Otyokwa

An overnight program on Pemaquid Pond

*If registration is full, please sign up for the waitlist here.

Overview

Summer camp is full of magical moments - whether it’s that first laugh with your cabin mate, the excited shivers before an early morning jump in the lake, or the taste of a perfectly cooked s’more - this time together, and the friendships developed, will be cherished long after camp ends.

Days at the Growing Together Overnight Program at Otyokwa are spent making art, swimming at our private beach, exploring outdoors, playing games, learning new skills, and enjoying summer in Maine with friends. Located on 40 acres, with a half mile of shorefront on Pemaquid Pond, we have endless possibilities for summertime adventures.

Our days are structured, while also flexible. We are busy, yet not rushed. We follow the schedule of what feels fun in the moment. We strike a balance between exciting new challenges and relaxing simplicity. Located at a beautiful camp with woods, fields, and water, we have endless possibilities for summertime adventures.

Check out our blog from past years to learn more!

2024 Dates:

Session 1 (Art Focus):

June 15 - 18, 2024
Girls* ages 9-11, space limited to 12 campers

Session 2 (Outdoor Adventure Focus):

June 19 - 22, 2024
Girls* ages 10-12, space limited to 12 campers

Session 3 (Art Focus):

June 23 - 26, 2024
Girls* ages 11-13, space limited to 12 campers

Cost:

$985 (financial assistance available! Please apply prior to registration.)
- Receive 10% off by signing up for any two Growing Routes overnight programs!
- Includes initial non-refundable Registration Deposit of $400 to reserve spot
Full Payment Due: March 1st, 2024

For more information on our COVID - safety measures, please see here.

Activities include (but aren’t limited to!)…

Arts and Crafts, swimming, journals/reading, campfires, star gazing, scavenger hunts, games, yoga, Ultimate Frisbee, exploring, canoeing, nature walking, movie night, outdoor skills, and much more!

Participants will:

Build friendships and deep connections with peers
Increase comfort in the outdoors
Develop curiosity and openness to different ideas/experiences
Gain an appreciation and sense of wonder for little things
Flex their flexibility and expand their adaptability
Gain self-awareness, confidence and humility

Where:

Camp this year will be located at Otyokwa on Pemaquid Pond in Bremen, ME. Campers will stay in cabins and activities will take place on the 40 acre property.

Packing List

History

Our Growing Routes Overnight Program at Otyokwa is rooted in history. Long before Growing Routes campers arrived on the property, Camp Otyokwa existed as a boys camp established in 1935 at the height of the Great Depression. The camp closed at the onset of World War II but while it was open from 1935-1941, Camp Otyokwa was a haven for kids during the biggest economic cataclysm the world had seen up to that point. The camp provided city kids a crash course in outdoor skills, physical labor and play, and self-reliance, in what at the time was the ‘Far North’ of Maine. The extensive photos and writings from the time show 75 boys spending days swimming, hiking, playing games, and establishing trail networks, some of which still exist on the property.

2024 GR Overnight Program Registration

Testimonials

“Any type of child with thrive and grow in this program”

“Chloë can connect groups of kids seamlessly...she is vigilant about safety and rules but in a way that the girls never questioned...I watched Chloë through the years and trust her immensely and hold her in a special place in my heart because of what she gave my girls.”

“Such a fun, wholesome, age appropriate camp, the counselors rock.”

“Chloë is very well organized... I have always appreciated how she takes the best from diverse educational models and also tailors activities to different personalities and interests... Chloe also manages to create a tangible culture of respect, tolerance and kindness, and infuses the days with a spirit of wonder.”

“A truly wonderful program; it was the perfect intro to sleepaway camp for our daughter. It felt intimate and so well thought-out. Meals and accommodations were great -- activities were plentiful and meaningful. Our daughter had SO much fun, learned not to sweat the small stuff. It was a wonderful week in the woods and waters of Maine and we would be thrilled to do it again.”