Tag: sleepaway camps in Maine

Summer in Maine: Best Location for an All Girls Sleepaway Camp

Posted on by Lydia Schuldt
  • The Natural Beauty of Maine: A Stunning Setting for Summer Camps
  • Ideal Environment for Immersive Camp Experiences
  • Outdoor Adventure Opportunities in Maine
  • Maine’s Reputation for Exceptional Summer Camps
  • Outdoor Activities and Personal Growth at Girls’ Camps in Maine

With its magical warm summers and proximity to cities in the Northeast and New England, Maine is an ideal destination for summer camps. The many unique attributes that make Maine so special—its natural beauty, peaceful environment, and outdoor opportunities—make it one of the best locations for an all girls’ sleepaway camp. It’s the perfect atmosphere for girls to focus on learning more about themselves and building connections while embracing the magic of camp in pristine nature. 

The Natural Beauty of Maine: A Stunning Setting for Summer Camps

Pristine Lakes and Clear Waters

Maine is known for its many pristine lakes and ponds. And we’re not talking about small ponds! These “Great Ponds” make up nearly half of Maine’s 6,000 lakes and span over 10 acres each. Maine’s lakes are home to many fish and wildlife and provide a picturesque environment for water-based activities like swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. On the southern shores of Maine’s largest body of water in the famed Belgrade Laked Region is Camp Runoia’s all girls sleepaway summer camp. The clear, calm waters the camp is nestled on offer a safe environment for girls to enjoy outdoor activities like canoeing, windsurfing and waterskiing. 

Lush Forests and Diverse Landscapes

Known as the “Pine Tree State,” Maine is full of lush forests and rich landscapes that are home to over 50,000 species of wildlife and provide an ideal backdrop for hiking, ecology, and wilderness trips. Even within our small camp community, we work with a forester on a tree management plan to take care of all of the beautiful old trees on our property. These natural surroundings help campers connect with nature and experience the outdoors in a way that fosters personal growth and inspiration.

The Maine Summer Climate

Maine’s summer climate is comfortable, with average daily temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit and cool evenings that are perfect for sitting around the campfire. The warm sunny days and cool nights make Maine one of the best summer camp locations for enjoying outdoor activities all day long and getting a cool, restful sleep in the cabin at night. 

The Ideal Environment for Immersive Camp Experiences

Camp Runoia’s peaceful setting is a place for girls to disconnect and reconnect. Maine’s remote location, away from the distractions of city life, creates the perfect atmosphere for an immersive Maine summer camp experience. The sense of tranquility and focus that campers can enjoy, free from the noise of everyday life and technology, is what makes summer camp in Maine truly magical. This kind of natural isolation fosters stronger connections between campers as they immerse themselves in camp life without distractions. 

The Outdoor Adventure Opportunities in Maine

Exploring the Outdoors: Perfect for Girls at Summer Camp

From stunning coastal beaches to dense pine forests and rugged mountains, Maine is an ideal location for outdoor activities and trips at an all girls’ sleepaway camp. Camp Runoia is known for its 30+ traditional camp activities, which include hiking, nature walks, and waterfront sports. Girls can take full advantage of the local geography and learn new outdoor skills within a safe and supportive environment surrounded by natural beauty.

Adventure Trips at Camp Runoia

Among the many exciting and unique opportunities that Camp Runoia offers, campers can choose to partake in excursions to some of the area’s most stunning locations. Some of Runoia’s trips include hiking Maine’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin and exploring one of the country’s most beautiful national parks, Acadia National Park. Another opportunity is exploring Permaquid Beach for a relaxing day at one of Maine’s picturesque coastal beaches, perfect for swimming, beach games, and seaside exploration. 

Overnight and wilderness trips have long been a cherished tradition at Camp Runoia. Exploring the outdoors in small, guided groups provides campers with opportunities for growth and discovery in a simple yet magical way. Committed to the philosophy of low-impact camping, Camp Runoia encourages campers to develop a deep appreciation for the natural world while fostering a sense of responsibility as stewards of our planet. Trip options vary by age and experience, ranging from one to four nights. Additionally, all campers have the chance to participate in day hikes on local trails and canoeing adventures from our lakefront access to the stunning Great Pond, where 8,000 acres of pristine freshwater await!

adventure trips at camp runoia summer camps in maine

Maine’s Reputation for Exceptional Summer Camps

Why Maine is Known for Top-Rated Camps

Maine’s sleepaway camps have earned quite a reputation for being some of the top sleepaway camps in the Northeast, focusing on quality experiences and excellent programs all across the board. Maine has a long history of traditional summer camps, with many summer camps, such as Camp Runoia, established over a hundred years ago. Values like community, nature appreciation, and personal growth run deep through these camps and are what keep campers and staff from all around the world coming back year after year.

