Camp Laurel was founded in 1949 and has been in continuous operation ever since. Its original site was on Lake Awosting, New York. During this period, the camp was under the co‑direction of Mel and Bette Archard and John and Alice Harrison. In the fall of 1965 the camp moved to its present site on Echo Lake in Mt. Vernon, Maine. Camp Laurel opened at its new site on July 1, 1966. In 1974 Ron Scott began working for Camp Laurel on a full‑time basis, and in 1978 Ron and Ann joined Mel and Bette as Directors. In 1979 Ron and Ann purchased Camp Laurel and assumed the roles of Owners and Directors. In 1994, after spending three summers as Co-Director, Keith Klein purchased Camp Laurel and has served as Owner and Director since that time. Jem Sollinger, a long-time camper and counselor, joined Keith as Co-Director in 2002. In 2007, Jem and his wife, Debbie, assumed the directorship of Laurel. Keith maintains an active role as Director and spends his summers on Echo Lake, Maine along with Jem and Debbie.