Summer is Coming Soon - FAQs as we gear up for Summer!

With the new summer just a couple of months away, we thought we would share some answers to a few frequently asked questions. These details have helped other families over the years, and we hope these are helpful as you and your camper prepare for the summer ahead!

• What kind of medical care is available at Alford Lake Camp?

  • ALC provides a medical staff of RNs and/or Nurse Practitioners who handle all routine medical matters. If our nurses determine that a camper needs a physician’s care, they will bring her to see a local pediatrician, who is on call for us 24 hours a day. He can refer her to other medical help as needed.

  • In addition, we have a number of staff members who have been trained as Wilderness First Responders, and 20-25 American Red Cross Lifeguards (including all waterfront staff) in camp each summer.

• How do you handle homesickness at ALC?

  • It’s not a sickness to miss home! It is completely normal, especially for a camper away from home for the first time. It can take a few days for a camper to adjust to her new surroundings and new routines at ALC. Her counselor and tentmates are an integral part of helping her adjust to camp, and together they will these beginning feelings are short-lived and subside and she settles in and begins to make friends!

  • Our schedule is designed to immediately get the campers engrossed in camp activities and forming relationships. Our staff is trained to recognize the signs of homesickness, acknowledge these feelings, and implement strategies to help our campers overcome it quickly.

  • It’s a good idea for you to have a conversation together before camp. Tell her you are proud of her, excited for her, and jealous of all the fun things she will get to do and all the wonderful people she will get to meet. Never make a promise that she can come home if she is unhappy or that she can call you at any time. Missing home and family AND having a wonderful time at camp at the same time is a great lifetime skill to develop.

• How do you create a safe environment at Alford Lake Camp?

  • The health and safety of our community is a priority at Alford Lake Camp. We maintain a commitment to the highest safety standards in all activities and programs, and in all areas of program development and camp living. We are also committed to creating a kind, respectful community that encourages each person to become the best version of themselves. All staff members participate in our pre-camp training so they become familiar with and have practiced ALC specific safety protocols and expectations. As required by the state of Maine, all staff members who are 18 and older have been trained as Mandated Reporters.

  • Our staff training guides counselors with skills to create an emotionally safe environment for all campers. Alford Lake Camp has a mental health consultant in camp on site who is a seasoned LCSW in private practice. She does not act as anyone’s therapist in camp, but she provides oversight to the general mental health and safety for the community, and she provides mental health support to campers and counselors when necessary.

  • Alford Lake Camp has been an American Camp Association Accredited

    Camp since the early days of the accreditation program many decades ago. Alford Lake Camp also follows the guidelines established by the State of Maine for summer camps. We maintain high expectations of our programs, site, and staff, and we work closely with our staff to help them become the best possible mentors for their campers. 

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  What is the food like at Alford Lake Camp?

  • ALC serves healthful meals designed to provide campers with all the nutrition required by active youth. A registered dietician reviews all of

    our menus each year. Breakfast consists of a variety of hot and cold cereal, plus a second course that may consist of eggs, toast, pancakes, fruit and juice. Lunch usually includes sandwiches, soups, and salads. Dinner has a meat/fish entrée with fresh vegetables, grains, and salads. Every meal includes vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Dessert includes fresh fruit and treats like ice cream or cookies. Snacks are offered daily, and include a variety of protein, fruit and carb based options.

  • Alford Lake Camp is a nut-educated community. We have campers and staff members with serious, life-threatening nut allergies. Please do not bring foods or products to camp that contain nuts of any kind or have been made in factories that process nuts.

  • If your camper has a medically diagnosed food sensitivity or allergy, please indicate it clearly on her Health History and Primary Care Provider Form. We can accommodate most food allergies, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, and both vegetarian and vegan diets. Food allergies are serious and it is important to us to have as much information as possible so that we can handle food allergies well.

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  Does Alford Lake Camp provide a technology free environment for campers?

  • Alford Lake Camp is intentionally unplugged. Campers and counselors often comment that they don’t miss their phone, computers, and other devices. In recent years, campers have shared that camp gives them permission to take a break from the pressures of email, texting, and social media. We don’t miss our technology while at camp because our focus is on being present in real time with one another. Our days at ALC include ample time for conversation, laughter, and the joy of time spent being together. All of this helps ALCers create strong, meaningful friendships that often carry long beyond the summer at camp.

There’s much to do to get ready for the summer ahead, and we hope these answers are helpful as we all prepare for the adventures of the new summer ahead! We know that campers, staff, and families are likely experiencing a mix of emotions as you begin to pack and get organized for the summer - that’s awesome and all a part of the process! Reach out to our office with any questions you may have - we are happy to help!