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Parent Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Camp Kippewa located?
Camp Kippewa is located in Monmouth, Maine, which is 15 miles southwest of Augusta (Maine's capital) and one hour from the
Portland International Jetport. Just 3 hours north of Boston, Camp Kippewa is perfectly located in the stunning wilderness
of Maine, on the shores of magnificent Lake Cobbosseecontee. Our brother camp, Camp Cobbossee, is less than 1/2 mile away
on the same lake.
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Who are the directors?
Ginger and Steve Clare are Camp Kippewa's directors. Ginger and Steve have spent over 30 combined years working in camping,
starting out as counselors and lakefront directors and progressing through the ranks to fulltime camp directors. Between them,
they have held just about every key position at camp. They are also active in the American Camping Association (ACA), volunteer
as Head Counselors at America's Camp, and speak at camping conferences.
Ginger is originally from outside Seattle where she earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Washington.
She went on to earn a Master's in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, and worked as a children's O.T. for a Seattle-area
school district before entering the camping profession full-time.
Steve earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from a university in his native New Zealand before traveling to the
states to work at camp. Ginger and Steve met at Camp Danbee, an all-girls camp in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Before
becoming directors of Kippewa, Ginger was the Assistant Director of Camp Danbee and Steve was the Program Director. Steve also
previously worked as Director of Alumni Relations and Staffing Director for CampGroup's 15 overnight and day camps.
Ginger and Steve now spend the "off-season" living in Westford, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, with their one-year old
son, Aidan.
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Why Choose Camp Kippewa?
Camp Kippewa offers two distinct four-week sessions that each include opening and closing ceremonies, banquets, and complete camp
programs. New campers arrive at camp for the second half of the summer so all of the girls go through the process of making new
friends, trying out activities, and saying good-bye at the same time.
We offer a unique, Customized Camping Experience where girls create their own weekly schedules. The caring, nurturing environment
encourages girls to try new activities and challenge themselves. Kippewa campers are given the power to explore their passions
and try challenging new activities. Girls enjoy exploring their own interests and values, while living and learning with girls
from a variety of backgrounds. The campers at Kippewa are empowered to make their own choices, and they grow as individuals as
a result. Our small, intimate size allows the directors and staff to personally know the campers and help them to develop
new skills in our wide array of activities, and even more importantly, as individuals and young adults.
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Do you offer options for campers to come for less than 4 weeks?
Yes. Our 2-week "Startup Camp" option is open to first time campers entering 5th grade or below. This experience is a perfect
introduction to sleep away camping for families who are interested in the experience but are unsure if they are ready for
the full session the first year. The program starts at the beginning of each session and allows for girls to extend their
stay for the full 3-1/2 weeks.
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How is the staff selected?
All of our counselor staff are required to have completed at least one year of college, with the average counselor having completed
two or more years. Staff members are recruited from the finest universities in the U.S. and abroad. We recruit students who have
good experience and who have a desire to work with children for their career – many are in school to become teachers, social workers,
or in other child-related professions. Each potential staff member takes part in an in-depth interview either in-person or over
the telephone. All staff members submit 3 professional references and must pass a background check before being hired.
In addition to our counselor staff, a specialist who is very knowledgeable about their area heads each program area. Our program
heads are teachers, coaches, parents and long-time campers. They help set the tone for the level of instruction, enthusiasm and
caring that we are committed to providing. A camper-to-counselor ratio of better than 3:1 is maintained to ensure proper supervision
at all times.
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Where do campers come from?
Kippewa campers come from a wide variety of locations and backgrounds. We have campers from 20 different states and 8
different countries.
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Are campers required to wear uniforms?
Kippewa campers are not required to wear uniforms, but are required to wear non-designer, camp friendly clothing. We do
require a very few uniform items for some special events and trips out of camp. Most girls wear basic cotton shorts
with t-shirts or tank tops.
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How is the food?
We receive wonderful reviews on our food at Kippewa! Our menu is designed to appeal to girls of all ages. Our chef provides
a large variety of nutritious, well-balanced meals. We eat family-style and additional options, including vegetarian options,
are available at every meal. We offer an extensive breakfast bar and salad bars are offered at both lunch and dinner. Fresh
fruit is available throughout the day. Snacks during the day and at bedtime include fresh fruit, home made cookies and
ice-cream treats.
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What happens if my child gets sick or injured?
We have 2 registered nurses at camp and there are two hospitals located within 15 minutes of camp. Our Health Center is open
seven days a week, and a nurse is on call 24 hours a day. We have an established relationship with a local pediatrician who is
on-call daily. Medical specialists, dentists and orthodontists are nearby and will treat our girls if necessary.
The health center staff reviews each of our camper's medical history and medications and checks each child into camp upon arrival.
Sick call is scheduled at specific times each day, however campers who are ill may be escorted to the Health Center by their
counselor at any time. Children receive routine medications at mealtime and bedtime according to the documentation provided by
parents and/or pediatricians.
Parents are always called when a child stays overnight in the Health Center, needs to see a specialist, or needs to be started on
prescription medication. We also contact parents or the emergency contact person immediately in the event of an accident or
serious injury.
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What happens if my daughter gets homesick?
Homesickness is a natural reaction to being away from home - especially for those who have never been away from home before.
Most often, episodes of homesickness occur during the first couple of days at camp when there is quiet time, such as night, in
the morning, or during rest hour. There is no one remedy to "fix" homesickness since every child is unique and deals with their
homesickness in a different way, however, if your daughter does experience homesickness she will be treated compassionately and
supported by her counselors and the rest of the camp community. She will be encouraged to get involved in camp as we typically
find that the more involved and engaged girls are, the less time they spend thinking about and missing home. During our staff
training, we devote an extensive amount of time on how to assist campers who might be having a hard time adjusting to being away
from home.
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How can we communicate with our child?
The best way to contact your child is by mailing her letters; campers LOVE getting mail! You can also send one-way emails to your
daughter through our login system. Additionally, parents can arrange one phone call during the session. The call will be scheduled
based on both the camper's and parents' schedule (just call the office to set up a time). We also post daily photos and newsletters
during the summer so you can keep up with all the fun your daughter is having at camp!
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Can I send my daughter packages?
We do not allow packages – please make sure friends and family members are aware of this policy. Any package received without
previous permission from a director will be returned to sender. Campers may receive 9X12 envelopes with their favorite magazines,
newspapers, stickers, etc. Please do not send food or gum as these items are not allowed in the cabins and will be confiscated.
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Can my daughter bring her cell phone, flat iron, Gameboy, or mp3 player?
We want to encourage our campers to make the most out of their camping experience; therefore, we do not allow cellular phones or
electronic devices (Gameboy, PSPs, etc). MP3 players are allowed, however if they have video capabilities, all videos must be
removed prior to camp. Camp Kippewa is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen MP3 players.
We also do not allow campers to bring flat irons or hair dryers.
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How do the girls get to camp?
Bus transportation is available from Yonkers, NY, Darien, CT and Boston, MA. We also provide transportation from the airport
in Portland, Maine and from Boston Logan airport.
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