First Days at Camp Runoia

Posted on June 27, 2019September 10, 2019 by Alex

Every staff member here at Camp Runoia woke up buzzing with excitement for opening day. After finishing touches were put on cabins and everyone changed into their uniforms, you could feel the magic in the air as the first campers filtered down into their cabins. The little bit of rain we had in no way put a damper on the exhilaration of arriving at camp.

After some time getting to know their cabin-mates and counselors, everyone gathered into the Dining Hall for our first meal of our 113th summer (spaghetti, of course). After everyone was nice and full, junior and senior ends split up for evening program, and let me tell you, the cheering and roaring laughter coming from the Lodge and the Den carried throughout all of camp. Then, after some bedtime milk and crackers, everyone got cozy in their cabins and rested up for the big day we all have ahead of us.

Today will be our orientation so that our new campers can get to know everything available to them at Camp Runoia, and returners can have a refresher about procedures and schedules.

It is a Fine Maine Day, and everyone is ready to start getting into a routine.

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of our first block of programming, where campers will have a schedule of their activities and get to go about their day participating in programs that they get to choose themselves. From waterskiing to basketweaving to swimming lessons, every last kiddo will fall into a groove and camp will begin to feel like their second home.

We are so pleased and ecstatic to have full shacks again, and thankful that girls love coming back to Runoia summer after summer. Here’s to making this the best one yet!

Love,

Aionur

By Nina Budeiri

Taxes, Boat Stickers and What this has to do with Camp

Posted on April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 by Pam Cobb

The middle of April means, for most Americans, it’s time to settle up with the IRS on whether you owe taxes or the government refunds you the money you set aside for taxes. Regardless of where you stand, it is not a favorite time for most people. As Benjamin Franklin quoted “but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

Like it or not, tax season is a reality for grownups.

What might help you is a deduction Child and Dependent Care Credit. Check with your accountant about the possibility of claiming a deduction related to the expense of summer camp or read up on the deduction here. Imagine, your daughter can have a profound camp experience and you may be able to account for the expense and lower your taxes owed.

Speaking of taxes and making things better, did you know Maine’s Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Lakes Society partnered to create the Lake Smart Program and also to make sure the awareness of invasive plant species and reduction of invasive aquatic plants and animals is required of all boat registrations through the “Milfoil Sticker”. A small fee is collected from boat owners to go toward education, inspection, detection and reduction. Our hopes is reduction means 100% avoidance, protecting our dear lakes of Maine. Maine Lakes Society is based in our dear town of Belgrade Lakes with the Seven Lakes Alliance in the Maine Lakes Resource Center in the village.

Awareness is the best form of prevention of spreading milfoil and other invasive plants and animals from lake to lake. Keeping Maine lakes clear and free of invasive species is a win-win for everyone. It ensures lakes in Maine and our Great Pond continue to remain the amazing lakes they are today. This is win-win for today AND for the next generations of campers, shore-front property owners, visitors and local businesses keeping Maine the state that is dubbed Vacationland.

So, although for some people mid-April is what we think of as tax time, know that programs like the “Milfoil Sticker” help Maine stay the way we love it, “The Way Life Should Be”.

Camp Runoia staff hiring

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Alex

At this time of year a large focus of our office time shifts from camper recruitment to staff hiring.

We are literally scouring the globe to find the right people to join the Runoia summer team.

Being a camp counselor is never dull! Hiring staff who will fit into our camp family is crucial.

Our returning staff are usually quick to sign back up and then long time camp staffers find us if they are looking for a change from their previous camp. Campers from years gone by often reappear on our radar as they enter the college years and find themselves with a summer available to make a return to Great Pond. Positions quickly fill up as friends and alums also tell people about the opportunities available at Camp Runoia.

Our primary goal with hiring staff is to find the right people for our community. We want them to get to Runoia and feel like they have arrived at their summer home where they fit into the ‘family’. In our experience being happy and content produces peoples best work so having a philosophical alignment with Runoia is essential. Staff having a true passion for working and living with children is crucial; we can easily teach people the policies, procedures and systems. Finding caring young adults that are willing to share their skills with our girls is our focus.

