2012 Guide to Summer Camps

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Top tips for choosing the right summer camp for your child

By Metro Creative Service It can be difficult to envision warm summer days when the wind is blowing and the snow is falling.

However, the winter months are a great time to explore summer camp options.

Attending summer camp has been a tradition in the United States for more than 150 years. Statistics indicate that around 30 million American kids attend summer camp each year. There are many benefits to summer camp. Camp enables children to stay engaged during the summer when there may be limited interaction with school friends. It also gives parents both a safe and viable daycare solution during the summer.

Summer camp pulls together children from different neighborhoods, social classes and backgrounds, which can make it a good place to meet new people — some of whom may become lifelong

friends. Camps also provide a variety of activities that can challenge children to try new things that go beyond their comfort zones.

Some children are very receptive to the idea of attending summer camp. Others need a little coaxing.

But summer camp should never be forced on a child who does not want to go. In such instances, consider local daytime programs that may fill the void instead of programs that require being away from home.

Once the decision for summer camp is made, there are some questions to answer.

• What are your finances like?

Do you have a budget for summer camp?

• What size camp do you desire?

• Should the camp be co-ed or single sex?

• How far do you want your child to travel for summer camp? What are the options in your area?

• Are there any camps that have been recommended by friends

Summer camp can be an excellent introduction to a specific special interest, or a chance for your child to experience being around other children while having fun.

or family members?

• What kinds of activities do your children enjoy?

These types of questions will help you narrow down your options. Then you can visit and interview camps to find one that is the best fit. When visiting camps, go armed with a checklist of questions. Some of these can include: • What is the camp’s philosophy?

• Can you explain a typical day?

• What are the types of activities and facilities offered?

• What is the camper-to-counselor ratio?

• What is the camp’s drug/alcohol policy?

• Does the camp have insurance and security personnel?

• What percentage of staff return each year? How are staff selected and trained?

• What kind of health care is provided?

• Can you tell me about the policy on phone calls and family visits?

• What do you do in the event of emergencies?

There are many different camps available. Some offer a “little bit of everything.” Others cater to special interests. Don’t wait too long to research and sign up for camps because many fill up quite early or have an extensive waiting list. That is why choosing a camp should be part of a winter to-do list.

This custom publication was produced by the following Bangor Daily News advertising staff members: Advertising sales: Jeff Orcutt Advertising support: Alysha Steltzer Cover design: Faith Burgos Writing: Debra Bell, Dale McGarrigle, and articles courtesy of the American Camp Association and select camps that advertised in this publication.

Photography: Provided by advertising Maine summer camps. Some images used from stock photography agencies.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 3

First time at camp? Talk with your child about summer camp

By Bob Ditter, L.C.S.W.

Sending your child away to camp for the first time is a major milestone for most families, one that is often marked by excitement, anticipation, and perhaps even some anxiety.

Though camp is certainly about making friends and having fun, it is also about being on your own and being a part of a community.

One of the most important things you as a parent can do to help prepare your child for both these aspects of camp is to talk with your child about it before he/she goes. In fact, it may be better to have several occasional, shorter talks rather than one long conversation as children often absorb more when there is less to think about at one time.

I also find that children do better with this sort of conversation if it is part of a more general conversation and if it is part of a pattern of talking, either at the dinner table or while riding in the car doing errands.

The following are some sample topics for discussion that will help

prepare your child emotionally for their big adventure:

Friends Camp is not anything if it is not about making new friends. If you are shy about meeting new kids, then learn to get to know others by being a good listener. Remember also that not everyone in your cabin, bunk, or group has to be your friend, and you don’t have to be everyone else’s friend. As long as you treat others with respect and they do the same with you, then having one or two friends at camp is fine. If you have more, then that’s great!

Activities There are many exciting things to do at camp, many of which you may never have tried before. If your child tends to be a bit homesick or worried about being homesick, remind him/her about the excitement of going to camp: Remember, when you first decided to go to camp, what made you so excited? You may not like all the activities, or you may be better at some than others. That’s normal. I,

however, hope you are willing to try. The more you put into camp, the more you will get out of it!

Cooperating You, like every other camper there, will be part of a cabin, bunk, or group. As your parent, I hope you will cooperate with others and help out. That’s part of what makes camp so special — kids helping each other out. Most kids will help you if you are friendly and help them.

Give yourself time. One thing about camp is that almost everything is new — the kids, the activities, the routines, the bed you sleep in, the bathroom. It takes a few days to get adjusted, so be patient with yourself. Most of the time you will be having so much fun you won’t mind all the changes, but if you do, remember that you will get so used to things that by the time you come home you will miss all those things!

Helping out Camp is about fun, but it also requires that you help out. Cleanup is part of camp. You do it every day! As your parent, I hope you

will cooperate!

Getting help Everyone has good days and bad days. If you are having a problem, your counselor is there to help you! You don’t have to wait to tell us if you are upset about something. After all, if your counselor doesn’t know what might be troubling you, he/she can’t help you.

Be honest and ask for what you need. If your counselor doesn’t seem to be concerned or doesn’t help you, then you can go to the unit director, head counselor, etc. Parents should know who these “back-up persons” are and how their child will recognize them if they need to.

Being positive It’s a great thing to remind your first-time camper about his or her strong points. I would focus not just on what they do well, but their positive qualities as well, such as what makes them a good friend or the type of person other kids would want to know. Helping children identify their strengths can help them when they are having a setback — one of those

inevitable growing pains all children have from time to time.

Talking with your child about these kinds of issues is a great way to show support as your child gets ready to take this important step on the road to being more resilient and self-reliant. For you as a parent, it can give you more peace of mind as you allow your child to participate safely in a broader world.

To learn more about camp and child development, please visit the American Camp Association’s family-dedicated Web site: www.campparents.org, or call the toll-free number, 1-800-428-CAMP (2267).

Bob Ditter is a child and family therapist living in Boston who consults extensively with people who work with children. He was special consultant to the Disney Channel for their series “Bug Juice.” Ditter has visited over 500 U.S. children’s camps and is considered one of the nation’s leading experts on camp. Originally printed in CAMP Magazine, reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association; © 2006 American Camping Association, Inc.

