“The Ecology School inspired me to eat healthier, overcome my fear of going outside after dark, and to try new things. Thanks to the helpful educators and new friends. I continue to do all of these things and more at home and at school. ”
Overnight Camps FAQ
How are camp counselors chosen?
Counselors and educators are trained by The Ecology School to work with kids in the outdoors to provide safe, fun, and engaging learning opportunities. All staff receive extensive background checks and thorough training in the art and method of teaching children in the outdoors. Our 20+ years of programming experience informs our staff trainings!
What is The Ecology School's technology policy?
There are many wonderful opportunities that come with The Ecology School camp experience and one is an opportunity to be screen-free! In today's social media and technology driven world rarely are kids away from a screen for any length of time, let alone a whole week! We require that campers leave their devices at home to ensure that they engage directly with the people around them and develop communication and relationship skills. Parents are always welcome to call The Ecology School to find out how their child is doing and if parents need to be in touch with their child, they can contact The Ecology School and we will make sure to relay messages.
How do I know my kid is okay if they don’t have their cell phone?
Participating in an Ecology School program is not only an opportunity to learn in a new way about the environment around you, it is also a chance to reengage with the people around you and spend time screen free. In a world where most of us spend an enormous amount of time in front of a screen, it is important to find times and places—and what better time than at Camp! It is also an opportunity for campers to practice being independent in a safe and caring environment.
Parents are always welcome to call The Ecology School and we are happy to let you know how your child is doing, and rest assured that if we needed to be in touch with you about something, we would do that. If there is some reason a child needs to be in touch with their parent, we will make that happen too. The Ecology School's no devices policy isn't about secluding or cutting off contact, but rather about helping campers to be in the moment, connect with one another on a deeper level, and giving them a break from the day to day burden of keeping up on social media.
Also, there are few things at camp more exciting than mail call each day—taking the time to exchange good old fashion snail mail letters can be a really great way to connect!
How do campers spend their days?
Days will be filled with lots of different kinds of activities—eco adventures for learning, meals and snacks together, time to be creative, time to play, and opportunities to relax. Depending on which camp you sign up for, daily adventures will have a different focus. Every day will have a mixture of pre-determined adventures with some opportunities for choice. Throughout the day campers will have opportunities to be with a variety of different campers in different environments.
What should I pack?
Not to fret! We will share a packing list with registered campers. To get an idea:
Clothing: Campers spend most of their time outside, so pack comfortable clothing that you can move in, shoes that can get wet, and lots of layers. While it might get really hot during the day, in Maine it is often cool at night, even in summer. Sunscreen and bug spray are highly recommended!
Bedding & Towels: Beds are all twin beds! Generally campers bring a pillow, fitted and top sheet as well as a warmer blanket, which can be a sleeping bag if it is the kind that opens all the way up to be a rectangle (vs. a mummy sack).
Please don’t feel like you need to buy new things for camp—kids will be learning and playing outdoors in the dirt and everyone is responsible for their own belongings, so the stuff you have is better than new stuff! If you are reading a good book or have a favorite snuggie, those are welcome to come along too!
How do you keep campers safe?
Safety is our first priority. One of the very first things campers do upon arrival as part of orientation is practice a fire drill. There is 24 hour adult supervision and constant head counts. We have on site staff and an on site nurse.
What is the food like?
Over the years we have gotten lots of great comments about our food ! It is healthy and kid friendly. We strive to serve local food whenever possible, and it is almost entirely homemade. There are always choices: fruit is always available and meals come out in courses and pieces—for example, on spaghetti night, the pasta comes out separately from the meatballs, which come out separately from the sauce, so campers are able to choose their own items. We know it is hard to have fun if you are hungry so we make sure everyone finds something delicious and nourishing to eat!
What if my child has a food allergy?
We will work with you to make sure that campers are well fed during The Ecology School experience. We are able to accommodate a variety of different diets and restrictions. We work closely with our food service provider and chef to provide healthy, homemade, and minimally processed meals created in a kitchen that maintains a high level of safety and cleanliness. Because each diet is unique as are each persons particular allergies and tastes, we do sometimes request that if you have a special diet to send some supplemental foods. Depending on the particular nature of the diet this can range from a few items to food for the entire week.
A Note about COVID-19 Safety
The Ecology School is following all of the COVID-19 Maine CDC guidelines and recommendations for activities. Please click here to read our General Protocols for COVID Safety.