Aloha

In Canoeing, Aloha campers have plied the waters of northern New England since 1905 – from Fairlee’s shores, to Maine’s Rangeley Lakes, and the glorious Adirondacks of New York State. Opportunities abound to hone and practice skills on both flat water and white water, and virtually every Aloha camper acquires paddling prowess that leads to a lifetime of enjoyment on the water. All waterfront counselors at Aloha are certified lifeguards.

With over twelve hundred acres on Aloha’s property, it’s no wonder our campers love to go out on trips. But we don’t just stay on our campus. Campers plan wilderness adventures with counselors that last anywhere from one day to five, fanning out across the mountains, lakes and rivers of northern New England. Aloha introduces campers to an array of wilderness camping experiences in hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and biking. Time spent on rivers, lakes, and trails provides opportunities for campers to practice both technical and interpersonal skills, from fire-building and map-reading to problem-solving, self-reliance, and resilience. And what more beautiful environment could there be in which learn and hone those skills than our natural corner of the world?

Aloha campers looking for a special kind of personal challenge have a variety of climbing options. In addition to Aloha’s own climb tower, campers can head over to the high and low ropes courses at our nearby “brother” camp, Lanakila, where they take to the air high up in the pine trees, safely secured and belayed, and ride the “zip wire” 100 feet down from the treetops to the ground.

There’s nothing quite like a summer breeze on Lake Morey, and catching the wind in one of our fleet of JYs is a favorite past-time of campers new and returning. Many in our community come to camp never having been in a sailboat before, and discover a hobby that builds confidence and resourcefulness while also tapping into skill building and problem solving. Campers can choose to participate in weekly clinics and regattas, or simply ride the waves and winds with friends when the mood strikes them. Newcomers, crew members, and advanced skippers are all welcome at the affectionately named “Aloha Yacht Club.” All waterfront counselors at Aloha are certified lifeguards.

Long known at Aloha as The Woodchuck Hole, our Campcraft Department is where campers learn to be self-sufficient outdoors. From map and compass skills and tying knots, to plant and tree identification, all the way up to cooking over an open fire and splitting kindling with an axe, activities in The Woodchuck Hole prepare campers to feel at home on our campus and on the trail. Campcraft offerings are ripe with opportunity for challenge, skill development, and silly, simple fun.

No matter what you’re doing, it’s harder than most people think to get — and stay — on target. In Archery and Air Riflery, campers learn concentration and stillness, range-finding and aim-taking – safely, with experts. Whether a camper wants to learn basic skills for fun, or work toward mastery under different conditions and at different distances, we have activities and challenges for all interests.

Camp just wouldn’t be camp without the wonderful camaraderie and individual expression the creative arts bring to our community. At meals, on a mountain trail, around a campfire – we’re always singing at Aloha! Music brings us together, creating an easy atmosphere of light-hearted fun in which everyone can participate. With a blend of well-known songs from outside of camp and traditional Aloha favorites that are easy to learn, music offers everyone a way to connect and celebrate.

Kayaking is a favorite water-based activity at Aloha. Campers learn and practice strokes on both flat water and white water, enhancing their skills and spending time with friends. There are plenty of paddling opportunities on Lake Morey, as well as trips to nearby lakes and rivers. All waterfront counselors at Aloha are certified lifeguards, and as our kayakers will tell you, there are all sorts of ingenious ways to paddle in, flip, steer, and run across a kayak!

While most campers arrive at Aloha having used various camera apps on cell phones, our photography program asks them to slow down, observe, choose, and invest. Using black and white film, manual cameras, and various lenses, campers explore the world of camp with a new eye for shape, light, composition, and depth. The dark room is an intentional space where it takes time and skill to develop the images you’ve captured...and of course, goofy pics of friends are always welcome!

Many campers arrive on Lake Morey without any prior tennis experience, and they find a community that emphasizes fun, fair play and friendly competition. From instruction and matches for singles and doubles, to tournaments among Aloha campers as well as inter-camp matches, our courts are vibrant and spirited, and we serve up activities that end in love-love.

Performing Arts offers the opportunity to participate in group or solo projects that can be as serious or as silly as you want. Some people take on a role in one of our two summer musicals, some choose to share a talent with the camp community in one of our serious or silly talent shows, while others learn a new instrument like ukulele or guitar, or sing in a weekly small group chorus. Aloha specializes in home-grown theatrical fun complete with fanciful, camp-made costumes and an extensive costume room with treasures that delight. Dance by the lake just for fun, or create a whole performance – it’s up to you.

Many Aloha campers first try rowing at camp, discovering a new passion for the sport that can lead to high school and college competition. After basic dock instruction in safety and technique, we take a four-person shell onto Lake Morey as often as weather permits. While this is not an activity that takes place all day every day, it is offered regularly throughout the summer so that everyone who wants to do so can give it a try, and those who so desire can progress through basic skill levels.

The Art Barn brings creativity to life in the visual arts – in ceramics, drawing, painting, copper enameling, weaving, sewing, metalwork, jewelry-making, woodworking, photography, basketry, papier-mâché, sculpture, stage set design, and more. The barn itself is one of the original buildings of our campus, lovingly refurbished in 2013 to add work space while maintaining the treasured rustic feel of the original posts and beams. The expressive possibilities are endless and the creative enthusiasm high.

Aloha’s courts and playing fields see lots of action every day. With instruction, pick-up matches, and both internal and inter-camp tournaments, there’s a chance for competition in sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and street hockey. This department also offers active play in a non-competitive setting with activities like badminton, rugby, spud, four square, hide and seek, and other childhood games, as well as the chance for campers to run and jog regularly as part of pre-season training for sports during the school year.

Whether a camper is new to riding a bike or comes to camp a practiced cyclist, there is fun to be had on bikes at Aloha. Our hillside campus is a natural place to learn mountain biking skills on trails and rough terrain, while local paths and nearby accessways provide a great opportunity for newer cyclers to practice bike basics like turning, braking, and shifting gears. Equipment maintenance is also an important part of our program, so campers know how to care for their bikes at camp and at home.

We love providing opportunities for campers that they may not encounter elsewhere, and the chance to learn the safe handling and use of power tools is one great example. Woodworking is a hub of creativity and exploration...as well as noise and sawdust! Our woodshop is supervised by skilled counselors who instruct campers in the use of hammers, nails, files, and mallets...as well as planes, sanders, drills, and saws. From jewelry boxes and cutting boards to benches, coat racks, and Adirondack chairs, Aloha’s woodworking program is always a-bustle.

Aloha’s swim docks and sandy beach are a favorite place for anyone who enjoys the water. Offering instructional and free swimming, long-distance challenges, competitive meets, and synchronized swimming and diving programs, campers quickly improve their aquatic skills while learning to be comfortable in open water. All waterfront counselors at Aloha are certified lifeguards who practice their endurance training and safety skills throughout the summer. While instructional swimming is optional, there are few things better on a hot summer day than a splash in Lake Morey’s cool water.