4 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Bangor Y’s Camp Jordan offers exploration, personal growth, and fun

By Debra Bell CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

Campers who are looking for an

adventure while sticking close to home this summer will want to put Camp Jordan on their list.

“Residential camp is special for a number of reasons” said Camp

A SUMMER OF FUN A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES! Summer Camp 2012 BANGOR Y For Children ages 5-18 Camp G. Peirce Webber Barracuda Swim Camp Team Extreme Adventure Camp Camp Jordan, Adventure Bound Trips & Leaders School

Experience the Magic of Camp & Register Today!

17 Second Street Bangor, ME 04401 207 941 2808 www.BangorY.org

Jordan Director Emerald Russell.

“Even though the camp road is less than a mile long, for a child, riding down the long winding road, anticipating the new activities, seeing old friends and counselors, spending a week or more away from home...it is like entering a whole different world”.

That world includes almost a half mile of lakefront, a 200 acre campus, counselors with silly camp names,activities like swimming, boating, arts and crafts,high and low ropes course,wilderness adventure, sports, and more.

“We encourage campers to try new things in a comfortable and supportive environment.” Bangor Y camps, like Camp Jordan, focus on providing a fun camp experience while also introducing campers to the four core values of the Bangor Y: Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility.

“Our goal is to find something special in each child, and really celebrate that.” Russell said. The traditional camp program is for children ages 8-14. “Our traditional camp setup allows campers to try a little bit of everything.”

Residential camp at Camp Jordan is about “new”: New experiences and new friends.

“Campers live in cabins with age-mates from across the country and across the globe. The cabin is a support network for the campers, and counselors are equipped with the tools to ensure that everyone feels valued in the group. A sense of belonging is important in developing a child’s self esteem, and there are many fun opportunities for cabins to compete and show their cabin pride” Russell said.

Parents and campers alike know about how seamlessly Camp Jordan integrates the four core values with fun. Isleford resident Louise Chaplin had her first experience at Camp Jordan in 2011.

According to her mother, Kate, Louise wanted the overnight experience. After looking at camps all over the state and consulting friends whose children had attended Camp Jordan “it seemed like a good short-term first camp experience,” Kate said. “We trusted that the Y program would be wholesome and physically appropriate.”

And, according to Kate, it was.

But it didn’t come without some bumps. “At first, she was completely thrilled and excited,” Kate said.

PHOTOS COURTESY BANGOR Y

Campers at Bangor Y camps, including residential Camp Jordan, learn new skills while having fun and developing long-lasting friendships.

“Then she became homesick. We got the tearful phone call begging to come home, but her counselors and new friends rallied to help her feel better, and she ended up having a blast (as we knew she would).”

Louise had such a good time that at the closing ceremony, “we were so proud that her cabin leaders awarded her all four ‘beads’, each of which represents a core value of the Y program. Only two other campers were honored in this way.”

For repeat campers Grace, 14, and Juliana Doebler, 15, from Richmond, Virginia, Camp Jordan is a highlight of the summer. The Doebler family has ties to Maine and summers on Branch Lake just up the road from the camp. “I like going to Camp Jordan because I get to see my friends and it’s neat

to meet new people and get away,” Grace said. “[Camp] feels peaceful.

When get older I want to do the LIT program because it is the next step toward being a counselor, and I always imagined myself as a counselor.”

According to Grace’s mother Valerie, camp is a highlight. This year both girls are signed up and already thinking about next year. “[This camp is] great for the locals and great for those from away,” Valerie said, “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for kids today to get away from all the electronic gadgets and just experience the other part of the world and learn how to live with other kids in community and problem solve. It’s a great place to get refreshed and renewed.”

Removing barriers is another benefit of residential camp. “We let See BANGOR Y, Page 10

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 5

Then and now... generations of campers

PHOTO COURTESY CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER

Summer camp at Challenger Learning Center in Bangor is full of fun and plenty of indoor and outdoor activities.

Blast off with Challenger’s camps

By the Challenger Learning Center

At the Challenger Learning Center of Maine, seven weeks of summer camp means discovering how much fun science can be. Campers will go to extremes, work and communicate like astronauts, create weather, learn about music through sound, build, launch, design, invent, experiment, and create. Challenger Learning Center’s Camps have it all.

“We show our campers how much fun it is to not only engage in interesting activities, but to understand how they work,” said Center Coordinator Jennifer Therrien. “They really light up when they start to grasp concepts.

Then they want to achieve the greatest results with whatever we’re working on. They love to succeed.”

Challenger Learning Center campers learn new

skills that are science-based, as well as actionbased, notes Executive Director Susan Jonason.

“Once again, our older campers get to climb the wall and bounce on the giant trampoline at the anti-gravity complex at Carrabassett Valley Academy during our overnight trip,” Jonason said.“This has become a summer tradition that everyone looks forward to. It’s wonderful to see their level of confidence increase during Astronaut Academy Week.”

Each program offered by Challenger Learning Center is flexible enough to meet the needs of each group of campers.

“We have so many things that we want to do with our campers, at every age, that it’s hard to pack it all into just seven weeks,” Therrien said.

“Each activity is designed and conducted by teachers. We provide hands-on learning with lots of excitement for our campers. We can’t wait.”

PHOTO COURTESY KATE CHAPLIN

The "then" photo (above left) is of Kate’s husband, Courtney Chaplin, and his older sister, Susannah (Chaplin) Isaacs from about 1978. The “now” photo is of Courtney and his daughter Louise who attended the Bangor Y’s Camp Jordan. The family “thought it would be fun” to take a photo of Louise and her father in the same place 34 years later. The Chaplins are sharing their love of summer camp with their children.

The bottom line about camp costs By the American Camp Association Parents know that camp is an experience that will last a lifetime. However, they may worry about the cost, especially if there is more than one camp-aged child in the house. The good news for parents is that there is a camp for just about every budget. While fees to attend camp vary, they can range from $75 to over $650 per week for American Camp Associationaccredited resident and day camps.