Camp Runoia: One of the Best All-Girls Sleepaway Camps

Established in 1907, Camp Runoia is one of the top rated camps in Maine, particularly all girls’ sleepaway camps. With its welcoming environment rooted in tradition, blended with progressive leadership programs and unique activities, it is clear why campers have spent summers on Runoia’s beautiful campus for over a hundred years. The camp shows true its legacy of providing a transformative Maine summer camp experience for girls from all over the world. 

Outdoor Activities and Personal Growth at Girls Camps in Maine

Here at Camp Runoia, we are firm believers that Maine is one of the best places in New England for an all girls summer camp. Being away from the distractions of daily life and immersed in the beauty of nature during a Maine summer camp experience can transform a girl’s life forever. Maine’s natural environment and camp activities provide the perfect setting for self development and personal growth. Maine’s wide selection of summer camp programs like team challenges, leadership workshops, and outdoor adventures teach campers essential life skills.

This combination of empowering activities in nature and the sense of community in a traditional camp setting, help girls build lasting friendships and foster a sense of self and individuality. Spending a summer in Maine can leave a lasting impact on a girl’s confidence, friendships, and love for nature, setting the stage for continued growth and success beyond the camp experience.

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Maine is one of the best locations for an all-girls sleepaway camp, from its natural beauty and ideal summer climate to its sense of peace and adventure. Young girls from all over the world have been coming to Maine to enjoy a traditional summer camp experience like those at Camp Runoia, one of the longest-standing all girls’ sleepover camps in the Northeast. With its stunning surroundings and focus on empowering young girls, Camp Runoia exemplifies why Maine sleepaway camps are among the best summer camps around!

 

On Choosing a Camp: what is the right fit?

Posted on by Colleen O'Malley

As we round the corner into what feels like the back half of fall, many families are, possibly for the first time, searching for and choosing a brand new camp for their kid(s). Choosing a camp requires placing a lot of trust into camp professionals to care for your child and to provide a dream experience – but that trust doesn’t need to be blind. At Runoia, it is our goal to help campers find their best fit camp. We are always thrilled when that happens to be Runoia, but each camp is entirely unique from the next. It’s important to know what’s important to you (and your child,) ask the right questions, and pursue that experience. After countless parent phone calls and Zooms, here are the top things we suggest parents and guardians think about when choosing a camp, and some helpful questions to ask a camp director when looking:

Narrow-focused or well-rounded?

The label ‘camp’ can mean anything from a soccer day camp to a sleep-away camp with dozens of activities. Are you hoping that your child focuses on building one particular skill – sailing, riding, a team sport, etc. – or do you hope that they will broaden their horizons, try new things, and gain skills in multiple activities in one summer?

Runoia falls into the latter category – with 30+ activity choices and exceptional programs in multiple areas like our complete waterfront, on-campus riding program, trips, and more! Here are some questions you can ask a camp director:

  • How many activities do you offer at camp?
  • What would you say are your biggest programs?
  • How do you offer skill progression in different activities?

Structured or elective?

This is an important question to ask, especially after deciding on the prior! Once you know how many and what kind of activities a camp offers, it’s important to also know how much of a camper’s schedule is in their own control. If you are leaning towards a camp that specializes in just a handful of activities, you may also be looking for a structured camp that sets campers’ schedules for them. Runoia’s culture is one of choice and individual expression – our campers choose their own schedules in 2-day and 3-day blocks at camp. Our campers choose their schedules at camp for each block at a time, so they can pursue a new-found passion, change their minds, or be a completely different person from one block to the next! Here are some great questions to ask a camp director to get a sense of their structure:

  • Do campers have full, partial, or no control over their schedule and activity choices?
  • Do campers do activities with their cabin group or are classes mixed?
  • Do campers choose their schedules before arriving or at camp?
  • Do you offer any special-focus programs for campers to enroll in?

