Sportsmanship at Maine Camps

Celebrating another team’s victory and offering support in moments of defeat are powerful examples of true sportsmanship. The world recently witnessed this spirit while watching Olympic ice skating. A Washington Post article on MSN highlighting Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu and her teammates beautifully supporting one another and athletes from other countries reminds us that good sportsmanship is at the heart of camp life in Maine.

At Maine Camps, campers are not only taught the technical skills of the games they play, but also the invaluable lessons that come with them: teamwork, respect, camaraderie, resilience, and compassion.

The article reflects on figure skating’s past culture of cut-throat competition, intimidation, and even sabotage, and poses the question: Why are figure skaters so nice to each other nowadays? The answer is simple yet profound - being unkind doesn’t make you a better athlete, and it doesn’t make your competitor worse. In fact, the opposite is true. When athletes feel supported and safe, they perform at their best. A rising tide lifts all boats. Excellence grows, and character is built alongside skill.

This philosophy mirrors the foundation of sportsmanship at Maine Camps. Sportsmanship here emphasizes fair play, kindness, integrity, and community over simply winning. It is intentionally cultivated through structured, high-energy activities and both intercamp and intracamp competitions.

Campers learn to:

• Support their teammates
• Respect their opponents
• Demonstrate resilience in both victory and defeat
• Shake hands, high five, or tap racquets/sticks after games
• Share equipment and space
• Celebrate others’ successes

At intercamp competitions, campers may experience a hard-fought game against another camp’s team and then collectively enjoy a post-game treat like eating ice pops or chocolate chip cookies together. And, in all-camp (intracamp) competitions like Olympics, campers are encouraged to work hard and compete with enthusiasm - while maintaining respect for the opposing team. When the games conclude, the entire camp community reunites for campfires and shared traditions, reinforcing that relationships matter more than scoreboards.

The lessons learned on the fields and courts of Maine Camps extend far beyond summer. They shape how campers collaborate on school and work projects, approach challenges, and navigate relationships throughout life. Learning and practicing good sportsmanship at Maine Camps is a big win!

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.