Parents may also reduce the costs by asking the right questions. When talking with the camp director, parents should ask the following:

What is the refund policy?

Refund policies vary greatly from camp to camp. Some refund for illness only, some will give a total refund prior to certain date, and some don not refund at all.

Most camps will ask for a small nonrefundable deposit at the time of applicaSee COSTS, Page 9

6 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Exploring careers while having fun at EMCC’s camps

By Dale McGarrigle CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY EMCC

Campers at EMCC’s camps experience traditional summer camp offerings while also learning more about themselves and potential career paths.

It’s essential for an institution to be diverse to stand out in a crowded camp field.

That’s the approach that Eastern Maine Community College, located at 345 Hogan Road, Bangor, takes in its summer offerings.

“Our mission is to offer innovative programming, something you can’t find somewhere else,” said Kent Corey, Resident Director of Acadia Hall and EMCC’s Director of Athletics.

EMCC’s slate includes cooking, technology, health-care and that old standard, basketball, but with a twist.

All of the EMCC day camps run 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are provided as part of the $250 per camper fee.

There are two sessions of Junior Culinary Camps, for ages 9 to 13, July 9-13 and July 23-27. Back for a fourth summer, the Culinary Camps, limited to 12 campers, offer young cooks the chance to make culinary creations while learning a variety of techniques and attempting new foods. At the end of the week, family and friends are invited to join campers at a “Showcase Luncheon.”

The final day camp is Tech Camp, for ages 10 to 13, to be held July 23-27. Led by EMCC’s Information Technology staff, campers will learn about computers by building one from scratch. They also will learn about website development, software installation and tech piracy.

Overnight campers stay in Kineo Hall and all meals and snacks are provided.

First up is the Senior Culinary

Camp, for ages 14-17, July 30-Aug. 3. Designed for those with more advanced skills, the camp will take campers throughout the state of Maine to sample different roles they could fill in the food-service field. Cost is $400.

New this year is the Golden Eagle Basketball Team Camp, directed by EMCC Coach Steve Rich, which will be held at Johnston Gymnasium on the EMCC campus. Players must be registered within a team. The girls’ teams report July 16-18 while the boys’ teams visit July 19-21.

Cost is $175 per person for the first eight players and $125 for each additional player, with a 12player maximum. That cost includes room and board, officiated games, instruction from former NBA and NCAA Division I players and active college coaches and an NBA champion coach as a guest speaker.

Corey states, “We are offering a great team experience at a very reasonable cost. I am not sure where else you could find an experience like this anywhere else in the state. Coach Rich, who led his team to the 2012 USCAA National Championships, is putting together a great group of camp instructors and guest speakers.”

The final camp, held in conjunction with Eastern Maine Healthcare System, is Camp SURVIVOR: Adventures in Healthcare.

It’s designed for students entering their ninth-grade year, so that they can figure out if a career in the healthcare industry is for them and they can procure the right classes in high school. Cost is $195, thanks to underwriting by numerous local partners.

Campers get to try a little of everything in the field, capped by a hands-on drill that lets them employ the skills they have learned.

“It gives them the opportunity to do something hands-on like they would be doing if they were in such a position,” said Nichole Wright of Acadia Hospital, which is a part of the EMHS. “The first 2 years have been a great success, with the former campers begging us to put on another program for them because of the great experience they had at Camp Survivor”.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 7

MSYM allows young musicians to learn and flourish

By Debra Bell CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

From day one to the final concert, campers at the Maine Summer Youth Music Camp will be making beautiful music.

“MSYM is a camp that has over 35 years of tradition,” said MSYM Director Christopher White. “This camp is based on long-standing tradition. It’s a camp that has always centered around large ensembles: Symphonic band, concert band, orchestra, jazz ensembles, and musical theater.”

While 2012 is White’s third year as director of the camp, he’s been involved with it since 1991. He’s the conductor of the University of Maine’s Symphonic Band and is the Director of UMaine’s Sports Bands. One of the things that distinguish MSYM from other camps is its experience-base. All of the conductors of the groups are working professionals and educators.

From middle and high school music teachers to university-level instructors, MSYM students are learning from true musicians.

Turnover among conductors and counselors is low as well, White

said. That means repeat campers are seeing familiar faces both in the leadership and in the participants.

Campers who make MSYM part of their summer, grow as musicians while forging bonds that go beyond the rehearsal room.

“Students who want to come to MSYM are coming for the opportunity to participate in an ensemble that provides additional musical opportunities,” White said.“They don’t have to be focused on just one thing at MSYM. If they want to be in the band, they can immerse themselves in many different opportunities to learn by taking a variety of classes.”

They’re also getting a taste of what it’s like to be a college student, he said.

“MSYM is a residential camp, which means they are living in the dorms, they are eating in the commons,” he said. “And they are getting social opportunities to be around kids who like to do what they like to do.”

They’re also learning in “excellent facilities”, White said. The UMaine facilities include rehearsal spaces in the School of Performing Arts as well as performances held in the Collins Center for the Arts to culminate the weeks.

MSYM is broken into two levels

PHOTO COURTESY MSYM

MSYM is all about honing skills while learning new ones, making friends, and exploring musical and theatrical interests.

of camp: Junior Camp, for students in grades 5-8 and senior Camp, for students in grades 8-12.

Eighth graders have their pick of either camps, or both camps.

While the structure for both levels of camp are the same, the difficulty level of the music is age-appropriate.

For more information about MSYM, visit www.umaine.edu/spa or call (207) 581-4703.

