There’s a saying in the summer camp world: one day at camp is like a week in the “real world.” Imagine a week of waterskiing, a week of archery, and a week of basketball all rolled into one single day. Add in a morning dip in the lake, an all-camp game of Minute-to-Win-it, and top it all off with a huge themed dance party. That’s just a regular camp day at Kohut and it’s awesome!
As our lives get busier and busier with the constant rush of school, work, after-school activities, family trips, tutoring, volunteering, and more, the idea of throwing one more thing into the mix feels wild. Pausing the every day rush for a one, three and a half week program, set in the beautiful state of Maine and totally unplugged from technology, might be the exact balance needed to combat the craziness. It may even sound oddly specific, but after 33 years as a family here at Kohut, and almost 120 years as a camp, we have come to believe three and a half weeks is exactly the right amount of time for a truly meaningful summer camp experience.
Not too long and not too short, three and a half weeks gives families a chance to spend some time together during the summer break while also giving kids the chance for their independent summer camp experience. Kids can settle in, leave behind the school-year, and really feel at home. Over the years, we have watched countless Kohut campers arrive a little nervous, grow their confidence day by day, and by the end of the session, leave feeling like they have learned, grown, and made true friendships within our Kohut community. Our mission is to provide a safe, warm, inviting, exciting, fun place where children feel accepted for who they are and supported as they are challenged to become the best they can be.
As our campers get older they face more and more pressure from the “outside world” to do more. Take an SAT prep course, an advanced online math course, or even do an internship in high school. Our campers have LOTS of options! Our colleagues who run “full summer” camps also face these challenges and have shortened their summer lengths to be seven weeks, no longer the eight weeks we saw years ago. As our campers look to make the most of their summer, the three and a half week break at Kohut is the perfect amount of time. As all of our campers arrive and depart on the same day (with the exception of our first-time, youngest “two-week” campers who have the option to leave at the two-week mark), we compress a full seven week summer camp program into an action-packed three and a half weeks. No need to miss out of pre-season school sports or the family vacation when you can make both work!
During our three weeks of elective activity schedules, campers have the opportunity to choose the activities they would like to do for one week at a time. They can then develop, refine, and continue to build on those skills each week. Sometimes campers choose brand new activities, sometimes they choose the same favorites, it is entirely up to them! Our Program Team then makes each campers’ individual schedule for the week. And that bonus half week at the end?! The perfect opportunity to showcase those skills while representing their team in a three day “Olympics” or “Kollege Days” competition. Truly a highlight for many Kohut campers!
The first few days at camp are all about acclimating to Kohut life. Campers will learn new routines, make new friends, try activities (and maybe even foods!) for the first time. By the end of those first few days the nerves have faded, the friendships have deepened, and campers begin to feel truly connected to the Kohut community. This is when they start taking healthy risks, discovering new skills, and stepping into leadership roles as week one ends and week two begins. This week could be full of the same activities as week one, could be a whole new set of activities, or could be a perfect combination of both. Regardless, it gives campers a chance to really explode in development and soak up all of the Kohut magic.
By week three, you can really see deepest connections, strong friendships, excitement, and independence shine. Campers get into the rhythm of life at Kohut and begin to feel a sense of ownership and belonging within the Kohut community. Meaningful all-camp traditions, special cabin moments, and personal achievements like catching the trapeze in the Adventure Course or representing Kohut in an intercamp competition, tend to happen in this final full week of camp life. This coincides with our Camper Talent Show, the perfect opportunity for campers to showcase their many different musical, dance, gymnastics, and singing talents. And finally, that last half-week is the perfect closing chapter. It gives campers time to savor their accomplishments, represent their teams in our all-camp competitions, celebrate with their friends, perform in the Musical, and reflect on what they’ve learned during their time at Kohut.
The Kohut community comes together every summer for two, three and a half week sessions, counting down the days between from August until June. Those three and a half weeks on Thompson Lake are just enough time for kids to stretch themselves, practice their independence and make new friends and skills along the way, but not so long that they feel disconnected from home or unable to focus on the many other interests they may have or friends and family to see all over the world. We can say confidently that three and a half weeks is a sweet spot: long enough for transformation, connection, and joy, yet short enough to keep campers excited to return year after year!
