Alford Lake Camp

Summer Programs: Where Values Matter and People Thrive
Hope, Maine


		Program Description Program Overview Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Suzanne McMullan
Winter:
Alford Lake Camp
5 Salt Marsh Way
Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
207-799-3005
Fax: 207-799-5044
http://www.alfordlakecamp.com
Summer:
Alford Lake Camp
258 Alford Lake Road
Hope, Maine 04847
207-785-2400
Fax: 207-785-5290
http://www.alfordlakecamp.com

Type of Program: Multi-activity camping, lifetime sports, arts, and wilderness trips, as well as challenge trips for teens
Participants: Seven-week resident camp and 3½-week resident camp: girls, grades 2–9; counselor training: girls completing grades 10–12; 7-week backpacking trip: coed, grades 8–10; 7-week trip to Great Britain: girls, grades 8–10; 7-week sailing trip in Nova Scotia, coed, grades 8–10; 5-week trip to Mexico: coed, grades 8–10
Enrollment: In-camp, 175; counselor trainees, 20; extended trips, 40
Program Dates: Resident camp: June 23 to August 10 (full season), June 23 to July 17 or July 19 to August 10 (half season); other program dates vary
Heads of Program: Suzanne McMullan, Director, Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director, and Jean McMullan, Consulting Director

Location

Located 10 miles inland from the picturesque seacoast towns of Camden and Rockport, Maine, Alford Lake has extensive freshwater lake frontage and 400 acres of woods and blueberry fields. The camp area is beautiful and secluded. It is close to Maine’s Penobscot Bay and is only a 2-hour trip from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

Background and Philosophy

Alford Lake Camp was founded in 1907 and will be 103 years old, making it one of the oldest girls’ camps in the world. Three generations of McMullans are involved with the camp.
    Alford Lake believes that campers should experience challenge and adventure through a largely elective program. They should be relaxed and able to enjoy any activity without self-consciousness or awkwardness. They should feel warmly accepted and be steadily encouraged, and yet be individually challenged. All this is done in the spirit of helping children learn to navigate any challenges that life may bring.
    The simple outdoor setting gives campers the opportunity to enjoy their natural surroundings and to gain awareness of the importance of environmental responsibility. The community also practices and promotes responsibility in health and nutrition.
    Global Challenge trips are offered to capable and deserving campers, grades 8–10, by invitation. These trips include a coed backpacking/hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail, a coed sailing trip to Nova Scotia, a coed trip to Mexico, and a trip for girls to Great Britain.
    One of the camp goals is to nurture international friendships and to foster attitudes of greater global understanding.

Program Offerings

Resident Camp Lifetime sports, arts, and outdoor living skills are offered to 175 campers. Activities chosen daily may include swimming, sailing, tennis, kayaking, sailboarding, field sports, community service, archery, challenge course with a climbing wall, gymnastics, and riding. Creative arts choices are art and ceramics, dance, drama, and a library program. Music and singing are also a part of camp life. A variety of traditional and original camp songs are sung throughout the day. The outdoor camping skills portion of the program encompasses campcraft skills (including environmental and nature exploration), canoeing, overnight trips, trips geared toward community service, and two- to five-day trips on Maine’s rivers, mountains, lakes, and islands. Serving the local community through a variety of service-based activities adds an important dimension to the campers’ day. These trips are arranged according to age and skill.
Junior Counselor Training Program Approximately 15–20 girls completing grades 10 and 11 are invited to join this program, which includes courses in American Red Cross first aid and lifeguard training, camping philosophy, advanced wilderness skills, camper development, and communication skills. The program includes a six- to seven-day canoe or mountain trip. Junior trainees join the teaching staff for six days of orientation before campers arrive.
Senior Counselor Training/Leadership Training Internship Three to 6 girls completing grades 11 and 12 are invited to join this program. Senior trainees assist in two activities throughout the summer and have counselor privileges, including days off each week. Senior trainees join the teaching staff for six days of orientation before campers arrive.
Appalachian Mountain Trail Trip A highly challenging backpacking trip, from Maine’s Mount Katahdin to the New Hampshire border, is provided for 10 coed campers (grades 8–10) and 2 leaders. (June 23–August 10)
Alford Lake Abroad Ten girls (grades 8–10) and 2 leaders explore Great Britain, staying in prearranged youth hostels. The group visits sites and explores the countryside of England (including London), Scotland, Wales, and perhaps Ireland. (June 23–August 10)
Alford Lake Camp/Nova Scotia Up to 9 coed campers (grades 8–10) experience seven weeks of woodworking, community service, sailing, and wilderness adventure in Nova Scotia. (June 23–August 10)
Exchange Trip to Mexico A coed group (grades 8–10) travels to Camp Pipiol in Valle de Bravo for five weeks. (July 5–August 10)
Family Camp After the resident camp ends, Family Camp begins. ALC leaders facilitate activities for adults and children of all ages. This is a wonderful way to introduce children to camping or for adults and families to enjoy a low-cost vacation. (August 12–16)