2012 CO-ED GOLF CAMP July 9–13 Day Camp, Grades 6–12

$150

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERSHIP MINI-CAMP July 10–13 $300 Overnight Camp, Grades 9–12 *Scholarships Available

CO-ED SOCCER CAMP July 9–13 Day Camp, Grades 6–12

$150

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CAMP July 9–13 Day Camp, Grades 6–12

BASKETBALL CAMP Boys: July 16–20 Girls: July 23–27 Day Camp, Grades 1–12 $150

$150

ROCK MUSIC CAMP July 22–27 Day Camp: $300 Grades 5+ Overnight Camp: $625

MESSY ENVIRONMENTAL CAMP Grades 9–12: July 22–27 Grades 6–8: July 29–August 3 Overnight Camp $450

CO-ED SWIMMING CAMP July 30–August 1 Day Camp, Grades 6–12

$150

For more information, call (207) 255-1245 or e-mail nichole.cote@maine.edu

www.machias.edu/summer

8 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

UMaine Campus Rec Camps provide fun and exploration

By Debra Bell

Campus Recreation unveils:

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

What do you get when you mix swimming with forensics, field trips with friendship, and the outdoors with movies? You get the diversity of the University of Maine’s Campus Recreation RAD Camps.

“The beauty of [Recreational Activity Day] Camp is that it can be for anyone ages 5 through 12,” said Lisa Carter, Director of UMaine’s RAD Camps. “Some activities are the same throughout the weeks, like swimming, but each week has a theme to it.”

RAD Camp themes for 2012 include: Disney/Pixar week, RAD’s Got Talent week, Splash week, Out of This World week, Reality TV week, A Blast from the Past week, Food Fun & Fitness week, CSI week, and Party week. Each “themed” camp provides campers with an opportunity to be active, learn, and have new experiences.

“This is a traditional day camp experience that is open to anybody and everybody,” Carter said. “We have many repeat counselors that provide stability. Campers know that they can come and see familiar faces every year.”

Extremely popular theme weeks, such as RAD’s Got Talent which features a talent show, craft fair, and karaoke, are one reason

Innovation Adventure Day Camp

Carter cited as why campers keep coming back.

Another reason? Carter says it all has to do with the facilities: The New Balance Student Recreation Center, DeMerrit forest, Bridge tennis courts, and Challenge course. The Recreation Center features courts for volleyball, basketball, and other games. In addition, the Recreation Center has a heated, indoor pool with areas for active games, a kid-friendly splash area, lanes for lap swimming, and

the opportunity for campers to swim every day no matter the weather. The other facilities augment the Recreation Center providing a bit of everything for any camper.

“We’re pretty lucky that we have access to professionals and great facilities on campus,” Carter said.

“We’re going to continue offering ‘late nights’ and one of those nights we’ll be going to the observatory.”

Summer RAD Camps also offer parents a little help. According to

Carter RAD Camp offers early and late care to accommodate parents with long workdays. Early care, available for an extra $5 per day, begins at 7:30 a.m. Late care, also $5 per day, ends at 5:30 p.m. And for campers who want the “late night” experience, it’s available for $15, which includes evening pool time, dinner, and a theme-week activity.

RAD Camps are for campers ages 5-12 and start June 18 and run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The cost is $145 per week.

In its third year, Innovation Adventure Day Camp is back by popular demand. And according to Camp Director Jessie Moriarty, is action packed and challenging.

“For half the day the [campers] are doing an innovation project and the other half of the day they are off on an adventure,” Moriarty said.

“The innovation part of the camp includes spending three to four hours doing things like creating a brand new board game or inventing a new snack food. Last year one of our challenges was to make new playground equipment for older kids. The sky’s the limit. There are no limitations. The challenges help build their confidence to come up with new ideas.”

The camp also allows creative students to flex their imaginations and some muscles too.

“This is such a different camp,” Moriarty said. “They’re not inside all day, so they get the best of both worlds. They get to do crazy creative work inside then go outside.”

Confidence also comes, Moriarty said, from facing daunting challenges head on. Innovation Adventure campers take a challenge course, canoe the Stillwater River, and climb rock walls at the university.

Innovation Adventure Day Camp is for campers in grades 3-8 and runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be two sessions: Session 1, July 23-27 and Session 2, August 13-17. The cost is $220 per week and includes lunch.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 9

Costs

director if it is appropriate to send spending money with your child.

Girls discover what they’re made of at Girl Scout camp

Continued from Page 5

Are special discounts available?

By Girl Scouts of Maine

tion, which may or may not go toward the cost of tuition. It is important to know the refund policy before you send any money.

Often, camps will offer special discounts for such things as early registration, full-season enrollment, and enrollment of multiple family members. If more than one special discount applies, parents may only be able to take advantage of one.

Founded in 1910, the American Camp Association is a national community of camp professionals and is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults through the camp experience. The ACA camp database provides parents with many ways to find the ideal ACA-accredited camp.

For more information, visit www.CampParents.org.

Is there financial assistance available?

Many camps offer camperships, which is a partial or total subsidy of the tuition costs, but parents need to ask if they are available.

Although they are usually awarded based on need, do not assume that you make too much to qualify. It is important to apply early.

What is included in the tuition?

Day camps will typically include transportation as part of their tuition. Resident camps may offer limited transportation, such as a van ride from a major local train station.

Other amenities to ask about are fees for special programs and trips, laundry service, camp canteen, special equipment that is required and service organization membership. Also, ask the camp

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association ©2005 American Camping Association, Inc.

Maybe it’s all that fresh air, the magnificent mountain views, gentle pine forests, and pristine waters; it’s amazing how being in nature can add balance and perspective to a girl’s world view.

At Girl Scouts of Maine, we believe that every girl should experience the wonders of nature, and we are dedicated to providing enriching outdoor experiences that give every girl the chance to discover what she’s made of.

GSME’s day and resident camps are a place where girls bond and learn about respect for themselves and others. We offer an exciting variety of outdoor skills-building programs from which each camper selects activities that interest her, and challenge her to strive for self-improvement.

Within camp’s natural surroundings, girls gain a solid level of environmental awareness for the world they will someday inherit, manage, and enjoy.

Everything we do at Girl Scout camp focuses on providing today’s girls with the leadership skills they need to achieve a life-time of success.

Our ACA accredited, resident

PHOTO COURTESY GIRL SCOUTS OF MAINE

Girl Scout summer camps are about more than crafts: They’re about helping girls achieve growth.

camps - Natarswi, in Baxter State Park, and Pondicherry, in Bridgton offer one or two week traditional camp programs that include swimming, boating, camping, archery, rock climbing, hiking, nature studies, team games, as well as arts, crafts, and theater. Girls 12 and older may also select from a variety of specialty camps such as horseback riding, backpacking, sailing, team adventure trips, and wilderness survival.