Most of our staff are college age students both from the US and overseas. Many are on a focused career track and are seeking to gain more experience working with children. Camp also provides the opportunity for a new adventure and to see a different part of the world. The connections counselors make with their campers and peers are often long lasting and have great value.

For those that have never attended camp spending a summer in the woods of Maine without their technology can be a harder sell. It is often a challenge to convince students (and their college tuition paying parents!) that camp can provide them with the opportunity to continue developing and honing their 21^st century skills. Often colleges are pushing career related internships and work experience that will be a resume builder. It may come as a surprise to find out that camps are often more than happy to accommodate internships and also provide an array of transferable skills that are attractive to employers. Along with hard skills there is a great deal of holistic development gained from a summer at camp. We are happy to help translate these skills developed at camp into tangible resume language Translating-Camp-Employment-To-Your-Resume.

If you think you have what it takes to be part of the Runoia team or know someone who does there is an online application via our website. We can’t wait to meet the summer staff of 2019 our ‘Runoia rock stars.’

Maine the way life should be

Posted on March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 by Alex

So you just dropped the kids off at overnight camp in Maine now what? Three or four weeks with no children to entertain can be liberating. If you are not jetting off to Europe or racing back to work, you may want to enjoy the local area at least for a few days. With the tag line ‘Vacationland’ Maine is the perfect place to be in the summer so why not extend your camp drop off or pick up trip and have a few days of relaxation and vacation time before heading back south.

With a myriad of things to do or not do Maine provides opportunity for everyone, from the outdoor enthusiast to those that love nothing more than a beautiful view and a good book. With places that are great to take the kids and places to just have some quality adult time, Maine really does have it all. Here is a brief snap shot of some of our favorite places to visit.

In the summers E.B. White spent time writing on the shores of Great Pond – we have the ‘White House’ at Runoia.

Local to Camp Runoia

The beautiful and peaceful Belgrade Lakes region has all of the quintessential charm of lake life. Renting a cottage on one of the large and quiet lakes is a perfectly relaxing choice. The village hosts a number of interesting curio type shops and some great food experiences. Days Stores has everything you never knew you needed including Lakeside Scoops Ice Cream. Our friend Shari is always cooking up a storm at Hello Good Pie – it’s not just pie! and the Village Inn is also an excellent dining option. Ranked best public course in Maine and with a world class view the Belgrade Lakes golf course is worth a round. Spend a few days hanging out in the local area and you’ll be feeling relaxed and rejuvenated in no time.

Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park

A little further afield but worth the drive up 95, the bustling coastal town of Bar Harbor is a great place to stay and check Maine’s National Park off your ‘must see’ list. From car camping to deluxe accommodations, hiking to scenic drives there is something for everyone. Acadia’s Mt Cadillac boasts the earliest sunrise in the US and we are pretty fond of biking on the carriage trails around the park.

Disclaimer you really can’t get a lobster for 99c these days!

Portland – Foodie City

If you don’t have time for a long stay and are heading back south as soon as drop off is done at least take time to stop for a bite to eat in Portland. The little city of the east coast has fast become a food haven with so many choices everyone will be happy. Got a little more time? Shop the Old Port, take a stroll at the most photographed lighthouse – the Portland Head Light, take the ferry out to Peaks Island or visit one of the many attractions in town the Victoria Mansion and Museum of Art are always popular.

This is obviously just a few of the spectacular Maine opportunities. Hopefully on the way too and from Camp Runoia you will have time to enjoy our great state. Still need inspiration? We have a Pinterest board for that!

We can’t wait to see you this summer.

Finding the right camp

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Alex

As we rapidly roll towards the summer season, this time of year is typically the busiest for new camper enrollment. As families begin their search in earnest for the perfect camp for their child we thought that some tips and helpful questions may be of use. There are such a wide variety of program options and so many great choices it can certainly be overwhelming to even get started. So how on earth do you find the right camp?

A general internet search for summer camps turns up what seems like a million options for summer programs and even when focusing on resources that are specific to camp selection the choices can be extensive. The American Camp Association website is filled with over 3000 accredited camps and summer programs and can be a great place to start. If you are already sure that Maine is the place that you want your child to be Maine Summer Camps also has a ‘find a camp’ tool which is also very helpful.

So how do you get started?

