It has been 80 years since a group of visionary Maine camp directors concluded that growth of the youth camping industry reinforced their common goal of upholding high ideals and standards for Maine camps. In 1934 the Maine Camp Directors Association (MCDA) was established to promote consistent standards of operations for children’s camps, standards that ultimately became part of the first camp licensing laws in the U.S. One of the first professional state camp associations in the U.S., the organization now known as Maine Summer Camps has changed to keep pace with the times but has remained at the forefront of the youth camp movement, pointing the way for others.

In 1937, the MCDA was instrumental in creating the Junior Maine Guide program, a joint effort with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife that provides certification for teens who master a comprehensive set of wilderness skills.

Over the years, the Association provided a forum for camps to learn from and support each other, collaborate on regulations and standards, and provide professional development opportunities. In 1982, the group incorporated as a charitable nonprofit, the Maine Youth Camping Association (MYCA), enlarging its membership to include individuals, businesses and other organizations supportive of children’s. MYCA’s membership continued to reflect the wide diversity of Maine camps, including private, nonprofit, religious, resident, day and specialty camps.

In the wake of a spate of new regulations and laws affecting the Maine youth camping industry in the past several decades, MYCA heightened its role in legislative advocacy while simultaneously facing increased societal and cultural expectations with respect to the areas of camper safety, program development, environmental impact, business practices and child development. In 2008, the organization spun off into two nonprofit groups with different purposes. MYCA became solely a governmental relations and advocacy group, engaged year-round on regulatory concerns and their impact on camps. MYCA’s sister organization, Maine Summer Camps, continues as a nonprofit organization that provides professional development and support for camps at a time when such support is greatly needed. With a primary goal of providing free camp information to the public, MSC maintains a searchable website of Maine camps, provides a print camp directory and assists parents seeking opportunities for their children, including those with special physical or financial needs. The two organizations work closely together for the benefit of Maine summer camps and families.