Camp Scelkit day camp in Kittery Point is for girls in grades K – 2, and offers programs where they can try new things while learning about

camp life and nature. Camp Kirkwold in Readfield provides overnight camping experiences for families who can enjoy a staff-led sampling of program activities, or just spend some quality time relaxing.

Please join us at one of our Open House events scheduled from 1 - 4 p.m. at each camp; June 3 at Camps Natarswi and Kirkwold, and on June 10 at Camps Pondicherry and Scelkit. For directions, complete information on camp programs, financial aid and more, visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org, or call (888) 922-4763.

G i rl Scout C amp 2012 Day or Resident Camp

Register today!

For more information, visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org or call (888) 922-4763.

O utd oor A d vent u r es Cl os e t o H ome!

10 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Simple ways to ease the “ouch” from sunburn PHOTO COURTESY MAINE 4-H

By Metro Creative Service

Bangor Y Continued from Page 4 kids be kids and try to make them feel important.” Russell said. “This is a place where kids can be loud and crazy, and we work to make sure that counselors have time to connect with every child. Kids have a lot to share, but they are not always asked what is on their mind.”

Camp Jordan has been providing traditional residential camp experiences for more than 104 years but it goes far beyond just that.

Campers can transition into leadership roles through Leader In Training — for teens entering 10th grade — or Counselor In Training — for teens entering 11th grade.

LIT and CIT training takes leadership to the next level for campers and provides fertile ground for exploring career paths.

And for those who think a summer camp experience at Camp Jordan is out of reach, think again.

“Our goal is to make sure every child can get to camp,” Russell said.

“We never want money to get between a child and their summer camp experience.”

Between the Bangor Y’s annual campaign, and tools on the Bangor Y’s website, campers can even help fundraise for their own camp tuition.

The Bangor Y’s Camp Jordan is accredited by the American Camp Association and has something for every interest and skill level.

For more information, visit www.campjordan.org

Sunblock — and its adequate reapplication — is one of the single most effective ways to prevent sunburn and a host of sun-related maladies. Despite the warnings of skin cancer and ailments related to the sun, people succumb to sunburn year after year. The results can be quite painful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting sunburned even once can make a person more likely to get skin cancer. Though it can be that simple to increase risk for skin cancer, there’s actually quite a lot going on behind the scenes when a person gets sunburned. The very outer layer of the epidermis, or the outside-most skin, is made up of dead skin cells. Directly below them are living skin cells that can be damaged when ultraviolet light from the sun penetrates these living cells and eventually kills them off. Once the body senses the dead cells, the immune system springs into action. White blood cells are sent to the area to repair damage, which involves increased blood flow. This blood flow makes the skin red and

Summer camp means days outside in the sun, be it on land or on water. Applying sunscreen often is the best defense against the harsh summer rays.

warm. Furthermore, the damaged skin cells send out chemical messengers that activate pain receptors.

This is why sunburned skin is red, warm and painful.

There are different remedies for alleviating the pain associated with sunburn. While there are some over-the-counter analgesics that will temporarily numb pain, some of the best treatments are simple and natural.

• Cool water baths and brief showers can reduce the temperature of the skin.

• Aloe gels often soothe and cool. It is believed that aloe has anti-inflammatory properties.

• Some people say that white vinegar can reduce pain and

inflammation when sprayed on the affected area or used in compresses.

• Sunburned skin is often dry and chapped. A moisturizer, such as cocoa butter, can help minimize irritation.

• It’s important to remain hydrated because damaged skin may not be as effective in locking moisture inside. Plus, the body needs food and water to fuel the repair of sunburned skin.

The best remedy for sunburn is to avoid it at all costs. Wearing sunblock, a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protection clothing, and sunglasses and avoiding the sun during peak hours are ways to remain comfortable and healthy.

Make a list and check it twice: Prepare for camp by packing right Start your summer camp experience off right by packing smartly. The following packing list is most applicable for campers attending a residential camp.

For the best success in packing, consult the summer camp your child is attending for an in-depth list.

Headgear and clothing __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Scarves or bandanas Baseball caps, hats, and sunglasses Eye glasses and/or extra contacts Swim goggles T-shirts or tank tops Shorts and Jeans Jackets Raincoat or poncho Sweatshirt/sweatpants Swimming attire (trunks, bathing suit, bikini) Dress clothes (if needed) Underwear (include an extra couple of pairs) Sporting support items

Footwear __ __ __ __ __

Boots Sneakers Sandals/thong sandals Dress shoes (if needed) Socks (include an extra couple of pairs)

Bedding __ Towels: bath, hand, and beach __ Mattress pad/Egg crate __ Blanket(s) __ Sheets and pillowcases __ Sleeping bag (if needed) __ Laundry bag Toiletries __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Brush and comb Shampoo and conditioner Soap and soap container Toothbrush, toothpaste and container Extra contact lenses, saline, and lens case Deodorant/antiperspirant Insect repellant Sunblock Feminine products (for pre-teen and teen girls) Lip balm Small travel-sized first aid kit with Band-Aids, gauze, blister bandages, tweezers, and anti-bacterial cream __ Medical items, including epi-pens or any medication that the camper requires

Gear __ Books and magazines for downtime __ Flashlight and extra batteries

__ __ __ __ __

Hard water bottle Pencils and pens Spending money (just in case) Specialty camp supplies (consult your camp) Backpack

Before camp begins: __ Review camp packing lists __ Plan ahead. If your child is on medication, pack that and find out what the policy about medications is.

Clearly identify your child’s medications with their name and your contact information. __ Label everything with your child’s full name using laundry pens, iron-on labels, or sew-on labels __ Break in shoes and boots __ Check with the camp about their policy on electronic devices including cell phones, iPods, cameras, electronics, musical instruments, sports equipment, and special gear. If the item your child is taking is expensive, write down the serial number and take photos of the item from all angles before sending your child off to camp. __ Decide if your child will take a small amount of personal items (ie. family photos, cameras, phones) with them and document what is going. If it’s valuable, make sure to take down the specifics.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 11

Careers meet summer fun at UMFK

By University of Maine at Fort Kent The University of Maine at Fort Kent has several camps set to meet the interests of health-oriented campers, science-minded campers, and sports-oriented campers.

