Fun, Adventure and Learning

The Summer Camp programs meet the changing needs of our first time and returning campers. Our programs include: General Camp, Hiking and Canoeing, Leadership Training, Counselor-in-Training and Literacy.

General Camp (Ages 6-12)

The girls play with other children who have faced similar challenges in their lives, spend a night camping in a tent and roasting marshmallows for s’mores over an open fire. They participate in a variety of bunk and all camp activities such as a talent show, scavenger hunt and dance. This program includes water sports, land sports, dance, arts and crafts, photography, drama, archery, adventure, natural science exploration, sailing, pottery, knitting, sewing and woodworking. The girls work to improve their reading, writing and computer skills through our unique Literacy program. 

Programs for Returning Campers
 

Hiking and Canoeing (Ages 12-13)

This program takes responsibility and trust to a higher level. It uses social, athletic and outdoor skills to meet the challenges of hiking and camping in the Maine woods and canoeing on the Saco River. Before participating, the campers take part in a trust forming activity in Lewiston, Maine. The activity, a ropes course, enables the campers to form trusting bonds with their fellow campers and gives each camper a sense of accomplishment. Increasing our campers’ self-esteem creates willingness among the campers to try new activities. Once the campers complete the Hiking and Canoeing program, they radiate confidence and look forward to new challenges.

Leadership Training (Ages 13-14)

This program focuses on communication skills, outdoor challenges and life skills. In Leadership Training, campers participate in workshops to help them cope with peer pressure and issues that affect teenagers’ lives every day, i.e. nutrition, cooking, babysitting, healthy choices, nonviolent conflict resolution, job application and drug awareness and prevention. The girls learn the importance of helping others by reading to, writing for and entertaining nursing home residents. We work with the Good Shepard Food Bank and the Rockland Animal Shelter to help the Leadership girls experience the intrinsic rewards associated with helping others and volunteering for neighborhood organizations. In addition, Leadership Training gives the girls a chance to work with other inner city and rural teens as they make rules for their living space. Together, they learn how to be responsible leaders in the bunk- planning activities for the younger campers. Young women who have completed our Leadership Training program move on to work as Counselors-In-Training.

Counselor-in-Training (Ages 15-16)

Our Counselor-in-Training program is for girls who have completed the Hiking and Canoeing program and two years of Leadership Training. The CIT’s attend two General Camp sessions. Using the skills they learned throughout their years at camp, they accept responsibility for providing a safe, fun and educational environment for the General Campers. The CIT’s work along side the camp counselors assisting them with their everyday duties, including caring for the younger campers. Upon successfully completing two years of CIT, reaching the age of 18, and exemplifying mature decision making skills, the girls are then urged to apply to The Summer Camp as a residential camp counselor, and in most cases are hired as residential staff members.

Literacy

Each camper (new and returning) from the ages of 6 to 18 works to improve her reading, writing and computer skills in our unique Literacy program. In our small camp library, the girls receive individual attention from a Literacy Specialist and her assistants. Our goal is to increase the grade level in which our campers are reading and their literary ambition. The Summer Camp counselors read aloud to the campers in their bunks during rest hour and before bed.