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Traditional Camp in Maine

Poland Spring, Maine, USA — 200 acres of pines with a 55-acre private lake, about 2½ hours from Boston

Ages

7–17

Duration

2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 weeks

Dates

2 wks Jun 27–Jul 10 · 3 wks Jul 25–Aug 14 · 4 wks Jun 27–Jul 24 · 5 wks Jul 11–Aug 14 · 7 wks Jun 27–Aug 14

Group size

Co-ed · cabins of 8–10 · 1–2 international campers per cabin

Campers diving into the lake beside the inflatable water park Campers cheering on a towed tube on the lake Camper rock climbing on a granite outcrop Two campers with a guitar on a cabin porch Guitar class in the music room

Overview

This is a traditional New England camp on 200 acres of pine forest around its own 55-acre lake. Every week, campers design their own activity schedule from athletics, arts, performing arts, outdoors, waterfront and enrichment — water-skiing, windsurfing, rock climbing, a high ropes course, horseback riding, theatre and much more. The camp puts real weight on personal growth: its programme is built around values and '21st-century' life skills like communication, teamwork and independence.

Session lengths are unusually flexible — 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 weeks — so it's easy to fit around a family's summer. Weekend trips take campers out to see Maine and New England, such as whitewater rafting in northern Maine, hiking in New Hampshire's White Mountains and a minor-league baseball game in Portland.

International campers are part of the everyday mix (usually one or two per cabin), travel to and from Boston Logan on the camp's escorted coaches, and can take English as a Second Language classes at no extra charge.

What's included

Weekly self-designed schedulePrivate 55-acre lakeFree ESL classesWeekend tripsEscorted coach from Boston LoganScreen-free camp

A day at camp

  • Morning Breakfast with the cabin, camp meeting, then the first activity periods from the camper's own weekly schedule
  • Midday Lunch and a rest period
  • Afternoon More chosen activities — waterfront, sports, arts, climbing; optional ESL class for international campers
  • Evening Dinner with the cabin, then evening programme

Where campers stay

Campers live in cabins of about 8–10 children their own age with their counselors, in three age divisions: Juniors (7–10), Middies (11–13) and Seniors (14–17). Each cabin typically has one or two international campers alongside children from across the US. The 200-acre property of pines and rock outcrops surrounds a 55-acre private lake used for swimming, water-skiing and windsurfing, with a climbing and high-ropes area, horseback riding and arts spaces on site. Bedding and toiletries can be arranged for international campers.

Meals

All meals are included; cabins eat breakfast and dinner together. Tell us about allergies or dietary needs when you book and we'll confirm the details with the camp.

Excursions

Whitewater rafting, Kennebec RiverWhite Mountains hikePortland Sea Dogs baseball game4th of July fireworks

More photos

Camper painting colourful squares in the art studioCampers playing basketball under the pinesCampers on the outdoor climbing wall

Frequently asked questions

My child's English isn't perfect — is that a problem?

Not at all. International campers can take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at camp at no extra cost, and with one or two international campers in most cabins, they're surrounded by English all day in a friendly setting. Most children improve fast.

How do campers get to camp?

Fly into Boston Logan (BOS). The camp takes campers to and from Logan on coach buses accompanied by camp staff; the drive is about 2½ hours. Portland, Maine (PWM) is closer if your flights work better there — we'll confirm the transfer for either.

Why do prices differ by age?

The camp charges less for children entering grades 2–5 (about ages 7–10) than for grades 6–11. Rising 12th graders can join as counselors-in-training at 25% off. We'll tell you the right rate once we know your child's school year.

Are there optional extras?

Horseback riding is US$400 per week, golf course fees US$200 per week, and linen rental US$125 (optional). Everything else in the programme is included.

Can they bring a phone?

The camp describes itself as a screen-free environment, so phones and devices stay at home. You'll get news through letters, the camp office and photos posted online. We'll send the full communication rules with your booking.

What if we need to cancel?

All fees, including the deposit, are fully refundable until 1 January 2027. After that, no refunds are given.

Can my child fly to the US alone?

Yes — most international campers do. Book the airline's unaccompanied-minor service (each airline sets its own age rules, usually up to 12 or 14), and we'll make sure the camp knows the flight details so someone is waiting at arrivals. We'll confirm the camp's exact pick-up arrangements and any transfer cost when you book.

Does my child need a visa?

Families arrange travel documents themselves. Children with a passport from a Visa Waiver country — Czechia and most of the EU included — need an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation) before they board, so apply a few weeks ahead. Children from other countries normally need a B-2 visitor visa for a summer camp, not a student visa. For any other passport, ask us and we'll check what applies.