

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.
The Tripp Lake Camp was founded in 1911 and has grown ever since to offer a full 7-week program to girls, aged 7-16. To foster the spirit of unity and eliminate competition, all staff and campers are required to wear a uniform. The camp is located on the shores of Tripp Lake, in Poland, Maine, and welcomes nearly 320 campers each year. Over 200 staff members are there to make campers’ stay enjoyable – 75 being female, and 25% being male. Aside from counselors, advisors and administrators, the camp houses a full medical staff – four nurses and a doctor who are available to take care of girls at all times. Every effort is made so that the day campers arrive at Tripp Lake, they feel welcomed and at home. However, new campers are contacted by their Big Sisters well before the welcome day. Parents are an integral part of the camp family. Throughout the year, they receive important information and resources to prepare their daughter(s) for upcoming summer. A personal online account is designated to each parent for a smooth and secure communication.
135 activity counselors from all over the US take care of safety, comfort and fun during each activity at the camp. Activities are designed “to foster camaraderie, enthusiasm, compassion, respect and responsibility” in every single camper. Land sports, waterfront, equestrian program, outdoor living program, theatre, dance, arts – whatever girls may choose to be involved in, they will gain new skills by facing and overcoming challenges. This is how the staff at Tripp Lake Camp helps girls build confidence, leadership skills and spirit of sportsmanship.
Camp season
27 Jun - 13 Aug 2026
Program profile
1 session · Overnight camp
Rates & stays
Planning estimatePer-day tuition
N/A
Per-night tuition
From USD 372 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.
Per-night (overnight) and per-day (day) figures are calculated from each session's standard tuition and shown as a planning reference only. We show the lowest per-night or per-day rate across this camp's sessions, so the total for a given session, and your actual tuition, may be higher depending on length of stay, age group, or enrolment timing.
This estimate helps families understand the overall scale of commitment across stay options. Final tuition, inclusions, discounts, and payment structures vary by session and are confirmed directly with the camp.