As August moves onwards, most Maine Camp Experience (MCE) camps are preparing to say goodbye to campers if they haven’t done so already. The 2019 season was another marvelous summer in Maine – and it’s always emotional to see campers and staff members depart after a summer together.
However, at some MCE camps there are special events held after camp that keep the fun going for just a little bit longer! Just about every other year, the MCE girls’ camp I work at hosts a Mother-Daughter weekend for campers and their moms immediately on the heels of the traditional camp session. After an early morning reveille and camper departure, staff worked tirelessly to clean cabins, make beds, and prepare for the arrival of our guests. Shortly after lunchtime, the guests began arriving, and they were almost as excited to be at camp as they were to see their children.
Over the course of the weekend, parents have an opportunity to participate in their campers’ favorite activities, and to experience a couple of days in their children’s summer paradise. They go waterskiing, paddleboarding, and sailing (after taking a deep water endurance test, of course). Parents and their kids also tie-dye t-shirts, take day-hikes to great Maine destinations, and even cartwheel around the gymnastics facility – and it wouldn’t be a weekend at camp without a traditional campfire and S’mores. Of course, things are a little different from a normal day in the life at camp – all activities are optional, lobster is on the menu, and a few bottles of wine may be spotted at dinner – but the general spirit of camp life prevails, and it’s really remarkable seeing the kids spending this quality time with their parents in a place that is so dear to them.
My MCE camp is certainly not the only camp to offer this kind of programming. Several MCE boys’ camps, host a similar Father-Son weekend at camp, which is a great opportunity for kids to spend quality time with their dads. Some MCE camps invite the whole family for a Family Camp, which offers a great opportunity to spend quality time with the whole family, which is certainly welcome after a summer spent away – no matter how much kids love camp during the traditional camper sessions, it’s always nice to see and experience camp with family.
There are also other kinds of events and celebrations that will happen at MCE camps once departure day has arrived. Two years ago, my MCE camp was celebrating our 100th summer, and hosted a huge alumni reunion weekend. There were several hundred guests – some staying at camp, others staying nearby – and the celebration dinner and ensuing party have quickly become a part of our camp’s lore.
Maine camps also offer ideal venues for weddings, work retreats, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Many MCE camps host tremendous events throughout the late summer and early fall, as camps offer a unique combination of idyllic location, plenty of housing for guests, and top-notch facilities.
While it may be sad to say goodbye to another season of camp, it’s always exciting to move forward with the “camp after camp” events. Whether you’re experiencing activities for a weekend with your child, or celebrating a major milestone, there really is no place to be like Maine!
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Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools
You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitudeon our Memories of Camp section of our website.
Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth.
Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.
Talk to Laurie, our Maine Campcierge®, about choosing the right camp for your child and what to do in Maine.
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