There are a few different options for transportation.  Campers may be driven by their guardians to our mainland dock at the Y-Landing Marina in Meredith, NH, they may travel (with their luggage) on staff-supervised busses (for an additional fee), which leaves from our Methuen Branch in Massachusetts, or they may be transported by private, family-owned boat (if traveling by private boat, arrival and departure arrangements must be made with each camp directly).  Campers arriving by plane must fly into the Manchester, NH airport and flights must be scheduled between 12pm and 3pm (airport pick-up and drop-off will incur an additional fee).

Before a camper arrives at camp, parents fill out and mail to camp a “Let’s Get Acquainted” form.  This questionnaire is reviewed by the Camp Director and appropriate cabin staff and is used to identify the needs, interests, and expectations of campers. When campers arrive at camp, staff  spend a lot of time with them talking about their interests, helping them to feel at home and make friends and introducing them to other campers and staff.

Each spring we host open houses at the camps and in the Merrimack Valley YMCA’s service area. For more information, visit out Rates and Dates page (link). The Camping Services Office will also notify families about the details of these events.

Each camp has two full-time nurses on staff.  Both camps have well-equipped health centers, and a large percentage of our staff are certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED, in addition to being certified lifeguards.  Lakes Region General Hospital is located a short drive from the Y-Landing Marina.

Our staff are young adults, many of whom grew up in our camps and completed our Counselor-in-Training program. All complete thorough pre-season training and the Redwoods Child Abuse Prevention Course. They have been selected for maturity, leadership ability, activity skills, positive and friendly attitudes, commitment to young people and a genuine love for camp. Each camp’s leadership includes seasoned leaders, some of whom are professional educators and registered nurses.

We hold non-denominational services each Sunday that all campers and staff attend.  These services are traditionally conducted by our staff and tend to focus on the core values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.  We respect the religious perspectives of all campers and staff.

Our cabins house between eight and twelve campers as well as two staff members. Campers enjoy adequate personal space and sleep in wooden bunk beds with guard rails.  Cabins are wood-frames with window screens.  Cabin assignments are based on age and school grade.  The directors place campers in specific cabin groups with attention to the balance of people from the same hometown, the ratio of new to returning campers, as well as other factors.

It might seem logical to try to guarantee a happy camp experience be requesting a specific cabin mate for your child, however, experienced camp directors universally agree that these requests frequently create more problems than they solve.  Our camps do not schedule daily activities or dining hall assignments by cabin.  Cabin mate requests will be noted when both campers are in the same rising grade and the request comes from both sets of parents, however, they are limited to one request per camper and they are not encouraged and cannot be guaranteed.  Many factors go into cabin placement decisions. Please email requests to campinfo@mvymca.org. One named request only. Our camp directors are happy to discuss your request with you.

Our camps offer activities that are instructional and meaningful, offering challenges and growth for both beginning and advanced learners.  We focus our attention on ensuring that our activities are both safe and fun.

Our campers come from all over New England, the United States and around the world.  Some of our staff and campers have traveled from areas in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America.

Our camps stand out for their unique island location and for the team of dedicated staff who return summer after summer.  The counselors are strong models of our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.  Our camps offer a great mix of athletic and creative activities in a setting that promotes self-confidence and teamwork.

Our camps can accommodate most dietary food preferences (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).  Staff are also made aware of identified food allergies and campers are monitored for safe and healthy eating habits.