


Field Guide
A field guide to what a camp summer looks like in Maine: the forms it takes, how the landscape and climate shape it, and what it asks of a family.
Field notes
Maine runs a short, mild summer rather than a hot one. The core camp weeks are comfortably warm by day and cool by night, with the chill deepening inland and up north, so an evening campfire earns its place even in high summer. Inland lake water warms enough for real swimming by the later weeks; the Atlantic stays cold all season, which is why a coastal swim is quick and bracing. Expect black flies and mosquitoes in the early woods, fog along the shore, and long northern daylight that keeps the day going late.
camp season (June-August (representative core camp season)) runs highs of 74-80°F (23-27°C) and lows of 55-61°F (13-16°C).
Most families reach Maine camp country through Portland International Jetport (PWM), the state's main airport, down in the south. For central lake country and the gateway to the north woods, Bangor International (BGR) can sit closer to the destination, and plenty of out-of-region families instead fly into Boston (BOS) and drive up the interstate and turnpike that run the length of the state.
From any of these, camp is a drive out of the city, sometimes an easy one and sometimes long, and the pattern holds: highway gives way to secondary roads, and for the wilderness forms the secondary roads give way to gravel and then to no road at all, where contact ends by design. Coastal and day camps invert this, sitting close to where families already are. Specific pickups, shuttles, and timing are things to settle directly with the camp.
Whether your Maine summer means a mailbox and a visiting day or a child home every evening, the parent has a whole experience of it running alongside the child's. There is the drive and the handoff, the slow information loop for the send-away forms, and, in the lake towns and along the midcoast, the low hum of other camp families moving through the same weekends, filling the same inns and tables, living the same waiting.
That waiting, and the strange work of trusting a place with someone you love, is its own thing worth understanding, separate from any single camp or child. The [Parent Side Quest](/field-guide/parent-side-quest) is the part of the Field Guide about exactly that experience.
General information:
This content is for informational purposes only and reflects market observations and publicly available sources. Kampspire is an independent platform and does not provide medical, legal, psychological, safety, travel, or professional advisory services.
Safety & oversight:
Camp programs operate within local health, safety, and child-care frameworks that vary by region. Because these standards are set and enforced locally, families should consult the camp directly and relevant local authorities for the most current information on safety practices and supervision.
Our role:
Kampspire does not verify, monitor, or evaluate compliance with these standards. Program details, pricing, policies, and availability are determined by individual providers and must be confirmed directly with them.
Welcome to Somerset! It was 100 years ago when Camp Somerset for Girls welcomed its first campers to East Pond in Smithfield, Maine, and three decades since it sadly closed. Until then, one generation followed another, returning to what became one of the most prestigious summer camps in the United States. There they made lifelong memories and friendships that only camp can provide. Now they can again. Reopened in 2018, Somerset blends its rich history and traditions with a fresh vision and a brand-new campus. Our facilities are beautiful, our activities exciting and varied—but what makes us most proud is the warm, inclusive community we’ve built. It’s a place where every camper feels she belongs, where she can be herself, try new things, grow in confidence and independence, and build friendships that will last a lifetime. Our own years as campers and counselors shaped who we are and helped us reach our dreams. We can’t wait to help your daughter discover hers.

Kate and Josh
Owners/Directors
There is no greater responsibility than caring for someone else's daughter and our campers' health and safety are our ultimate priorities. It’s also critical to us that they return home with an increased sense of self-worth and fulfillment that comes from the experiences and relationships that summer camp provides. Our goal is simple: to empower, encourage, and inspire. Camp Somerset for Girls was founded in 2018 and boasts a spectacular brand new facility along East Pond in central Maine. Session lengths include three and a half weeks or seven weeks. To “eliminate distraction and unhealthy competition”, camp Somerset is a dress code camp, meaning that campers may wear what they wish from a limited selection of clothing, but do not need to match. Facilities include a state-of-the-art lakefront dining hall, a dance pavilion, a gymnastics and fitness center, a large playhouse, Ninja Warrior and Adventure Courses, and a warm and inviting Art Village for arts & crafts, culinary, ceramics, STEM, woodworking, photography, textiles, and more. There are paved courts for basketball, hockey, pickleball, and tennis, along with three massive sports fields. Instructional swim takes place in the heated pool, and a quiet cove on East Pond is ideal for swimming, sailing, kayaking, waterskiing, and more. One-of-a-kind camper cabins include full bathroom facilities and sleep 12 campers and four counselors. Owners and directors Kate Auerbach (a former attorney) and Josh Hahn (a former restaurateur) grew up together and are lifelong friends with more than 25 years of camping experience.