Nursing Discovery Camp

The UMFK Nursing Discovery Camp will introduce high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to all of the wonderful career opportunities in nursing.

Campers will have the chance to job shadow nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center and experience college life while living on campus. Campers will enjoy the following activities: Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation certification; experience patient simulations; live the experiences of a real nurse; learn First-Aid skills; apply

personal health and wellness skills; and much more.

CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) Camp UMFK’s CSI Camp is perfect for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who enjoy television shows like CSI, NCIS, and Criminal Minds, and who may be interested in a career in law enforcement, forensics, and other areas of criminal justice. This exciting and hands-on camp experience also provides a taste of what college is all about.

Camp activities include: • Investigating a mock crime scene set up by UMFK Criminal Justice and Public Safety faculty • Introduction into Forensic Science • Experience fingerprinting with Maine State Police specialists • Collecting evidence • Participating in a mock trial

• Learning to analyze blood patterns/spatter • Casting footprints/tire treads • Forensic entomology (It’s a Bug’s Life!)

• Medical anthropology • Animal autopsy

Soccer and Basketball Day Camps These day camps will introduce students in two grade groups — Kindergarten through grade 3 and grades 4-8 — to the fun and fundamentals of soccer or basketball.

This is a great opportunity for young athletes to hone their skills and improve their game with the help of college level coaches and varsity athletes.

Whether you have experience playing the sports or even if you are new to these games, you will learn and have a great time at these athletic day camps on the UMFK campus.

PHOTO COURTESY GIRL SCOUTS OF MAINE

Did you know...

• Each year more than 11 million children and adults attend camp.

• Nonprofit groups including youth agencies and religious organizations operate approximately 8,000 camps, and 4,000 are privately owned independent for-profit operators.

• Fees to attend camp can vary anywhere from $100 to $800 or more per week. There is a camp for every child and for every budget.

Camp statistics courtesy American Camp Association

12 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Wanted: Adventurous campers to tackle climbing and adventure camps

By Debra Bell CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

The call of the wild awaits

campers who want to challenge themselves while also spending their summer camp experience outside. That’s because Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing

School will once again host a summer full of fun and adventure for the young and the young at heart.

Nine to 12-year-olds will find all kinds of outdoor adventure in the Young Explorer Adventure Camps.

Each day is filled with a different nearby outdoor activity. Hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, swimming, nature study, survival skills, canoeing, ropes course, and caving are some of the favorite things to do for Explorers.

If you have a nine to 12 year old who just loves to climb they can join the Explorer Rocks and Ropes camps which focuses on rock climbing, rappelling, building rope bridges over gorges and different high ropes course elements each day. An Advanced Explorer Adventure and Climbing camp is open for veteran campers.

Similarly, Wild Monkeys” camp is for children ages 6-8 who are interested in outdoor adventures.

This year, for the first time, AMG is also offering a family vacation camp where the whole family can come for a week.

Teens seeking summer adventure can choose from several multisport adventure camps that include rock climbing, sea kayaking, rafting, hiking and canoeing. For teens who want to focus on learning to rock climb, AMG’s RockPro I and II are beginner level rock climbing camps that give teens a solid foundation in safe climbing enabling them to begin climbing on their own. Teens who have significant climbing experience may join RockPro III or IV which are advanced camps that teach sport and lead climbing. RockPro camps take place in Acadia and travel to Rumney and Quebec.

“Our camps are for the kid who wants to be outside … and who want to push themselves while getting to know Maine better,” said Elisabeth Dean, operations manager for AMG and a parent of two young girls.

The professionals who lead the summer camps at AMG are more than just outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Most have college degrees in outdoor education and have received specialized training in climbing, paddling and wilderness medicine. They are certified through organizations such as the Professional Climbing Instructors Association, the American Mountain Guides Association, the American Canoe Association and are either

PHOTO COURTESY ACADIA MOUNTAIN GUIDES

Acadia Mountain Guides provides young adventurers with an unmatched opportunity to summertime adventures, especially climbing in Acadia National Park.

Maine Trip Leaders or Registered Guides. Further, the counselor to camper ratio is about 5:1, Dean said.

“When you drop your kid off, you know that they are going to be in good hands,” Dean said.“A lot of parents are often on the fence because of their uncertainty so I encourage them to call and ask questions.”

AMG provides access to outdoor adventures in a way that few other camps in Maine do. They also provide climbing and leadership training to several other Maine camps.

“We’re providing opportunities for world class climbing,” she said.

“We also do have a lot of kids from around the world because of our reputation” Those experiences also change from week to week, camp to camp, said Jon Tierney, AMG’s owner and educational director.

“One thing we’re doing differently this year is that we’re changing the structure so that if [a camper] participates in multiple camps, it’s structured so that if they do week one, the next week they will get different activities,”

Tierney said. “There won’t be a lot of repeats. We found that a lot of kids were doing the multiple trips.”

No matter the camp, the goal is always the same: to get kids active and get them outside. “No child will be left inside,” Tierney said.

Because of that mantra, AMG’s campers often leave camp inspired, he said.

“Our campers often leave inspired to make changes in their lives because of what they did at summer camp,” Tierney said.

“They have a deeper appreciation of the outdoors, and of doing physical things. They leave camp wanting to do more and may join an outing club.”

Campers are also exposed to Maine recreation resources through the outings they enjoy.

“We align our camps with companies with similar values and training levels,” Tierney said. And, he said, there’s an AMG camp to fit every ability level and interest.

To learn more about the camps, visit http://www.climbacadia.org or call (207) 288-8186.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 13

Maine Discovery Museum provides fun and learning at camps

By Maine Discovery Museum

Now in its 11th summer, Maine Discovery Museum’s camps inspire learning and discovery without pressure or competition. As one mom says, “MDM camp is fun and educational, but it’s camp! The fun comes first, and the learning comes along.”

