Simplicity by design and a close-knit community. The camp sits on acres of lakeside and woodland, campers take wilderness trips, and the activity programme is individual to each girl. It has been family-owned for four generations, which is where the mix of tradition and freedom to explore comes from.
In Otisfield, Maine, on Pleasant Lake. The lakeside setting is what makes swimming, boating and outdoor exploration part of the ordinary day.
The school’s own answer: in an all-girls setting girls explore interests without fear of judgement, step into leadership roles more readily, see female staff modelling confidence, take more risks in new activities, and build friendships in which other girls are support rather than competition. Many campers also use it to step out of the role they are cast in at school.
It differs for every child and family. The most frequent age for a new camper is 8, 9 or 10, but new campers arrive in every age group.
A full season gives a camper time to attend the four Basic activities regularly and build real outdoor skill, and to add electives such as Tennis, Sailing, Weaving or Theater at her own pace. Full-season campers also take part in every camp ceremony and event, the whole trips schedule including a lodge overnight, the theatre shows and the Celebration of the Arts, intercamp competitions, and the Junior Maine Guide, American Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Wilderness First Aid programmes.
Staff are trained in supervision, risk management and emergency preparedness. Lifeguards hold American Red Cross certification, and the facilities and programme meet the standards of the State of Maine and the American Camp Association.
Across camp it is 1:3. In the lodges it is 1:4 through the end of 7th grade. From 8th grade the cabins are larger and ratios run closer to 1:8. The camp keeps these below both American Camp Association standards and Maine state requirements.
Waking and rising bells and flag raising first, then breakfast, clean-up and assembly on The Rock. Two activity periods in the morning, general swim, free time, dinner and rest hour in the middle of the day, two more activity periods in the afternoon, then general swim, supper, flag lowering and the evening programme, and cabin time before lights out.
Meals are made by the camp chef and served family style in the Dining Room for breakfast and supper, and outside at picnic tables for lunch. There is a full breakfast and a salad bar, fruit all morning and an afternoon snack. The camp is nut-free and caters for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian diets.
Camp Arcadia is technology-free. A device a camper needs for travel is checked in at the office on arrival and picked up at the end of the session. Parents keep in touch by email and letter, and new families get a call from the director on the third day.
