What are days off like at summer camp?

Camp is a magical place. You are working a job like no other, getting paid to do stuff, others could only dream of. So much so that often you forget that it is a job.

Though just like any other job, once a week you’d have a day off. A period of freedom, a period with no kids, no restrictions, no tasks. An opportunity to do whatever you wanted to do within reason. Now on my camp the days off were from 8am to 8am the next day, a whole golden 24 hours. There were obvious things that nearly everyone did on a day off - take a nice long shower, call the parents, do your laundry, read a book. (I know, clearly we were exciting individuals!). While this was important to relaxing and recharging, we also had much grander adventures…

The food

I’m aware it seems odd to start a discussion about days off with the topic of food. Yet often for myself and my fellow counsellors, that was the first thought for any days off. Don’t get me wrong, the food at camp was good and it was free, but it did not compete with restaurant food. 20 minutes from our camp was a little family restaurant called Chutes – that served the best breakfast in Maine. (I’m very biased). The portions were so generous that it would make a Hobbit blush and would keep us full until the afternoon. No day off would truly start without a breakfast at Chutes.

Lunch was a more on the move affair, squeezed in amidst the activities of the day. Pizza, tacos, burritos, burgers, it was whatever we could find. Arguably dinner was where the magic lay. Those of us who were off, would reassemble for a group meal, chatting and chilling. Reflecting on the adventures of the day as well as learning more about one another. One of my favourite things to do was to get a takeaway and then sit at the top of Hackers Hill. We’d dine watching the sun set over the Appalachian Mountains.

The days

The joy of camp was the wide range of hobbies, skills and ideas that the various counsellors had that translated into activities on a day off. As a result no single day off was the same. One day, ten of us ventured into the depths of the New England countryside getting unfathomably lost as we sought out the Emerald Pools. A waterfall and swimming hole that some of the counsellors had gone to when they were campers. It looked like it was straight out of a picture. A gurgling stream that led to a waterfall, flanked by pines that were pierced by sunlight. We spent hours there, jumping down the waterfall, swimming in the cool pools, sunning ourselves upon the assorted rocks.

On another day, we crossed the state line from Maine to New Hampshire. And there we got a boat back to Maine along the Saco River for three hours. Aimlessly drifting at the mercy of the river, guzzling fizzy drinks, snacking on crisps, chocolate and all things sugar. All whilst sharing stories, splashing about and generally relaxing. That was it, a whole day off, just floating down the Saco.

Another day off saw an attempt at the madness known as Barbie-Oppenheimer. Following a relatively quick breakfast at Chutes, some of the counsellors had rushed to the local cinema to catch a morning screening of Oppenheimer. Others including me who weren’t too bothered, took a more relaxed approach. After breakfast, we went thrifting at Salvation Army and then caught up with the others to watch Barbie that afternoon.

The nights

What we did on our nights off varied, though they often presented a moment for a more relaxed activity. The fact that are days off didn’t end till 8am the next morning also allowed us to spend the night off camp, either in an AirBnB or at a lake house owned by one of the fellow counsellors.

Some nights we went to Hackers Hill to watch the sunset, or went for ice cream at the local parlours of Dugout or Mosquitos. Occasionally we’d choose a more energetic activity – baseball. Camp was located about 40 minutes from the city of Portland and its team, The Portland Seadogs. The Seadogs were a Minor League Baseball team who were enjoying a winning streak. Not that I understood any of it. Not that this was an issue, as other counsellors were more then happy to explain to me the greatest American past-time.

Day and nights off were always a pleasing interlude amidst the hard work of camp. They were a great opportunity to explore the local area, go on adventures, get to know your fellow counsellors. Whilst camp lays the foundation of friendships, it is often the adventures of the days off that cement them.

Been inspired by George’s story to spend the summer at camp? Find out more.