Enrollment

Alford Lake enrolls approximately 175 resident campers at any one time, about 40 in the extended trip programs, and about 20 counselor-trainees.
Although the number varies from year to year, the total camp community may represent upwards of twenty-five states and twenty countries in a season.

Facilities

There are fifteen small cabins for activities and staff living quarters as well as seven large buildings that house the dining hall, kitchen, offices, and a large recreational area; the Camp House, which is a meeting hall and theater building; a large stable with stalls for sixteen horses and jodhpur and boot storage; a health center; a library; an art complex of three buildings with five studio areas; and a staff recreation building. The campers, counselor-trainees, and tent counselors live in forty-one large platform tents with double roofs, permanent superstructures, and floors. Toilet buildings are located at each end of the tent line, with one containing shower facilities. Four hardtop tennis courts, a nature building, thirty canoes, ten sailboats, six sailboards, twelve kayaks, archery facilities, gymnastics equipment, a 26-foot climbing wall, and an activities building are also extensively used. With more than a mile of lakefront, Alford Lakers are blessed with privacy and a clear, sandy-bottomed swim area on a 550-acre lake.

Staff

The teaching staff, which includes the directors, key staff members, and 2 nurses, consists of about 70 women and a few men, not including the counselor-trainees. The maintenance, office, and kitchen staff add another 15 persons to the community. The leader-camper ratio is 1:3. Teaching staff members are college students or older. They are selected for their interest and experience in teaching children, their enthusiasm and energy, and their ability to be positive role models for campers. Alford Lake employs only nonsmokers.

Medical Care

There are 2 registered nurses in residence. Within 10 miles of camp are excellent physicians, specialists, and the Pen Bay Medical Center.

Religious Life

Sunday-in-the-Pines is a weekly gathering of the entire camp that celebrates its community values. The gathering is coordinated by counselors with camper/counselor participation.

Costs

For the seven-week resident camp, the all-inclusive 2009 tuition is $7250; the shorter sessions, lasting 3½ weeks, cost $4950. Costs for the Junior Counselor Training Program are $6250, with suggested spending money being $300. The Appalachian Mountain Trail Trip is $8000. Alford Lake Abroad is $8250, and the trip to Mexico costs $8250, including airfare; the Nova Scotia sailing trip is $8250. Additional spending money is suggested for each of the international trips. Cost information on Family Camp is supplied upon request.

Transportation

On June 23, transportation is available from New York City; Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts (airport); and Portland, Maine (airport). Similar arrangements for the trip home are provided on August 10. Campers leaving on July 17 or arriving on July 19 may travel by car or plane with service only to the Portland airport.

Application Timetable

Early enrollment is encouraged as most camp registrations are received before November for the following June. No cost reduction is given for late arrival or early departure of a camper. In the event a camper must withdraw before camp opens, the full tuition deposit will be retained.