8 Tips for a Great Maine Camp Summer

Maine camps are opening this week, and campers are arriving from near and far. Whether it’s a first summer or a return to a beloved camp home, here are tips to help campers and parents make the most of the experience.

5 Tips for Campers:

Decompress

Enjoy the break from the busy school-year routine. Take a deep breath and embrace the change of pace. No screens. No social media. No homework. Time to be present, have fun, and enjoy every day.

Connect with Nature

Breathe in the fresh pine air. Take in the blues and greens of Maine’s lakes, forests, and skies. Listen for the call of the loons. Enjoy lake life, wildlife, hikes, rafting adventures, and all the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Make New Friends

Some of your closest friendships may begin with a simple hello. Campers come from different towns, states, and even countries, but camp has a way of bringing people together. Introduce yourself. Join a game. Start a conversation. Your counselors will help create opportunities to connect, and before long, strangers may become lifelong friends.

Embrace Camp Culture

Every camp has its own traditions, songs, cheers, and stories. Dive in. Sing the songs. Learn the cheers. Participate in the traditions. The things that may seem a little silly on day one often become the memories you’ll cherish most.

Be You

Camp is a chance to discover new interests, develop new skills, and gain confidence. Try something you’ve never done before. Step outside your comfort zone. Be yourself. Camp is one of the few places where you can focus entirely on growing, learning, and having fun.

3 Tips for Parents:

Let Your Kids Be at Camp

As child development experts such as Dr. Michael Thompson and Dr. Tracy Brenner have noted, children build confidence, independence, and resilience when they have opportunities to navigate challenges on their own.

Trust the camp you carefully selected. Camp directors, counselors, and staff are experienced in supporting children as they grow and adapt. If your child experiences a little homesickness, that’s okay. Children can miss home and still be having a wonderful time at camp. In fact, working through those feelings is often part of the growth that camp provides.

Decompress

You deserve a camp season, too. Take a deep breath and enjoy the change of pace. Read a book. Travel. Play tennis, pickleball, golf, or cards. Spend time with friends. Garden. Walk the dog. Organize photos. Complete work projects. Enjoy a date night. Whatever recharges you, make time for it.

Trust the Process

Growth often happens outside of comfort zones. Camp gives children opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, build friendships, and develop independence in ways that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Before you know it, they’ll be home with stories, memories, and newfound confidence.

Here’s to an unforgettable Maine camp summer for campers and parents alike. Let the adventure begin!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful Select-A-Camp 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.