My two sons are counting down the days until their 4th summer at Laurel begins. There are so many options 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"! read more

Camp Laurel is the best decision we ever made for our children! The 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. read more

Best Camp Ever!! We LOVE Laurel!! When your children leave home for 7 weeks, you want to make sure they are in the best hands. The entire staff at Camp Laurel is fully dedicated to making sure your children are happy, thriving and well looked after. They are so attentive and truly incredible people to entrust your children to. Camp Laurel offers an amazing variety of activities, there is really something for everyone! Your children will surprise you and end up trying things you never thought they would. The camp facilities are extraordinary and the food as per my son is quite good (for camp food that says a lot!). Go up for a visit and get a tour and you will leave knowing it is the perfect camp for your family! read more

My experience at Camp Laurel has been nothing short of impeccable. I showed up on my first "beautiful day in the state of Maine" not knowing a single staff member and over the next four summers cultivated incredible memories and gained meaningful work experience all while meeting some friends I will have for the rest of my life. As someone who has spent the past 22 summers in the camp setting, I am very lucky to have the same level of excitement and fun as I did back when I first started and that is largely due to the amazing people in the Camp Laurel community. Jem and Debbie, along with all of the leadership, are experts at what they do and make Camp Laurel the welcoming, loving and safe place it is. Campers and staff literally travel from all over the world to be at Camp Laurel and that speaks volumes to the environment that they have created on Echo Lake. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work and grow as a professional under their guidance and would not trade my experience for anything. Through my time working with Jem and Debbie, I have found my organizational, management and reasoning skills have all improved as a byproduct from the atmosphere that Camp Laurel provides. Additionally, the physical beauty of Maine is unmatched and thus the perfect background for a summer that is filled with genuine happiness. I can't think of any other "job" that allows you to work with your best friend all day (hi Geoff), in a beautiful setting where the main goal is to make sure everyone around you is having the best experience they possibly can. I am counting down the seconds until I am back on the shores of Echo Lake with some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Camp Laurel is truly something special. read more

The moment I stumbled upon Camp Laurel online, I knew this was a magical place and had to submit an application. I was completing my final semester of my graduate program, and was unsure of what my next step would be, however I had always wanted to experience that "Camp Experience". Little did I know upon accepting a summer position on the waterfront of Echo Lake, I would be getting that Camp Experience and so much more. The leadership and expertise from Jem, Debbie, and Keith, as well as all the leadership staff that make Camp Laurel possible was nothing but exceptional throughout my hiring process and the entire summer. Every facility and program area was pristine and some of the best and highest quality I have ever seen. However, Camp Laurel doesn't just provide an amazing summer camp experience for both campers and staff, it provides a safe haven for everyone to truly be themselves, and be 100% comfortable in doing so. Working at Camp Laurel this past summer did not only provide me with a fun summer job after graduation, but it provided me with an amazing summer full of learning new personal and professional skills that I could take with me beyond the shores of Echo Lake. Yet most importantly, at Camp Laurel I found my incredible Laurel Family from all corners of the globe which I learned to love and respect so much. Working at Camp Laurel was one of the best experiences of my life, and I will forever be thankful for this experience. If you find yourself reading this review and are trying to decide if Camp Laurel is the right place for you or your kids, take the chance and apply for a position or session. You will quickly feel the Laurel magic. read more

Camp Laurel is a wonderful camp. It starts with the terrific leadership and enthusiasm of directors Jem and Debbie Sollinger, followed closely by the amazing facilities and the unique culture that the campers affectionately refer to as Laurel Pride. Like most families, we did a lot of research before sending our first child away to camp. We visited many great camps and met some highly qualified directors, but the moment we arrived at Laurel, we and our kids knew it was for us. Three summers later, we couldn't be happier with our decision. We continue to be impressed with the quality and wide-range of offerings at Laurel and its ability to evolve and grow with your child. Every year new and innovative facilities are added, along with upgrades to the already extraordinary existing facilities. But most importantly, Jem and Debbie are simply unrivaled. They create such an atmosphere of warmth and caring that you have no doubt your children are in excellent hands for the summer. And they are all about the details. They really know every camper -- not just their names, but what they like, who they will be best paired with, and what concerns or anxieties they may have and how best to handle. They go out of their way to ensure that you and your child are ready for camp, including in the months leading up to camp sending emails, calling on the phone and in some instances making home visits. In short, they make sure that your child is prepared beforehand to have a successful summer and then orchestrate a fun and rewarding summer for your kids that will make them wanting to go back to Laurel from the day they return home! Our family could not be more pleased with Camp Laurel. read more

From the moment I saw Laurel I knew this was a magical place. From the beauty of the campus to the quality of the facilities I knew that this was the place for my children. This will be my son's last year, his 6th summer, and he is going to miss Laurel with all his heart. He has formed special bonds with friends and staff. This will be my middle daughter's 5th summer and she cannot wait. I will now have a new camper going. She is so excited and counting down the days. Laurel and the staff really get to know each camper and take time to ensure that each one of them has the best experience. Each camper has different needs and we feel Laurel has a broad spectrum of activities that fills those needs. Jem, Debbie and Keith are committed directors who know the importance of good staffing, fun activities, and being present. We are very happy to be apart of the Laurel family. read more

As my daughter prepares for her final summer at Camp Laurel Maine as a Super Senior I am experiencing two distinct emotions. The first would be Gratitude. Admittedly, we joined the Camp Laurel family a bit later than most. The tradition (in the northeast) of sending your kids off to summer camp was foreign to my wife and I, and we were reluctant to ship our kids off to Maine just as the school year had concluded. If we only knew then what we know now. The simple fact of the matter is that both my son and daughter have cherished their Camp Laurel experiences. So much so that they have even asked Jem and Debbie Sollinger who are Camp Laurel's amazing Directors to add an additional age group to the program so that they could continue to attend past the current 9th grade cut off! We are still working on that request.... The fact of the matter is that my children look forward to attending Camp Laurel every summer because Debbie and Jem have created a very special culture. For my kids, going to Laurel is analogous to the summers I spent with my cousin's in California visiting their cabin in the Sierra's and their beach house in Oxnard. I couldn't wait to go because there was always so much to do and, more importantly, I was surrounded by people who truly cared about me and who I liked to be with. This is the exact experience that both my son and daughter have enjoyed at Laurel; every day presents tons of fun things to do and they are surrounded by the friends they have made over the years and are guided by a staff that truly cares about their health and wellbeing. The second emotion is one of Pride. Obviously, when you send your children off to camp your primary wish is for them to have a wonderful experience and enjoy being a kid without all the stress and anxiety that comes from school, sports and the many activities we as parents continue to sign our kids up for even though we know full well that their schedules are much more intense than what we experienced as children. A topic for a separate discussion... As mentioned, Camp Laurel checks the fun "box" completely as my children arrive home at the end of 7 weeks both happy and healthy. However, what makes Camp Laurel unique is that in addition to the great experiences that they provide to each camper, they also encourage and enable personal growth and development. It never fails to amaze me the transformation that occurs to my children after a summer at Laurel. Each year the result is the same; more confident, more self-assured, more respectful and understanding of others....more mature. This is a direct result of Jem's and Debbie's consistent "hands on" leadership and is the "secret sauce"t that distinguishes Camp Laurel from most other camps (trust me - I did my homework). Please know that I have never written a review before, but felt compelled as the Camp Laurel experience has had such a positive impact on my children. So if you are considering sending your children to camp this summer, do yourself a favor, and check out Camp Laurel Maine. I promise you that you will not be disappointed and that your children will be forever thankful. Bret F. read more