Summer Camps 2023

READY, SET, CAMP!

TIPS ON WHAT TO PACK, EXPECT & PLAN FOR THIS SUMMER CAMP SEASON

WHAT TO PACK

Whether it’s a day camp or a week-long overnight camp, watch for the all-important list of things to bring (and just as important — things to leave at home). Parents are typically provided with a list of things their child should have on hand, like sunscreen, snacks or lunches, a water bottle, swimsuit and towel, sandals and/or sneakers, bug spray, sleeping bag, etc. This list may change by the day depending on scheduled activities. And if you’re not sure about something, just ask.

LABEL EVERYTHING

Your child’s first time at summer camp, especially an overnight camp, may be equally exciting and nerve-wracking. Kids may worry about making friends; parents may worry about their child being homesick or forgetting an essential item. With a little planning and prep work, you can take some of the worry out of the equation and make more room for fun and adventure.

Before you drop your little one off with a backpack full of items, get out the permanent marker and label everything. Write their name on the tags of their clothes or use an iron-on label for things like beach towels. Kids grouped together in a cabin or tent or pool house are bound to leave something behind or get something mixed up with another camper’s — labels will help ensure items are returned to your kiddo.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Sit down with your child and read through the camp brochures and websites (and newspaper articles!) together. This will give you both a better sense of what to expect, and may trigger questions that you can have answered before drop-off day.

TEST RUN

If your little one doesn’t have a lot of experience away from home, now’s the time to help them ease into it. Plan an overnight or two with the grandparents or at a friend’s house a few weeks before camp to help them get a feel for what it is like to be away from home.

STAY IN TOUCH

Most overnight camps welcome parents sending care packages, but be sure to know the rules on how often you can send a package, size limitations, and any regulations around what you can include (like snacks with peanuts). Adding a few sharable items, like travel games, glow sticks or candy, can help your child make some new friends in the bunkhouse. And most important — find out when mail day is. Mail may not be delivered to campers daily or packages may take a few days to arrive. Plan ahead so your care package arrives in time for your child to enjoy it.

DISCOVER FUN & LEARNING THIS SUMMER

Courtesy of Maine Discovery Museum

Maine Discovery Museum summer camp is the perfect way to keep your child engaged and entertained during the summer months. Our STEAM*-infused summer camps help bridge the gap between the real world and the classroom with fun-filled, hands-on days packed with STEAM activities.

Why MDM Camps? STEAM and play combine to help curious campers develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied to their everyday lives and spark interest in STEAM careers. MDM’s summer camps will help

your children gain an understanding of how science and technology affect our world using exploration and curiosity, and will help them to use this knowledge to create a better future.

THIS SUMMER’S HIGHLIGHTS:

CELEBRATE SHARK WEEK (week 4): This camp is filled to the gills with fun, fascinating marine science and shark biology; it includes hands-on labs and investigations.

EXPLORE THE PREHISTORIC WORLD OF DINOSAURS (week 5): Unearth real fossils, solve prehistoric puzzles, and even meet some living fossils.

JOIN US FOR WONDERLAB (week 7): and invent and test your potions, concoctions, and contraptions. Work like a scientist with droppers, measuring spoons, masks, and tubes, but watch out for fizzy, bubbly, sticky explosions. Safety goggles are a must in this crazy fun week of science labs.

All camps: Learn through the power of play in our hands-on exhibits and outdoor excursions.

Discover all the fun and learning Maine Discovery Museum summer camp has to offer: www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/summercamp

*STEAM = Science Technology Engineering Arts & Math

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE

Summer camp season will soon be here, and throngs of children will board buses each morning or pack their parents’ cars full of essentials to survive a few days or weeks away from home.

Looking back, many adults who experienced summer camp have fond memories of their adventures — whether they all went according to plan or there were some hiccups along the way. Parents want their children to make their own summer camp memories. Even if the canoe capsizes or the cabin leaks during a summer thunderstorm, such experiences can build character and strengthen friendships.

Millions of American children participate in some form of camp each year, including sleep-away camp or day camp. The American Camp Association says that number is close to 14 million, with the most popular camp session length around one week or less. Families getting prepared for camp can follow these guidelines to ensure the experience is one kids won’t soon forget.

CONSIDER CHILDREN’S READINESS

There’s no magic age when a child may be ready to go to camp, but generally kids who are ages 7 or 8 may be fine to start a resident sleep-away camp. Day camp kids can begin as early as age 3, the same age kids often begin preschool programs. Gauge whether the child has spent time away from home at friends’ or family members’ homes to decide if a resident camp will be the right fit or if a day camp is more appropriate.

CONNECT WITH FELLOW CAMPERS

If possible, attend a meet-and-greet prior to the start of the season. Neighborhood day camps tend to draw kids from local communities, so there’s already a chance kids will know a few fellow campers.

GET TO KNOW CAMP COUNSELORS EARLY ON

Campers can introduce themselves to camp counselors and other program directors and are urged to ask questions about specific programs. Counselors can direct campers toward activities they may enjoy.

MAKE THE MOST OF ALL SITUATIONS

Much of summer camp will likely be smooth-sailing, but it’s reasonable to expect some bumps along the way. Campers shouldn’t expect perfection, but use the situations that may go awry as learning experiences on how to handle adversity — trying to find the fun in them anyway.

