One of the best camps in the US, without question. I spent many happy summers at Manitou, and now…read moremy son is a camper there as well (along with many other second and even third generation boys). For kids who would enjoy playing sports all day, and making lifelong friends, Manitou is the camp to choose.

i came here for half of a summer (4 weeks) and loved it so much that i told my parents i wasn't…read morecoming home and planned to stay for the full 8 weeks. i think i spent a total of 3 summers here and often wish for the days when all i did was eat, sleep, play sports, and laugh with my friends. i look back at my summers at camp manitou as some of the best times of my life. wake up for breakfast, sports in the morning, lunch, sports in the afternoon, dinner, and sports at night. just about every sport imaginable was available from the lake (sailing, windsurfing, scuba, waterskiing) to the courts (tennis, basketball, track) to the fields (soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, archery) and everything else in between. life in the bunks was filled with hazing and brotherhood, atomic sit-ups, and teenage boasting. through the trials of college league and color war we became intense competitors. that competitive nature was never more evident than when we competed against other camps because manitou ran the table in all sports. kennebec, androscoggin, cobbosee, y'all were our bitches. nostalgia abounds

My two sons are counting down the days until their 4th summer at Laurel begins. There are so many…read moreoptions out there, and I truly feel like we hit the jackpot with Laurel. While the facilities are second to none and beyond impressive, that is not what makes Laurel so special. The best part about Laurel are the people, beginning with the directors Jem and Debbie Sollinger. My kids truly love Jem. The attention that Jem gives to each camper is remarkable. He is front and center in everything going on at camp. While I'm not there to witness myself, the daily scroll through the photos paints a great picture. And it doesn't stop with Jem - the staff training is incredibly thorough and intentional. They really know how to work with kids. One of my sons struggled with some cabin relationships, but the connection he had with his counsellors and campus leaders was exactly what he needed to navigate through. Camp is a regular conversation topic in our house and each year they come back giving their summer a 10/10. They truly live "10-4-2"!

Camp Laurel is the best decision we ever made for our children!…read moreThe directors, programming, activities, facilities and community are top quality. Nothing compares to it. The friendships our boys have made will last a lifetime. Laurel attracts wonderful families. My husband and I have also made connections with parents of campers there that are very special. We feel lucky to be a part of the unique Laurel spirit. Trust in the Directors of a camp is crucial and we have the upmost faith in Jem, Debbie and Keith. They are professional, genuine and a lot of fun. They understand that every child is an individual vs just a number. The facilities are beautiful. The food is healthy and excellent - my kids say better than at home. The cabins are always well balanced. The environment at Camp Laurel allows campers to be who they are. The staff is carefully chosen, impressive and intelligent. They encourage the children to try new things and step out of their comfort zones from home. Building confidence and skills is a gift that Laurel gives it campers.

EXTREMELY rude staff. My family attended bark in the park tonight & the Portland sea dogs over sold…read morethe section that we were assigned to stay in with our dog. THEN your group of campers shows up at 6 pm after the game had already started and expected us to move. There were SEVERAL of your staff that were telling us to move. And one of your employees Mr. Ewing, as we were leaving, said "we're glad you're leaving that's what we wanted." I hope you don't teach the children that go to this camp to be extremely rude to adults. Seems like your camp needs to have better time management and not show up when the game has already started and expect other fans to leave their seats they had purchased as well.

I spent a summer at Camp Modin when it was located in Canaan, ME, on Lake George. I was a bunk…read moreleader as well as the archery, basketball and football counselor. But, more important than the in camp activities were the amazing opportunities to use our Maine Guide for hiking, climbing, canoeing and learning the husbandry needed for deep woods survival. For the city kids of New York and Montreal, this was an experience that they would carry with them for a lifetime. The week long trips on the Allagash River, Rangely Lakes, and the challenging backpacking climbs to the top of Mt. Katadin and the dangerous footfalls along Knife's Edge, were as physically demanding as they were awe inspiring. It was a right of passage and accumulation of grace to watch urban kids who were so accustomed to one world, slowly evolve and grow in the skills needed to camp in the wild and learn appreciation for the natural universe. To become stronger and wiser by doing things so alien to their upbringing, and to return year after year to further growth, was what Modin was all about. That Camp Modin was successful in molding their campers into better people is measured by the fact that it is entering its 99th year. Only those who's souls were transformed in the Maine woods would fully understand the importance it could have in the lives of their children and generations thereafter. It was my good fortune to play a small part in that magical process.

This is a wonderful Quaker camp (but you don't have to be a Quaker to go)! It truly embodies Quaker…read morevalues of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and the environment -- much more than any other camp I know. It's also more affordable than many Maine camps, and is just minutes from I-95, Augusta, and Waterville.

This place has spaced my entire life. It is where I learned that it's okay to be myself and that…read morepeople will love me for it. Camp is such an important part of my life, I wrote my college essay about how much it meant to me. It's a beautiful intentional community, and I would recommend it to anyone. My entire family has begun sending their children and all of them have enjoyed their experience!

Our experience with Pine Island Camp has simply been life-changing. 6 weeks of open-sided tents,…read morepump your own water, handwritten letters home, make your own games, and no electricity- that means zero minutes of screen time ;) We have 2 sons and there's no doubt that this is the single most beneficial experience we have been able to provide (other than love & safety). This camp focuses on traditional activities such as sailing, swimming, wood shop, performing arts, and off-island backpacking trips. Summer 2026 will be our 9th summer with Pine Island Camp. Each summer, our boys come home more confident, creative, independent, compassionate, physically and emotionally stronger. Pine Island Camp is the real deal... Simple. Unplugged. Close to nature.

From the owner: Distinguished by its program, small enrollment, and unique freshwater island location, Pine Island…read moreCamp has offered fun, traditional camp activities since 1902 in a rustic setting that develops a boy's independence, imagination and character. Whether your son is shy or gregarious, big or small, this camp will challenge him to be at his best in the varied circumstances of simple outdoor living, albeit under the close supervision of our caring staff. Generations of Pine Islanders have found their summers at camp to be among the most meaningful of their lives.

We came here for a wedding, which is the context of this review…read more The staff had plenty of golf carts helping guests with the rather long walk to get to the wedding setting. This was helpful and staff seemed engaged and interested in helping. The setting for the wedding was lake side, very picturesque for a fall afternoon. They had adequate seating and benches set up. It was a very nice ceremony which the setting contributed to. Reception and meal was at the main lodge. There is a large outside deck which was nice for mingling during the pre meal drinks and waiter server appetizers. Dinner was buffet style inside the lodge. There was adequate staff and things went smoothly for a crowd of about 150. Food was ok, I'd give it an average rating. Entertainment was an outdoor canvas covered band with a decent dance floor. This was well done. All in all, this is a good wedding venue, if this is what you are looking for. They handled this crowd of 150 with no noticeable snafus. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars....Solid spot.

My son was very excited to go to Camp Caribou, it was his first time at overnight camp. He quickly…read morebecame very homesick, I insisted on talking to him even though the camp did not allow phone calls or visits from parents. When I was allowed a call with him The camp administrator Martha Lerman/owner told him to lie and say he was having fun. I 100% regret sending my son to this camp and picked him up early against Marthas advice.