Set some parameters before you go near your computer and maybe even before you get the kids involved – you don’t want them picking space camp on the moon when you were thinking arts camp in the woods!

Here are some potential questions to think through.

What genre of camp are you looking for?
Do you have family traditions with a particular program or location?
Are you restricted to specific dates or have a set session length in mind?
Is your child ready for an overnight experience or are you looking for a more local day camp?
What is your budget?
How far from home are you willing to travel?
Are you looking for specific program content or a more general program?
Do you want to do your own research or get help form a professional camp referral agency?
What are your child ‘s thoughts about camp?

Once you’ve got a basic outline for your needs and wants you can dig in. Camp websites are typically filled with all of the initial information that you may need and directors are waiting for your calls to expand on what makes their camp unique. Expect good customer service and attentive sales pitches, camps should want to find out about your child to see if it is a good fit for everyone not just push their program. A great director will be able to head you in a different direction if their camp doesn’t meet your needs. You should also expect to get referrals to other families and ideally a camp tour or home visit depending on the season.

Finding the right camp should be fun not stressful, give us a call if you need help 207 495 2228 there is a perfect fit for every child out there. Want to learn more about Camp Runoia our website is a great place to start.

‘Once you pass the Runoia gate you’ve made a little date with fate..”

New years resolutions – realistic attainable goals!

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Alex

Did you make resolutions for 2019?

At this time of year conversation often turns to what resolutions people are making for the New Year. A fresh start as the year changes fills us with a new sense of purpose and commitment. Gym membership’s increase as health, fitness and weight loss goals usually top people’s lists. Sadly as we often know too well once February rolls around the best laid plans have often fallen by the wayside as the reality of life sets in and our commitment was really just on paper with little passion for it in our hearts.

Try something new or improve on something that you already find engaging.

While having a bucket list of things you want to accomplish in the next year can be exciting, setting realistic attainable goals may be far more rewarding and lead to more gratification. Check out this article for creating your own SMART goals. Perhaps we don’t need to do something completely new in 2019 because honestly even suggesting that I’m going to go to the gym 3 times a week is just laughable! A re-commitment to an activity that makes us happy or continued participation in a class or group that we enjoy or even just agreeing to meet a friend once a month for coffee may be enough.

There are so many great activities to try at Camp Runoia.

Why start something new when repeating experiences has great value? As we know from repeated overnight camp experiences at Camp Runoia , solidifying skills and building on relationships, embracing the familiar and allowing ourselves to be in a comfortable place allows us all to grow. We work with campers each summer to set new goals and focuses for their camp experiences. Even though the location may be the same each season is always different and has it’s own unique challenges and successes.

Maybe we don’t need a fancy list of resolutions just a focus on what engages us in the present makes us happy and helps us to continue growing as a person. We hope that a Camp Runoia summer is on your daughter’s bucket list and look forward to helping her to achieve her goals.

We are excited for our 2019 Camp Runoia season and wish you all a very Happy New Year.

res·o·lu·tion

noun

a firm decision to do or not to do something.

Thanksgiving- Thankful for Camp Runoia

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Alex

Thanksgiving gives us so much to be grateful for. We are sending warm thoughts to all of our Runoia family around the world. We have so many Camp Runoia related things to celebrate and are grateful that you have been a part of our camp history.

May you spend this Thanksgiving Holiday surrounded by the love of family and friends,

Bobo’s and Wadas to you all,

The Runoia team

A Runoia Thanksgiving limerick

We are thankful all the year through

For a camp family as awesome as you.

We send Holiday cheer

To those far and near

Camp Runoia we are glad to have you!

Thanksgiving from a camper

Tenacious

Happy

Adventurous

Nature loving

Kind

Singing

Giggling

Inquisitive

Vivacious

Independent

New England

Girls

Thanksgiving dinner – simple traditions

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Alex

In the past few weeks I’ve spent countless hours scouring recipe books, looking online and attempting to find the perfect menu for our Thanksgiving dinner. I am hosting and as it isn’t a tradition I grew up with I don’t want to mess it up and want the dinner to meet the expectations of the family and friends that are invited. I’ve read articles, looked on Pinterest and jotted down copious amounts of ideas and still haven’t been able to perfect the menu. I finally asked those attending what they wanted on the table and was somewhat surprised by the simplicity of the answers.

