Find the right summer camp for your family.

Grades 1 to 8 (about ages 5–13)

A nature-based day camp at the Cathance River Nature Preserve for rising grades 1-8 (Nature Explorers grades 1-5, Trailblazers grades 6-8), Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Campers hike, explore the river, build and test boats, and collect community-science data.

As published: Not published (summer 2027 lottery registration Jan 25 to Feb 2; $10 lottery fee per family)

Grades 2 to 11 (about ages 6–16) · $2,250–$8,250/session

Camp Chewonki is a nature-based overnight camp in Wiscasset, run by the Chewonki Foundation, for children from the end of 2nd grade through 8th grade, with backcountry trips for teens. Puffins (completing grades 2 to 3) attend an 11-day session, and full-session campers (completing grades 3 to 8) attend three weeks. Camp life centers on canoeing, kayaking, backpacking and ecology and wildlife study, and older campers can join canoe and backpacking trips in Maine, Vermont and Quebec.

As published: 2027 tiered tuition on an honor system: 3-week camp sessions and 3-week trips are $8,250 (Tier 1), $7,250 (Tier 2) and $6,000 (Tier 3); 2-week trips and the Puffin program are $4,500, $3,500 and $2,250. Tier 4 is a scholarship that requires a financial aid application. The camp says it provides more than $400,000 in need-based aid each year.

Ages 8–16

A small nonprofit overnight camp for girls on 84-acre Twigg Farm in Union, Maine, with a private lakefront on Seven Tree Pond, gardens, art and a flexible schedule. Sessions have just 8 to 20 campers.

As published: 2027: Session 1 (Jun 25-Jul 2, grades 4-6) $2,285; Session 2 (Jul 5-17, grades 6-8) $3,965; Session 3 (Jul 24-30, grades 3-5) $1,960; Session 4 (Aug 1-13, grades 7-9) $3,965; financial assistance available; $100 referral discount

Ages 4–13

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay runs themed weekly day camps in the Gardens for children from about age 4 to 13. Half-day nature camps for younger children explore fields, forests, ponds and wetlands, while longer art and STEAM camps for ages 8 or 9 to 13 cover topics such as botanical drawing and graphic novels, and pastel painting. Aftercare called Extended Explorations is available on some camps.

As published: Not published on the 2026 camp pages (prices appear only at ticket selection, and members save 20%). Nature Adventure Camp runs 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with aftercare 1:30 to 4 p.m. Scholarships are available for families with financial need.

Ages 6–12

A land-trust nature day camp that began in 1998 as a volunteer-led one-week event and has grown to a six-week program. Campers explore Harpswell's twenty preserves, tide pools, salt marshes, forests and fields with games, arts, science and hands-on exploration.

As published: 2026: ages 6-8 $275 per week (9:00-2:00; optional aftercare 2:00-3:00 for $75 per week); ages 9-12 $300 per week (9:00-3:00); HHLT members get $15 off

Ages 12–18 · $1,750–$2,500/session

The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership runs overnight science programs of 6 to 11 days on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, for middle and high school students. The 2027 programs include terrestrial and marine ecology, oceanography, snorkeling for science, art and marine science, and an Advanced Ocean Lab. Tuition covers boat transportation between Rockland and the island, housing, meals and programming.

As published: 2027: $1,750 per program for the 6-day middle school and high school programs, and $2,500 for the Advanced Ocean Lab, all inclusive of transportation between Rockland and Hurricane Island, housing, meals, snacks and programming.

Ages 7–14 · $310–$375/week

The Maine Maritime Museum runs two weekday day camps on its Kennebec River campus in Bath. Kennebec Explorers is for rising 2nd to 5th graders and focuses on the Merrymeeting Bay ecosystem, with field trips, river boat cruises, science experiments and crafts. Mariners Adventure is for rising 6th to 8th graders and teaches traditional maritime skills such as carpentry, blacksmithing, sailmaking and navigation, with a day sailing a traditionally rigged schooner. The museum's page lists Kennebec Explorers as wait list only for 2026.

As published: 2026: Kennebec Explorers $310 per week, Mariners Adventure $375 per week. Museum members get 10% off. A $75 non-refundable deposit is required per camper, and early drop-off and late pick-up (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) cost an extra $40. Camp runs 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Ages 6–16

Midcoast day camps (Explorer's Club, Making Wild, Best of the Midcoast) plus multi-day expeditions led by outdoor educators and Maine Guides. Founded in 2021.

As published: Not published

Ages 6–10 · $325/week

The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and Brightfield School educators run a weekday nature day camp for ages 6 to 10, with drop-off at Brightfield School in Bath. Campers hike at places such as Thorne Head and Morse Mountain, learn to paddleboard, learn to clam and make clam chowder over a fire, and spend a beach day at Fort Popham. Registration is handled through Brightfield School.

As published: 2026: $325 per week, 9am to 3pm. Scholarships of $100 off are available.

A seaside day camp founded in 1958 for ages 3.5 to 15 with sailing, a regatta, a July 4 parade, a camp play and a fun run. The site calls it a safe, fun, socially rewarding, adventurous and environmentally responsible experience.

As published: Not published on the main page (directory lists under $500 per week)

Ages 5–15 · $350–$795/week

Tanglewood is a University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H camp founded in 1982 along the Ducktrap River in Lincolnville (near Camden), offering overnight sessions for ages 8-17 in STEM, archery, gardening, watershed and marine ecology, creative arts, drama, and wilderness skills, plus a Teen Leadership track for ages 14-17.

As published: $500-$1,000 per week, with financial aid available

Ages 5–17

A UMaine 4-H coastal camp on 25 acres overlooking Tenants Harbor with a 1,400-foot beach, tide flats, farm animals and boats. Day camp, one- and two-week overnight camps and teen trips are offered.

As published: 2027: Day camp (ages 5-10) $350 per week; 1-week overnight (ages 8-12) $795; 2-week overnight (ages 10-14) $1,750