We Made It!

We made it! This week, Maine Camps open. We hung in through fall, winter, and spring and are finally ready to gather again at Maine summer camps! While each camp’s opening day may vary slightly, all 40 Maine Camps will be ready to welcome campers with well prepared staff and facilities.

You Say Departure Day; I Say Arrival Day (Tomato, Tomâto)

• Families call it departure day as campers leave home, and camps call it arrival day as kids come through the camp gates. No matter what you call it - campers are in for a summer of fun and development.

At home, families are:

• making sure all forms are filled out
• printing some photos for canpers to take
• planning pre-camp meals and meet-ups with family and friends
• packing the bus/plane bag with a few items (possibly a little stuffed animal, some extra clothing labels, a sweatshirt, and maybe an encouraging note)
• laying out their first-day outfit (often a camp logo t-shirt)
• double checking the travel plans and getting a good night sleep
• making a plan for saying goodbye at the bus, plane, or camp (keeping it short and sweet, staying upbeat, quickly connecting campers with counselors)

Upon arrival at camp:

• campers will be greeted at camp with high fives, hugs, fist bumps, and cheers - many will run through counselor welcome tunnels
• campers will be brought to their cabins to meet their counselors and bunkmates, get settled in, and start to get acclimated

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

• campers will quickly be integrated into the camp fabric
• they’ll learn their schedule; get a lay of the land; discuss communal living, camp expectations, and rules (e.g., cooperation, respect); and start learning camp traditions
• first night is very special - there’s often a traditional first-night dinner (menu may feature a camp fave like meatballs and spaghetti or pizza) and some have an opening campfire

Nice to Meet You

• counselors are trained to help campers get comfortable
• there are tons of fun ice breaker activities to help campers learn each other’s names and to get to know each other

Play Ball!

• Campers quickly dive into activities at camp. On the second day, they’ll start to enjoy land and water sports, arts, nature, and more!

The first week is the time for settling in, getting to know bunkmates, enjoying activities, getting to know the camp songs and traditions, eating meals in the dining halls and outdoor pavilions, and having campfires. Campers will be encouraged to write a letter home. Many camps will take and post some pictures of campers at activities and/or group bunk pics. (Calls don’t usually start until the second week to give campers more time to get settled at camp in their environment.) Kids may miss home as they get used to being at camp but they are also busy and having fun. Change can be strange, but can also lead to campers building confidence, independence, and resilience. We look forward to a great camp summer!

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.