Specialties
Camp Walden is a 7-week, residential, summer camp for girls,
ages 8 - 15. Campers return each summer for friendship, challenge and fun and participate in traditional overnight camp activities including wilderness trips, horseback riding, tennis, sailing and water skiing.
For nearly a century, the Walden experience has been part of young girls' lives as they acquire leadership skills and confidence to navigate their world.
History
Established in 1916.
In 1915, inspired by the writings of Henry David Thoreau, 2 women purchased 45 acres of land in the woods near Denmark, Maine with the goal of establishing a camp providing city girls with an outdoor camping experience and an appreciation of nature. Camp Walden opened in 1916, with thirty girls enrolled for the nine-week season.
From its earliest days, the camp sought to create an atmosphere of trust, respect, and consideration for others, with an emphasis on sportsmanship and giving your best effort. Girls were taught a variety of land sports, as well as swimming, rowing, and arts and crafts, and were divided into two teams, with Bruno the bear as the mascot of the Brown Team and Tango the monkey the mascot of the Tan Team. Other traditions were established including creating a newsletter, Splash, and going on overnight camping trips, "bunkshows" performed each Saturday night by different cabins, and the Banquet Night.
Meet the Manager: Kathy J.
It is with continued excitement and anticipation that I look forward to my summers as Director of Camp Walden, getting to know you and spending the summer with your daughters.
I have always understood that camp is a special place. As a child at overnight camp my self-confidence grew while I learned to sail, enjoyed camping and hiking trips and made great friends. I brought my camp experiences home each year and was able to be the self-assured person I was at camp, at home! This is why after eighteen years as a college administrator I returned to camping with one goal in mind, to create the opportunity for as many children as possible to have the same exceptional overnight camping experience as I had as a child and young adult.
