Because we will work hard to learn not only your child’s name, but also about their unique hopes, dreams, and interests. Guided by the Quaker value of seeing the Light of Goodness in every person, we will look for the goodness in your child and help them grow at camp.
Director and Staff
Anna Hopkins, the director of Friends Camp, is a staff member of the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends. Each spring, she carefully selects well-qualified and skilled counselors. Our counselors and staff are carefully screened with in-depth interviews, references, background checks, and ongoing supervision during the summer. Many of our counselors come with special qualifications in life-guarding, sailing, arts and crafts, photography, music, ceramics, drama, nature, and sports. Campers receive ample attention and supervision during all program activities with our camper-to-counselor ratio of one to four.
A Typical Day at Friends Camp
7:15, 7:30, and 7:45 Morning Bells to help you wake up.
8:00 Breakfast and morning clean-up
8:45 Free play time
9:30 Meeting for Worship and Business (Worship is a youth-oriented time for silent reflection and sharing. Meeting for Business allows campers and staff to participate in discussions about how to shape our camp to best meet their needs.) There is a snack option after this morning meeting.
10:00 Morning Activity Period– you choose your weekly program the first morning at camp, and programs are different every session! There’s about ten choices every week, and they always include artistic, outdoorsy, athletic, and totally wacky options.
12:15 Lunch and Rest Hour
2:00 Waterfront time. Each afternoon, campers have an opportunity to swim, canoe, sail, and relax at the camp’s waterfront on China Lake. There is a snack served after waterfront.
4:00 Elective activities, different every day! All campers have time to shower during this afternoon period, and older campers can opt to have more free time.
5:30 Dinner and evening clean-up
7:00 Evening Games: non-competitive group games as a whole camp.
7:30 (or at the sunset!) Vespers. Campers gather to watch the sun set over China Lake.
Bedtime: While younger campers head to bed after the sun set, teenage campers do an evening program, which might include drama activities, open-mic night, a dance, and more.
One of the many things that makes Friends Camp interesting and fun is that the program activities change from session to session, and are different each summer.
Admissions Values
Friends Camp is a co-ed camp that welcomes youth from all races, religious affiliations, national origins, genders, and sexual orientations. Our ability to accommodate youth with physical or mental health issues is limited, but each session we welcome a few young people with many talents and strengths who sometimes find it hard to be accepted and/or supported in other youth programs or in academic settings. We are a tolerant community that looks for the light of goodness in each person, and we are very proud of our campers’ ability to love and care for each other. Please call our director if you have any questions about how your child would fit in to life at Friends Camp.
Facilities
Friends Camp is located on sixty beautiful acres of woodland in South China, Maine. Our waterfront is on China Lake, which is a short walk across the road and down a wooded path. We have fifteen rustic cabins that house 7 to 10 campers, and two bathhouses. Our property includes three sports fields and a basketball court. We also have access to a small island in the middle of China Lake for day trips and overnight adventures. Most of our indoor activities take place in Aviary Hall, Big Bird Dining Hall, Cardinal Hall, and the two hundred year old Pond Meeting House that serves as our arts and crafts building.
Food
Friends Camp has an excellent reputation for healthy meals cooked from scratch. We provide a full salad bar with lunch and dinner, and we offer a buffet of wonderful vegetarian and non-vegetarian options at each meal. We are committed to buying from several local farmers to increase the amount of local food we offer to our campers. Friends Camp is licensed by the State of Maine, and we follow all of the current health and safety requirements. Please contact us if your child has special dietary requirements.