Small community or big population?

There are certainly benefits to each different camp population size, from a trip program with just a handful of staff and campers, to communities with hundreds of staff members and thousands of campers in one summer! When choosing a camp, ask yourself and your child whether they would prefer a tight-knit community – one where everyone knows one another and friendships span all ages – or a large community with the opportunity to meet hundreds of others? Runoia is a community like the former; our director team knows our campers’ names and each are involved in all aspects of the community on a day-to-day basis. Here are some questions to ask a director about their community:

  • What is your community size in each session?
  • How many campers and staff are in each cabin?
  • What is your overall staff to camper ratio?
  • Are your senior-level staff and directors involved in the daily community?

Tradition

As a camp entering its 117th consecutive season, we’re no stranger to tradition – when your camp has been standing since 1907, you pick up a few along the way! We try to strike our best balance between tradition and progression – honoring our foundations while moving forward. Here are some great questions to ask on tradition:

 

  • What traditions are important to your camp?
  • Does your camp partake in any intra or inter-camp competitions?
  • Do you have something like ‘color wars’?
  • Do you ever reevaluate traditions with a DEI lens?

 

An immersed experience, or connection to the ‘real world?’

We believe that camp poses a unique opportunity to ‘unplug’ to connect to nature, others, and ourselves. Therefore, Runoia offers a truly classic, immersed camp experience for its campers and staff. Technology is a no-go at Runoia, and we keep it old-school with letter-writing. Runoia also communicates with parents throughout the week through multiple modalities. We find that our system of communication really helps our campers make the most of their time at camp,

connect to others, and fight off feelings of homesickness. Each camp is different, however, and it’s important to know what level of communication you expect from your ideal camp. Ask these questions:

  • Are phone calls allowed at camp?
  • Can you describe how mail works at your camp?
  • Do you have a system of regular communication for updates from the leadership team?

Session length

Again, each camp is so different from the next, and the topic of session length is no exception! Camps range from offering just 1-week sessions throughout the summer, to only offering a summer-long experience. Runoia offers two 3-week sessions and limited opportunities for a full summer. We also offer a 2-week ‘try it’ program for our youngest campers called Harmony Land Camp. When thinking about session length, try asking these questions:

  • Do you offer a shorter ‘starter camp’ program to try? What ages are eligible if so?
  • What are your session dates and how long is each session?
  • Do most campers choose to go for one session or the full summer?

 

Location, location, location

We might be a touch biased to say that Maine really is the summer camp capitol of the world, and Maine does it well! Offering plenty of water, beautiful green land, and mountains to boot – you just can’t beat it. And since each year we welcome campers who have traveled from not just states away but countries away, we’d have to say it’s a worthwhile journey. Here are some important questions to ask about location and transportation:

 

  • What are the options for transportation to camp?
  • What does opening day look like for each mode of transportation?
  • Do parents and guardians tend to travel in the area for the duration of camp?

Diversity

When choosing a camp, it is important that your child finds a community in which they can see themselves represented by other campers, staff, and in camp policies. Runoia is happy to have seen its camper diversity grow organically in recent years, and has responded with the formation of its DAC, Diversity Advisory Committee, and intentional efforts to positively impact access to camp and the experience of camp for all families. Whether this directly impacts your camper or not, it is an important component in a camp’s culture and community. Here are some questions to ask a director on diversity at camp:

  • How would you describe the diversity of your camp? Has it grown recently?
  • Does your camp have any official advisory, DEI professional, or DEI policy in place?
  • Do you offer DEI training to your staff members?
  • How does your camp approach gender identity and pronoun expression?

What does it mean to be accredited? 

To help reduce risk, Camp Runoia is voluntarily accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). We follow standards pertaining to: program, site, facilities, transportation, vehicles, administration, personnel, and health care. If a camp holds a current ACA accreditation, it means that it has also been evaluated to meet the same rigorous set of standards as Runoia. Here are a few questions to ask about accreditation:

  • Is your camp currently accredited by the ACA?
  • Has there ever been a time recently when your camp was not accredited?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a camp, and each individual family and camper will have a unique set of ideas of what ‘camp’ should look and feel like to them. We hope you utilize these helpful questions in your next conversation with a camp director and wish you luck on your camp search!

Interested in Runoia? Reach out to request more information!