer camps allow first-timers to attend a shorter session. Others offer ongoing flexibility between full and half-summer options. And some offer two distinctive, half-summer sessions.
Dates and rates: Which camps’ dates align with your child’s availability and your budget.
Size: Camps can range from smaller (around 80-100 campers) to mid-sized (200-300) to larger communities with 400-500+ campers.
Activities: Maine Camp Experience camps offer a mix of land and water sports, arts, and nature activities. Some camps lean toward being more sporty, while others may be more arts-focused.
Daily schedule: Camps may have set actvity schedules, fully elective programs, or a blend of both.
Other factors: Location, level of rusticity, culture, and values also play a role in your decision-making process (more details below*).
STEP 2: USE RESOURCES TO SHORTLIST CAMPS
Leverage resources and expertise to create a shortlist of potential camps. The Campcierge® provides personalized guidance and the Select-A-Camp Tool provides a suggested list. Additionally, explore camps’ websites, videos, and social media accounts to get a feel for their culture and offerings. These resources often highlight activities, traditions, trips, and camper experiences that can help determine if a camp aligns with your child’s interests and your family’s values.
STEP 3: SPEAK WITH CAMP DIRECTORS
Conversations with camp directors provide invaluable insights into:
The camp’s community and culture
The director’s values, experience, and leadership style
Staff training and camper support
Activities, instruction, and unique traditions
Trips, special events, and daily life
These initial conversations may happen over the phone, followed by virtual meetings (e.g., FaceTime), home visits, or even camp tours. Parents can also ask the director for reference families who can share their experiences firsthand.
STEP 4: ENROLL EARLY
Once families identify the right camp, they should enroll as soon as possible. Many camps open registration in August following the summer season. Early enrollment ensures availability in the child’s age group and preferred session dates — and some camps even offer early enrollment pricing.
*Factors to Consider in Your Camp Search
To help narrow the options, here are additional factors to evaluate:
Location: choose a camp that offers incredible natural beauty and vast space for activities and adventures.
Gender: options include all-girls, all-boys, coed, or brother/sister camps.
Type of Camp: Maine Camp Experience camps are general interest, offering over 50 activities — from waterskiing, sailing, soccer, lacrosse, tennnis, golf and equestrian programs to dance, theater, music production, ceramics and culinary arts.
Non-denominational or Religious: most Maine camps are non-denominational, with values-focused gatherings. A few camps are Episcopalian or Jewish, providing options for families seeking specific religions.
Uniform or Not: some camps require shirts and shorts with the camp logo or colors. Some do not. All camps prioritize comfortable, non-restrictive clothing for active camp days and nights.
Level of Rusticity: facilities range from more rustic cabins without electricity to more modern setups with showers in cabins.
Culture, Values, and Traditions: these elements often define a camp’s character. Research videos, social media, and reference families to understand what makes each camp unique.
Start Your Search Today: our Campcierge® emphasizes that prospective camp families may not know all their preferences at the outset, but through research and conversations, the right fit becomes clear. Now is the time to research and enroll for summer 2025! Contact Laurie@mainecampexperience.com for free, expert guidance, or visit www.mainecampexperience.com.
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.