Camp Membership
Every summer, Maine camps transform the lives of youngsters across Maine. Maine Summer Camps stands behind each of those camps through programming, publications, and, with its sister organization, the Maine Youth Camp Association, advocacy and lobbying efforts. Maine Summer Camps currently has more than 145 
member youth camps and outdoor adventure programs, but every camp in Maine stands to gain from membership. In supporting camps, we strive to keep Maine camp accessible to child of all backgrounds, guide families in camp choice, and distribute positive information about the vast value of Maine camp. Your support benefits your own camp plus supports an excellent resource in the form of Maine Summer Camps.
Becoming a Member
We are Maine’s only professional association dedicated to organized youth camping! All organized children’s camps that operate in Maine and are licensed by the State of Maine as youth camps, or are operated under the control of another organization by the Department of Health & Human Services, or are not required to be licensed by the Department are eligible for membership. Click the button below to join us. We also ask that our member camps sign and abide by Maine Summer Camps Code of Ethics.
Why Join?
Your membership helps keep Maine camps safe, informed, and full of happy campers. Here are specific membership benefits:
- List your camp in the Maine Summer Camps Directory for directors and owners, and online at mainecamps.org/find-a-camp/.
- Be included on MSC’s Find-A-Camp search tool to promote your camp and its unique offerings. 225,000 page visits this past year.
- Market your camp. Maine Summer Camps continues to expand its online marketing presence.
- Workshops. Every year MSC offers workshops in September, January, and April. The Education Committee provides first-class workshops on topics such as gender identity and other issues of diversity, digital marketing, planning trips, and STEM in camps.
- Staffing support. Participate in the private camp directors’ Facebook forum to share staff needs and important camp questions.
- Receive MSC NEWS four times a year.
- Stay informed of legal changes on camp issues. Have a voice in legislative and regulatory issues throughout the year. Receive Action Bulletins, alerting you to breaking issues in the law and camp regulations – don’t risk being out of compliance with new requirements.
- Attend our annual Business Networking Extravaganza held in January, where you can meet with more than 70 of our business members and receive discounts on camp goods!
- Get connected with other camping professionals by attending membership meetings held throughout the year.
- SAVE MONEY. Past advocacy efforts on tax legislation have saved camps money. Why not turn those savings into a membership in MSC, an organization that benefits your camp?
- Special rates for Day Camps. See Membership form for more details.
Your MSC dues are a great investment, and by becoming a member you strengthen all Maine camps. Questions? Call Maine Summer Camps Executive Director Lucy Norvell at 207-518-9557 or email camps@mainecamps.org.
Sign Up
MSC Code of Ethics
We, the Member Camps of Maine Summer Camps (MSC), acknowledge our responsibility for the care, welfare, development and education of children who attend our camps, for the community created by us, and for the earth’s environment in which we operate. We are committed to providing the opportunity to attend camp, to all children regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin.
Therefore, the undersigned camp, as a member of MSC, will strive to:
- Provide for a safe and healthy environment for all campers and staff
- Offer programs that provide activities with measurable outcomes that help campers develop mental, emotional, social and physical health
- Respect right and dignity of all individuals
- Operate in a manner that respects the natural environment by:
- Providing programs and activities that develop appreciation of and awareness for the natural environment consistent with camp’s program
- Operating in a manner that minimizes the camp’s impact on the environment
- Seek enrollment from broadest spectrum of society
- Provide a work environment for staff that leads to skill development
- Operate in a manner that:
- Supports other member camps and the camp community
- Is responsive to the community in which camp is located.