MSC’s Camp Historian Henry Johnson took on a labor of love when he visited five camps celebrating milestones during the 2025 summer camp season. Johnson, a longtime Maine camper and counselor, delved into deep detail and offers a wealth of information about these camps in a full-length article available here.

Camp Wawenock, Camp Walden, Agassiz Village, Pine Tree Camp, and Camp Micah Celebrate Milestones

By Henry Paul Johnson, Maine Summer Camp Historian

The wonderful history and traditions of Maine Summer Camps were prominently on display this past summer as Camp Wawenock (1910-2025), Camp Walden (1915-2025), Camp Micah (2000- 2025), Agassiz Village (1935-2025), and Pine Tree Camp (1945-2025) celebrated milestones.

Camp Wawenock – 115 years

Organized as Camp Wawenock for Boys in 1907 by Dr. William C. Kendall, Camp Owaissa for Girls was then established in 1910. In 1924 the boys division of the camp was discontinued, and the camp became Camp Wawenock/Owaissa. A number of directors guided the camp and from 1949 to 1997 Lillian and Syd Ussher, who devoted themselves to “the ideals of Wawenock,” continued the Camp Wawenock spirit. From 1956 to 2011 June Gray worked at camp and was director from 1979-2011. Pat Smith, a varsity coach at Bates College for 10 years, became a full-time director in 1985. Today the spirit of Camp Wawenock continues under the skillful directorship of Andy Sangster and Catriona Logan Sangster. It is clear to this Historian that Camp Wawenock, which provides both roots and wings, is a special place for campers and staff alike.

Camp Walden – 110 years

Camp Walden for Girls in Denmark, ME celebrated its 110^th anniversary this summer, and this Historian was greeted by Director Marnie Cerrato. The Denmark Society, in its publication Denmark Reflections, recounted that Blanche Hirsch and Clara Altschul purchased 45 acres for the camp in 1916. Their vision was to provide a supportive environment for girls to grow and achieve their goals. The camp’s name was inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s book of the same name. Director Cerrato explained that many Walden campers are children or grandchildren of former campers. Among its goals, the camp seeks to foster cooperation with others and to develop “just and democratic standards” based on the principal of self-government, which campers refer to as Honor System.

Agassiz Village – 90 years

Founded in 1935 by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Burroughs, Agassiz Village welcomes campers between the ages of eight and 17, with a focus on underserved children and families. The camp originally served newsboys and other street vendors from the Boston area. The mission of Agassiz Village is “to prepare kids for life’s journey.” Specifically, the camp offers its campers the opportunity to develop and practice critical leadership and life skills. Programs are considered an investment in the future, designed to inspire children to dream big and engage in activities so they can reach their full potential as adults. Agassiz Village has served as a beacon of hope for many children throughout New England as it works to instill basic life-changing values, including leadership and responsibility.

Pine Tree Camp – 80 years

Located in Rome, Maine, on the site of what was once a fishing and hunting camp, Pine Tree Camp in 2025 hosted youth and adult campers from age five to 80. At the camp, “Children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities experience freedom, independence and life-changing experiences through barrier-free access to the outdoors.” Private fundraising has enabled the camp to never turn away a camper due to inability to pay tuition. The camp was originally known as the Pine Tree Society for Crippled Children, located in Bath, Maine where Hyde School presently sits.

Camp Micah – 25 years

Set on Peabody Pond in Bridgton, Maine, Camp Micah was established as a “traditional Jewish co-educational overnight summer camp for campers between the ages of 7 and 17.” It operates on property which was the site of Camp Accomac and the Moose Cove Lodge Camp. Camp Micah’s goals include keeping a safe and nourishing environment with top-notch instruction and positive reinforcement and encouraging all campers to succeed and become more resilient. The camp was built “from the ground up,” and in 2025 it hosted 280 campers and approximately 165 staff members to enjoy the Camp Micah experience. Judaism is woven into the fabric of Micah life as it appreciates the importance in connecting its campers to its Jewish heritage which understand its collective responsibility to make the world a better place.

Conclusion

To this historian, while camp milestones are measured in years, the great qualities of camp experiences are, in so many ways, immeasurable. Maine Summer Camps as exemplified by the milestones reached by Wawenock, Walden, Agassiz Village, Pine Tree and Micah demonstrate the vastness of the Maine camp experience and its wonderful complement to one’s life course.

Editor’s Note: This article is written by noted author and Maine Summer Camps historian Henry Johnson, who attended and worked at Camp Powhaten in Otis field from 1966 to 1979. If you wish to submit information to Mr. Johnson related to Maine camp history, you may email him at hjohnson@henryjohnsonlaw.com