Specialties
New experiences of happiness, friendship, growth and being at home in the out-of-doors - these are our goals for each of our 180 campers. The Maine woods, lakes, and fields stimulate an interest in the natural world. Living with others leads to abiding friendships and self-confidence. Participating in our rich, full program encourages the development of individual abilities. The foundation of Arcadia is the belief that each girl should, with guidance, plan and carry out her own individual program and that she should attain proficiency in our Basic Activities - boating, campcraft, canoeing, and swimming. Each camper and her parents choose her elective activities in the spring. Activities are scheduled by interest and ability, rather than by age or lodge units. Our usual daily program is interspersed with canoe and hiking trips as well as other special activities.
History
Established in 1916.
The same family has guided Arcadia for 95 years. Dr. George L. Meylan was the Director of Physical Education at Columbia University.
In the 1890's, Dr. Meylan joined a group of early camping educators and founded White Mountain Camp for boys on Sebago Lake in Maine in 1905.
In 1917 Dr. Meylan purchased Camp Arcadia for girls, which had been founded the year before. Dr. Meylan and his daughter Juliette Meylan Henderson directed the camp for many years. He became the first president of the joined associations for boys and girls camps which evolved into the American Camping Association. Juliette, known as Mum-Mum to her camp associates, oversaw increasing the Camp's land, building the tripping program and establishing a strong program as well as handling the staffing and enrollment.
Her daughters, Anne Henderson Fritts and Louise Henderson became the directors in 1970.Anne's third daughter, Louise Fritts Johnson, joined Anne and Louise as a director of Arcadia.
Meet the Business Owner: Louise J.
A fourth generation Arcadia camper, counselor and now director, Louise has spent most of her summers at Camp. As a camper she especially loved Canoeing, Swimming and Campcraft. She received Arcadia's Advanced Certification in Counselor Training and was a Junior Maine Guide. Certified by the National Outdoor Leadership School, she is active in the American Camping Association and the Maine Youth Camping Association.
Her three young children-fifth generation Arcadians-are at Arcadia each summer and with all of that, she does camper enrollment, supervises counselor hiring, manages the kitchen and staff and on a daily basis is in charge, summer, fall, winter and spring.