R Days (Regular): 4-5 days per week -Three morning instructional activities. -Two afternoon instructional activities -Lakefront is the third period of the afternoon, where everyone must be at the lake, but campers can choose how to spend the time. -Unique evening program each night. -Instructionals change daily and are assigned to all campers. 7th-9th grade campers have afternoon electives. S Days (Special): 2 days per week -Morning Free Play - 2.5-hour block where campers can choose which activities to attend. -Afternoon special event. -Lakefront is the third period of the afternoon, where everyone must be at the lake, but campers can choose how to spend the time. -Unique evening program each night. T Days (Trip): 2 days per session/4 per summer -After breakfast, campers depart on amazing trips across Maine. -Campers return for dinner and evening programs. -There are no instructionals or Lakefront on T Days
Few things are as important as coming together as one camp at meals. And few things are as important to us, and to you, as the quality, variety, and healthfulness of the food we serve. All meals are served family-style and include a rotating main meal, along with a breakfast or salad bar, and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives as needed. We fully accommodate all allergens in our 100-percent nut-free facility. The dining hall stays open throughout the day so campers can stop by for a cold drink or a fresh piece of fruit. Lakefront afternoons always feature a choice of snack on the porch, like a fresh fruit smoothie, homemade granola bar, or soft pretzel. Sunday mornings offer a “lazy morning” buffet with fresh pastries, made-to-order omelets, and Belgian waffles. Picky eater? No problem! Breakfast always includes the daily breakfast bar (see below) while lunch and dinner feature the salad bar. In the afternoon and evening, there’s also homemade soup, sun butter and jelly sandwiches, and a pasta bar at night with penne or noodles, red sauce, cheese and butter, chicken, and steamed broccoli.
There is no greater responsibility than caring for another person’s child and the health and safety of our campers is always our top priority. This is at the forefront of our messaging during our thorough, ten-day, staff orientation and training. Countless hours of meetings, training sessions, and role-play scenarios are complemented by a comprehensive Staff Handbook, detailed practices within our Health Center, strict procedures for out of camp trips, and a Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan. Additional training is required for staff working at archery, the ropes and adventure course, and at the waterfront and pool. All waterfront staff, not just swim instructors, are certified lifeguards. Somerset’s new health center opened in 2026. This air-conditioned facility is staffed 24 hours a day by one of our ten nurses. There are two private triage rooms and seven bedrooms in case anyone needs to spend the night. All camper and any over the counter medications are safely stored in our locked med room. Somerset has three AEDs and 12 Epi Pens positioned around camp at all times, along with one on every motor boat. Two hospitals along with an urgent care facility are all less than 15 minutes from camp. A resident camp doctor lives one mile away at our brother camp, Manitou, and visits Somerset once a day and is always on call, if needed. We also have existing relationships with a local dentist, orthodontist, and various other specialists. Parents will be contacted by a director or the head nurse or doctor should your daughter need to see the doctor, be taken to the hospital, or require an overnight stay in the health center. All staff and campers receive both medical and lice checks upon arrival. To prevent against ticks, we partner with Ivy Oaks Analytics, a public health company based out of Virginia that specializes in the control of ticks, mosquitoes, and poison ivy at large campgrounds, parks and summer camps. Although this has never been a major issue at Somerset, we feel very strongly that we have an obligation to our camp community to do everything in our power to reduce the risks associated with ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy. Their process includes ongoing tick population measurements, landscape modification, natural control methods and more. Somerset is proud to be one of the few camps nationally with an advanced public health standards certification by implementing this program.
Camp season
24 Jun - 10 Aug 2027
Program profile
3 sessions · Overnight camp
Rates & stays
Planning estimatePer-day tuition
N/A
Per-night tuition
From $381 / USD
Program-specific tuition options
This camp may offer session-specific tuition structures, including variations by length of stay, enrolment timing, or payment schedule. Families should confirm details directly with the provider.