In The State of Maine! Welcome Home Camp Laurel Alumni.
Anyone that’s been a member of the Camp Laurel family knows what an unforgettable and special experience a summer is on Echo Lake! Welcome to the alumni portion of our site. Relive summer memories and rekindle old camp friendships, or simply view the slideshow and take a step back in time to the special place we call home – Camp Laurel.
Please keep in touch…we love hearing from you! And, as always, thanks for keeping the Camp Laurel Spirit alive!
Since 1949
Camp Laurel was founded in 1949 in Lake Awosting, New York and has been in continuous operation ever since. 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, and in 1978 Ron and Mel and Bette Archard’s daughter, Ann, began as Directors. In 1979 Ron and Ann purchased Camp Laurel. In 1994, after spending three summers as Co-Director, Keith Klein purchased Camp Laurel and has served as Owner 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 Camp Laurel, joining Keith as Co-Owners of the camp.
Moosetrack News
Camp Skills at Home
Campers return home at the end of each summer with a boatload of benefits gained during their time away. From mastering a forehand in tennis to throwing the perfect bowl in ceramics, campers return with increased confidence and self-esteem. They also come home feeling connected and part of the amazing Camp Laurel community.
Now is the perfect time for campers to utilize the skills they developed at camp. Take some time to continue the comic book you created last summer. Work up a sweat by going for a run, juggling a soccer ball or working on your ball-handling skills. Up your kitchen game when you’re ready for lunch or dinner with our ChefCamp Recipe Book.
Finally, staying in touch with your camp friends has never been easier thanks to technology. But nothing beats a hand-written letter. Take the time to write to your camp friends about the good times, fun activities, and memories you’ve shared. And don’t forget to include all the things you’re looking forward to next summer at Laurel!
Wishing our Laurel Family all the best and excited to see you on the shores of Echo Lake in June.
What’s Going on at Camp?
It’s another beautiful day in the state of Maine! The sun is shining and Echo Lake is warm and inviting! While camp is so quiet this summer, there’s still a lot going on. We’ve replaced the last three Acadian Cabins and they look amazing; the new Council Fire above Tanager is magnificent; the Fields are freshly mowed and the Courts are ready – now all we need is you in 2021!
Jem, Debbie, and Peter are also prepping to make 2021 the best summer ever. They’re diving into Staff Orientation, Evening Programs, S-Days, and much, much more. Our Campus Leaders and Head Counselors will join Jem, Debbie and Peter for a Zoom Summit next week to begin putting our team together for next June.
This Thursday, July 23rd, is our first ever social media Laurel Spirit Day. We encourage anyone who wants to share their enthusiasm for Laurel to wear their Laurel gear and tag us on Instagram and/or Facebook stories. Missing everyone and looking forward to seeing you all again on the shores of Echo Lake in eleven months.
Celebrating Independence Day
It was certainly a quieter July 4th on Echo Lake over the weekend. Looking back at photos from previous summers, though, reminds us how lucky we are to have celebrated Independence Day together in Maine. We’re grateful for the fun programs our Department Heads plan like Red, White and Boogie at Dance, Ring the Liberty Bell at Climbing, US Open Tournament at Tennis and countless others. Of course, the special July 4th Cookout and the best fireworks show in Maine cap off an amazing day.
We missed seeing your patriotic face paint and hearing Happy Birthday (Laurel-style, of course!) for the USA. Most of all, we wanted to share smiles and laughs with all of you – our campers and counselors.
We’re beyond thankful for the energetic and caring community we have. And we appreciate the Laurel family so much for carrying that spirit forward. We hope you had an enjoyable and safe weekend. We’re already looking forward to celebrating America’s Independence Day on the shores of Echo Lake in 2021!