Summer camp can be a great experience, especially when families take some pre-camp measures aimed at ensuring kids have a fun season.

Courtesy of Metro Creative

EXPLORE WILDLIFE AT FIELDS POND

Courtesy of the Fields Pond Audubon Center

Choices, choices!! What sounds like more fun, being an outdoor detective and finding nature clues to solve mysteries in the forest? Or getting wet and wild, learning about creatures that live above and below water, and how to keep our waters healthy and happy?

Kids are spoiled for choice this summer at the Fields Pond Audubon Center’s summer day camp, selecting from seven themed weeks all centered around the amazing wildlife we have here in Maine. Campers spend lots of time outdoors, do some hands-on science projects and creative art activities, and learn about wildlife and habitat at the same time.

Come play in our backyard!

Kaitlyn Fourre’s son Leo attended the Fields Pond insect camp last summer when he was 6 years old. She says, “We were very impressed with the camp, the activities, and the staff. He still continuously talks about the things he learned and shows his little brother how to catch bugs.

Leo lives in southern Maine but for this week at camp, his grandparents, who live in Hermon, took him to Fields Pond each day. Fourre says, “He went to several camps in southern Maine, but this camp stood above and beyond the others.”

10 minutes from Bangor

Grades 1-4

SUMMER CAMP

Outdoor adventure and learning at our 230-acre lakefront wildlife sanctuary!

Fields Pond Audubon Center • 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden Info: maineaudubon.org/camps

With only 12 campers in each session, children get lots of individualized attention from Maine Audubon’s experienced environmental educators. There’s also easy parking / drop-off just seven minutes from downtown Bangor. Scholarships are available and spots are held open for scholarship recipients. Discounts are also offered to Maine Audubon members. For more information, visit maineaudubon.org/camps.

LEARN & EXPLORE EXPLORE THIS SUMMER WITH ALL SAINTS!

All Saints Catholic School is proud to host another exciting summer of fun and learning for children in preschool through grade 5. Our summer program is open to students from all school districts offering an opportunity to learn and explore each week over an 8-week period. This year, campers will experience themes including art, science, music, and our environment.

All Saints is fully licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services as a childcare. Our program is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. providing flexibility and coverage for working families. Select as many weeks, and days within those weeks, as you would like to participate! Rates are $50 per day / $250 per week.

Our scheduled activities designed around our weekly themes take place in the morning. The afternoon provides plenty of time for on-site water play or fun outside in our large open space and playgrounds safely tucked away on our school campus. Our space is large enough to move inside in case of rain or to simply cool off with arts and crafts, and games.

Our teachers and summer staff maintain a ratio of 10 to 1 for preschool campers and 13 to 1 for school age campers. This year, some campers will have the opportunity to learn more about gardening and will plant, care for, and harvest the school’s garden.

All Saints Catholic School is proud to be accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The summer program is managed by Maine certified teachers and staff who also are members of the Maine Roads to Quality professional development network. Education researchers have found that students experience significant learning loss when they do not participate in education activities during the summer months. Studies show that students perform on average, one month behind where they left off in the spring, scoring lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they do on the same tests at the end of the school year. A well-structured, education-based summer program can help close the gap associated with summer learning loss, and even boost your child’s performance for years to come.

Registration is on a first come first serve basis as space is limited. Please visit allsaintsmaine.org/summer or call 941-9585 for more information. Learn and explore this summer with All Saints!

Courtesy of All Saints Catholic School

JAM OUT THIS SUMMER AT MAINE FIDDLE CAMP

Courtesy of Maine Fiddle Camp

Maine Fiddle Camp focuses on the traditional dance music of the ScotsIrish, French, and Scandinavian traditions as they’ve evolved in Maine. Our large staff of traditional musicians play and teach fiddle, piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, cello, bass, penny whistle/flute, mandolin, accordion, harmonica, vocals, and more, in workshops, performances, jams, song swaps, and dances.

Maine Fiddle Camp is an outdoor Maine summer camp experience. Campers stay in rustic bunkhouse cabins without electricity or in their own tents or RVs. Youths stay in cabins but may stay in tents with their family if they wish. All campers have convenient access to bathrooms and hot showers.

Good music and good food are elegantly combined at camp. The wholesome meals and snacks are eaten outdoors under tents, and classes are also held mostly outdoors. Mornings are spent in classes, with campers grouped by ability for small group instruction. Afternoons offer time for special-interest workshops, to practice on your own or with a friend, or for nonmusical fun such as swimming. In the evenings there are concerts, dances, coffeehouses, and variety shows featuring performances by both staff and campers, all under the big tent, as well as jams for various levels, and sometimes other activities. Spontaneous jams are apt to happen almost anywhere, at any time, as campers enjoy swapping tunes and sharing the music they are learning in their classes.

Musicians of all ages and ability levels are welcome at Maine Fiddle Camp. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. A weekend or week at Maine Fiddle Camp makes a great family vacation. Rates are affordable — it’s twice the camp for half the price! Scholarships are available. Space is limited — early registration is encouraged. Tunes are taught by ear, in the traditional manner. Prior to each year’s first session, a new collection of tunes is posted on the website in both sound recording and sheet music formats and campers are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable resource year-round.