Campers are divided into three age groups, with different ageappropriate activities and programs.

Budding naturalists finishing first, second, or third grades can sign up for “Habitat Heroes” and discover that summer in the city is an outdoor adventure.

MDM’s “Art off the Page” camp encourages campers to try new things with Rube Goldberg machines, beautiful mobiles, and fantastic contraptions.

Children will love “Ready, Aim, Science!” where eggs fly into the bull’s eye, water balloons whiz off of catapults, and mini instruments of mass destruction lay siege to the snack room.

Perhaps your child is constantly asking for an allowance adjustment? Sign him up for “Piggy Bankers” were visiting finance wizards from Junior Achievement of Maine will teach money smarts with coins, cards, gold, silver, games, goods, and cash.

For the 5- and 6-year-old set, there are lots of opportunities for summer camp fun. Campers will step into the wonderful and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss, clown around “Under the Big Tent”, experiment with prisms, lenses, light and color

PHOTOS FROM MAINE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

in “Rainbow Days”, or uncover the mysteries of life growing up in “Good to Grow!” If you’re not sure your child is ready for a whole week of camp, try the half-day option.

For campers ages 9 to 12, MDM offers the “Eco-Experience” travel camp with daily hikes at Maine coast ecosystems and a Friday night island sleepover. Future Fortune 500 entrepreneurs can turbo charge the lemonade stand in “Camp Moolah”. “Target: Science” is perfect for the camper who is ready to put Newton’s Laws to serious tests using confetti launchers, cotton ball cross bows, and laserguided toothpick cannons. “Art in Motion” enables artistic campers to create complicated and beautiful contraptions and sculptures.

Maine Discovery Museum’s summer camp program is about having

Is your child up-to-date with their vaccinations?

If they’re not, they might not be able to go to camp.

Most summer camps have requirements for what vaccines children should have before arriving at camp. Check with your camp to make sure that your child is up-to-date. If you choose not to vaccinate your child, discuss this with the camp prior to enrolling.

Children at Maine Discovery Museum summer camps explore ideas, learn new skills, and have fun.

fun, developing skills, gaining independence, and leaving campers with a feeling of accomplishment and excitement at the end of every day.

For more information, visit www.mainediscoverymuseum.org or call (207) 262-7200.

m m er u S Ca m p

14 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

MSSM Summer Camps: Exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics By the Maine School for Science and Mathematics

The Maine School of Science and Mathematics is happy to

present its 15th year of summer camp. MSSM campers choose from a variety of hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.

Campers participate in interactive learning experiences while also enjoying the fun of traditional summer camp.

MSSM is are offering 20 different courses this year including: rocketry, mathematical origami, groovy geometry, evolution on earth and beyond, vertebrate investigations, wildlife forensics, microbes hunt, robotics and computer programming — to name a few. A full list of the courses is available at www.mssm.org/outreach.

In addition to instructional activities, MSSM also provides a variety of afternoon activities such as sports, crafts, and swimming.

Campers enjoy evening programs like “Black-Out Night” and “Monster Night.” At MSSM, there is something fun for everyone.

Each camp is one-week long and held at MSSM’s campus in Limestone. MSSM will provide a camp-chaperoned bus to travel down Route 95 for campers who don’t live close to camp.

MSSM also offers a new financial aid program in 2012 that provides $300 and $150 scholarships to qualifying campers. We hope that you will join us this year for another exciting summer of learning and fun.

For more information, including applications, go to MSSM’s website: www.mssm.org/outreach.

PHOTOS COURTESY MSSM

Campers at MSSM’s summer camps explore science and math topics while also participating in “traditional” summer camp activities such as sports, swimming, crafts, and making new friends.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012 | 15

Discover the hidden magic of camp this summer tend to take place in locations surrounded by natural beauty, “magical” is the best way to describe how a young person may feel at camp.

By designing programs to hook kids’ interest in nature, the University of Maine 4-H Camps help build the foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship and positive community involvement.

Under the leadership of caring adults, camp provides hands-on,

By Jessica Decke TANGLEWOOD SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR

A week away is more than simply having fun during the summer at University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Bryant Pond, Tanglewood, and Blueberry Cove.

You arrive at camp among a throng of families and stacks of luggage. Even though your child promised to write each day, you don’t hear anything until you receive three postcards as you leave to pick them up. You read vague messages about adventures taken, songs about worms and squirrels, and how much they miss home yet don’t want to leave camp. When you arrive at closing ceremonies you are tackled with hugs and bombarded with odds and ends collected during the camp session.

Photos are taken with groups of giggly kids during closing ceremonies and you lug very stinky luggage to the car for the ride home. Your child is clearly buzzing about their camp experience, but all you hear is “it was fun” before they fall asleep.

You can tell that your child was happy at camp, but you want to learn more about what it was like.

Camp directors also want to know what camp was like for the children. We do evaluations on the last day and try to capture good quotes during closing circles; however knowing if and how a child was changed in a positive way is a challenge.

The reality is that the pay-off of camp may not be something with immediate effects. The positive experiences and skills learned impact each child differently and may not be recognized until the young person grows up. Working with youth for positive change is faith-based work that involves trust and hope in the power of the camp experience.

In a survey of camper parents at Tanglewood & Blueberry Cove, 75 percent noted their children returned home with a positive outlook or showing positive growth.

Other responses show parents viewed positive interactions with counselors as their top reason (61 percent of responses) for returning to camp, followed by making

skills-based experiences that challenge campers as they learn the importance of working together while having fun.

“I’m always surprised how much people get out of the program… They teach you what your responsibilities are, how to act with the kids, and make it fun and enjoyable, and they teach you how to trust everyone you’re with,” one camper said.

YMCA CAMP of MAINE PHOTO COURTESY 4-H CAMPS OF MAINE

Campers at Maine’s 4-H camps are transported to another place when they arrive at camp.

friends (29 percent), and learning about the environment (23 percent).