‘I just love mixing cranberry sauce with the regular mash potato,’ ‘oh nothing fancy just the ordinary dishes will be perfect,’ there was even a request for ‘green bean casserole’ as it is a fond reminder of growing up in the 1960’s! Some asked if it was OK if they brought a favorite dish that they enjoy making or offered to share the bounty of their harvested vegetable gardens. Others have no preferences and are just looking forward to getting together and enjoying the company. All people really expect is a table to sit around (I’d better make sure we have enough chairs!) and the time to share a meal together.

The simplicity of the expectations, the reverence of the tradition and familiarity of having the old favorites remind me so much of summer at Camp Runoia. While there are changes with the times (yes I will have gluten free and vegetarian options for Thanksgiving!) so many things remain the same. No matter how long you have been away or even if you are arriving for the first time the feeling of coming home to a comfortable and welcoming community is all that really matters.

It is often the simple, traditional things that have the most importance and that create the lasting memories. Here’s to not over doing it and just sharing food with family and friends in whatever way feels right and makes people happy.

Runoia elections – using your voice at camp

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Alex

A long standing tradition at Camp Runoia has been having elections to see who will be team captain. The pool is small and anyone who meets the very basic criteria is eligible to run. There are no residency requirements and basically your age and having been in camp a couple of years allows you to be on the ballot. Occasionally girls take themselves off the roster as it is not of interest to them but typically everyone gives it a shot. You get to vote just for the candidate who represents your team in your end of camp and campers are often surprised by the fact that ‘yes’ you can vote for yourself.

Candidates get 1-2 minutes to present their ‘reasons why I should be captain’ speech to their team. It is a big deal to stand up in front of a large group and talk about yourself. It is often the first time that girls have had an opportunity to describe their own skill set and successes. For other campers it is a great opportunity to elect someone that they know to a position of leadership and to figure out that your choice makes a difference. Girls use their individual voices in multiple ways during the process and it is an empowering experience.

Probably the greatest outcome from camp elections is that as soon as the winners are announced everyone cheers, hugs and offers their support. There may be a few tears from a losing candidate but those quickly turn into offers to help with line ups, song teaching or any other aspect of the captain job that requires support. The voting process is respected and the team is quick to rally behind their new leader regardless of whether or not she got their vote.

Sometimes the most unlikely candidate wins, the quieter girl who is reliable, consistent and trusted by her camp mates to treat people fairly, the girls who is not necessarily the best athlete but always shows awesome team spirit or the camper that is most respected because she keeps a positive attitude and is fun. It is an honor and privilege for girls to serve their teams and they take their role seriously and put forth their best efforts. They know they walk in the shoes of campers who have been leaders for many years before them and strive for the victory while still remaining great friends with their opponents.

We are glad that camp can provide girls a small taste of the democratic process and encourage campers to stand up to represent their own beliefs and support those that they have the most faith in.

It is a relief that election season is finally and why don’t they give out prizes for which candidate has the most creative signs? that’s what we would do at camp!

Education for Camp Directors

Posted on October 3, 2018October 10, 2018 by Pam Cobb

Once again Maine Summer Camps was hosted by the Migis Lodge resort for our annual membership meeting and education and networking event. Migis provides the quintessential Maine resort experience. At this meeting for directors and owners, educational round tables and a lovely luncheon were offered. The prestigious Halsey Gulick award was given to Alan Kissick of Kingsley Pines. Congratulations Alan!

Educational topics were in a round table format where camp directors and administrators shared their challenging moments and the group helped process together and shared best practices systems. It is always a fantastic opportunity for peers to get together for a common good. It is infrequent in this world where direct competitors actually want to make camps safer and better for all campers and staff by sharing and helping each other.

Another highlight of the event is seeing friends over an amazing cook out lunch hosted by Migis Lodge. Sitting by the waterside, enjoying the September sun as it pokes its way out of the misty clouds is a great way to wrap up the summer.

We are lucky to have such close ties to the Maine camp community. Thank you Maine Summer Camps and Maine Camp Experience for the networking opportunities and educational opportunities you provide to Maine camps.

Next up for networking and education for Maine camp owners is the fall Maine Camp Experience meeting. Camp owners and board members meet in October in Portland, Maine.