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.

This family camp is a true gem - the best kind of all-inclusive vacation for families. My family of…read morefive loves it. The kids spend time by themselves, my husband and I have time alone and together, and we have time with the kids to enjoy each other as a family. The camp is large enough for the kids to exercise their independence --heading to the barn for activities or kayaking in the cove by themselves without me worrying about them. When we go, I don't cook, clean or plan anything - which as a busy mom, is the best kind of vacation. The camp is rustic and simple but very clean with beautifully manicured grounds - a space just perfect for appreciating nature. The food is delicious (I probably gained 5 lbs last week) and easily catered to special diets. I enjoyed a nice mix of structured activities (fishing, sailing, art, archery, land sports, barn dance, bingo, etc) and down time (time at the lake or for a nature walk or just to relax around the fire). I also appreciated the sense of community that camp strives to create each week among the family members. At about 10-12 families per week, it is just the right size. Can't recommend this special place highly enough and I can't wait to go back.

Almost finished at our 1st family camp at Medomak and we are already planning to return. What a…read morespecial place. We were warmly welcomed by the amazing staff and guided to private cabin which was perfectly outfitted for our family of 4. The daily schedule has great variety and tailored the ages of all campers. The staff is knowledgeable, caring, accommodating and creates a wonderful family environment. A great place to disconnect from daily routines and reconnect with each other. It is a great place.

Solid place to hold a wedding - this is a girls sleep away camp that can be rented out. Pretty…read morecool. The camp is really nice with tennis courts, a radio station, a pool and a lake amongst other things. This looks way better than the camps I grew up going to. Went here for a wedding which was a cute venue. The camp staff acted as servers I think and the food wasn't too bad - buffet style with a giant tray of steaks and some of the best strawberry shortcake I've ever had.

I spent 7 summers here as a camper, and 2 as a counselor, and those were the best summers of my…read morelife. I would count down the days during the school year until I could go back. The facilities and activities are top notch, and the staff and owners are incredible. I met my closest friends at Matoaka. We speak and get together all the time. Now, my four nieces go, and my four year old is begging. I cannot wait for her to be able to go to. This place is just amazing!

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!

If you have a daughter and you want to offer the gift of a lifetime, send her to Camp Tapawingo…read more The camp instill values that will last a lifetime and friendships that will endure the test of time. I am a former camper and just returned from a reunion with my camp friends. The love, spirit, tradition, and commitment to each camper is alive and well after 100 years. Tap Girls forever!!!

I went to Camp Tapawingo for 8 wonderful summers in the 80s and early 90s and now I am super…read moreexcited to send my stepdaughter to experience the joy that is Tapawingo. Tapawingo is a supportive, close knit environment that ensures that everyone has fun and is included. There are no cliques, every single camper and counselor care about one another and the bonds that are formed last a lifetime. Plus, Maine is a beautiful place to spend a summer and enjoy nature.

A friend from college had her wedding on this campsite. It was the perfect weekend getaway. As a…read morechild, I never attended camp, so it was nice to live out my Parent Trap dreams. We slept in the cabins for a weekend of fun with friends. There is a volleyball court, basketball court, and a lovely lakeside view.

My daughter will be attending Camp Wazi again in the summer of 2022 for the 4th year. Her first…read moreyear at Wazi was at 7 years old and I will never forget the 4 hour car ride home in which she did not stop talking about all of the amazing things she did and all of the wonderful friends she made. At Wazi, she tried all kinds of activities that she had never even heard of, such as archery, and came home with new interests. She also matured tremendously over that summer as these young kids are given the opportuntiy to choose which activities they would like to do, take care of themselves and make all kinds of decisions on their own. My daughter felt safe and happy all summer. During the 2021 summer, they did an amazing job of letting the kids enjoy a mostly normal camp experience even though COVID was still around. Highly recommend Camp Wazi for any child as there are so many activities to choose from and it is a nice small camp with a great staff!