One Tanglewood parent said, “... it would be very hard to choose a favorite [part of camp] as I felt every aspect of the program was marvelously beneficial to my son: making friends, meeting counselors, being out in the fresh air every day, learning many facts about nature, learning new games, learning about protecting the environment. Everything.”

Attending camp is a time of growth for parents and children.

For parents, leaving their child in the care of strangers is a huge leap of trust. For children, making decisions for themselves may be a new experience for them; and they love having the freedom to make those choices at camp.

Campers say they remember the friends they made while at camp the most. Living with others teaches campers teamwork, trust, patience, acceptance and respect.

There is value in living, working and playing with a new group of individuals.

“I remember meals, teaching about composting, reading at night with girls in the cabin huddled together on one bed hearing the whistling of the trees outside and of course no electricity which made going to the bathroom at night tricky,” Kat Vanek, former camper and counselor.

Making friends outside of their home communities gives campers the opportunity to develop a new sense of self. Camp is where adventures happen and where campers

discover new things in the safety of friends and adults who accept and care about them.

Allowing for reflection time in the outdoors helps to firm up the camp experience, as does having campers “grow up” through the programming offered in one particular camp. A camp program that a child can attend from elementary school through college is a powerful thing. Because camp experiences

COED RESIDENT CAMP AGES: 8-15

Spring, Summer & Fall Camping Programs for youth, families, schools and groups Since 1915, a summer resident camp serving boys and girls, ages 8 to 15; provides campers with opportunities to grow and build self-confidence through traditional programs and cabin life. Campers select from major program fields of aquatics, sports, arts and camping. Can stay from one to eight weeks. Several older teen programs in leadership and out-of-camp trips. Just 8 miles west of Augusta on the shores of Lake Cobbosseecontee.

OPEN HOUSE: (207) 395 - 4200

MAY 20, 2012 1 - 4 P.M. www.maineycamp.org

16 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | April 5, 2012

Let your child “rock out” this summer at MAMM camps By the Maine Academy of Modern Music

PHOTO COURTESY MAMM

Budding musicians or campers interested in getting beyond the instrument into the craft of recording music will benefit from any of the Maine Academy of Modern Music’s summer camps. In fact, aside from honing their musical skills, campers will have the unique opportunity to work with music industry professionals, professional musicians, or even learn about what instrument will be right for them.

Not interested in the traditional summer camp experience of archery and sunburn? Then prepare to rock at the Maine Academy of Modern Music’s Summer Rock Camp. Summer Rock Camp provides the opportunity for kids to learn how to appreciate and make music while living the rock-star dream.

Camps run Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at partnering locations, culminating with a live performance at the end of each week. Camps will be offered in five locations: Portland, Bar Harbor, Kennebunk, Machias and Augusta.

Rock Camp

Rock Camp is an opportunity for kids to play in a band, perform cover songs, and write original music. Accomplished educators and members of local bands offer inside tips on self-promotion, booking, gigging, the history of rock, and music theory.

Campers will interact with music business professionals while on field trips to local radio stations and recording studios and receive the “total rock star” treatment.

If an overnight experience is in order, then attend “Rock ‘N Roll All Night” at the University of Maine at Machias from July 23-27.

Recording Studio Camp Learn the fundamentals of recording at a state-of-the-art recording studio with one of Portland’s top engineers. The camp is held at The Studio and is led by engineer Jim Begley. Begley, an 11year resident engineer has worked with bands including the Rustic

There are summer camps. And then there are super camps.

For a summer camp experience that’s far from ordinary, send your child to Husson University this year. Our day and residential camps are designed to be super rewarding and super fun, too.

Maine Media Camp Co-ed residential camp Dates: July 29th – Aug 3rd Grades: High School students entering Sophomore, Junior or Senior year

Husson Baseball Summer Camp Co-ed day camp Dates: June 25th – June 29th Ages: 7 – 18

Contact: info@nescom.edu Mark Nason, Camp Director mark@nescom.edu (888) 877-1876

Contact: Jason Harvey, Baseball Coach Harveyja@husson.edu (207) 992-4948 Walgreen’s High School Pharmacy Summer Camp Co-ed residential camp Dates: July 25th – July 27th Grades: Maine High School students entering Junior or Senior year

Screaming Eagles Instructional Boys Lacrosse Camp Day camp Dates: June 25th – June 28th Grades: 4 – 9 Contact: Tim Murphy, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach murphyt@husson.edu

Contact: Eric Jarvi, Associate Dean, School of Pharmacy jarvie@husson.edu (207) 973-1071 Our camps fill quickly, so contact us today.

Overtones and for countless venues.

Students will learn hands-on skills using the same top-notch gear as the pros and will work on a recording of a real band while learning inside tips and tricks. Past camps have worked with popular bands such as the internationally acclaimed Paranoid Social Club, featuring members of The Rustic Overtones.

Guitar Camp This week-long introduction to “all things guitar” includes the fundamentals as well as guest speakers and performers from the local music scene. Campers will learn about aspects of playing, including identifying the specific parts and types of instruments, instruction on techniques, music theory, musical appreciation, and more.

Hip Hop Camp Four areas of hip hop music are covered: MC’ing, DJ’ing, graffiti, and dance. Campers will learn to develop basic skills in all four areas while learning in a collaborative environment with acclaimed and awardwinning artists from Portland’s renowned hip-hop community.

Junior Rock Camps

Provides the youngest rock stars (ages 8-10) with a basic introduction to the genre. While at Junior Rock Camp, students are introduced to the instruments used in rock ’n roll and will learn how to play in a band. Campers also participate in sing-a-longs and other music games and activities.

Meet the Instruments Camp

Campers have the unique opportunity to discover instruments that are well suited for them and that they have a passion for.

Meet the Instruments introduces all the major instrument families, including woodwinds, brass, strings, fretted instruments, percussion, voice, and more.

Each day is dedicated to a specific family to provide an opportunity to explore new instruments.

Campers learn the basics of how the instruments work and how to play them. Select special guests and guided group performance activities contribute to campers finding the right fit.

To learn more or to register call (207) 899-3433 or www.maineacademyofmodern music.org.