Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp
Click here for complete information on how to register for Otter Pond Camp
Registrations will be taken in person and online. Online registrations must be completed prior to the Wednesday before camp begins. After that time you will have to register in person.
About Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp
Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp, located across from Sebago Lake, sits on 250 acres of trails and woods with a sandy beach, swimming area, ropes course, fishing pond, archery range, boating, shade pavilion and much more.
Otter Pond's traditional day camp offers aquatics, creative arts, sports, rainy day field trips, and nature education for kids ages 5 to 12. There is also a leadership program for teens who want to become future camp counselors.
Bus transportation transports children daily from pickup locations in Portland, Westbrook, Gorham, Windham, and the Pineland Y Branch in New Gloucester. Bus transportation and extended before and after camp care are provided at no additional charge.
Our Camp Philosophy
We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life. With the help of the Y community, kids in our neighborhoods are taking more interest in learning and making smarter life choices. At our day camps, kids learn to share, learn about sportsmanship and, most importantly, learn how to be themselves. These skills make for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.
Our focus is on youth development. Our day camps nurture the potential of every child. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. All kids deserve the chance to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That’s why, through YMCA camp, youth today are cultivating the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement.
Why Parents & Kids Love Y Camps
We draw on nearly 80 years of success in providing summer camps in the Cumberland County community and 150 years of YMCA camping experience around the country. We know camp!
More specifically:
- Parents trust us to take care of their kids.
- We are positive role models for your children.
- We teach kids to be good friends and good citizens.
- We nurture independent thinking and creativity and expand kids' horizons through exploration.
- We bring smiles to your child's face!
Summer Camp Staff
The Cumberland County YMCA prides itself on the quality and commitment of our staff. These individuals are caring, fun, energetic and responsible people who participate in a comprehensive training program. As a result, 97% of families believe our staff members are good mentors to their children.
We perform criminal background checks on all of our staff over the age of 18. Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. Staff members largely consist of college or high school students, teachers and parents.
Extended Care
We understand that many parents need a safe, enriching place for their children outside of the 9:00 am - 4:00 pm daily camp session. Before- and after-camp care is provided for all campers as part of the weekly camp fee. Extended care is provided at Otter Pond from 7:30 am to 9:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Extended care is also provided at the Greater Portland YMCA from 7:30 am to 7:50 am each morning and from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm each afternoon. There is no additional charge for extended care or for bus transportation.
Transportation
Bus transportation for campers is available as follows
Morning Bus Schedule
PINELAND BUS
Pineland Branch YMCA – departs 8:00 am
North Windham (Shaw’s) – departs 8:30 am
PORTLAND BUS
Northgate shopping plaza – departs 7:30 am
Greater Portland branch YMCA – departs 7:50 am
UNUM – departs 8:10 am
Westbrook (Hannaford) – departs 8:25 am
Gorham (Hannaford) – departs 8:40 am
Afternoon Bus Schedule
PINELAND BUS
Pineland Branch YMCA – Arrives 4:45 pm
North Windham (Shaw’s) – Arrives 4:20 pm
PORTLAND BUS
Northgate shopping plaza – Arrives 5:20 pm
Greater Portland branch YMCA – Arrives 5:10
UNUM – Arrives 4:55 pm
Westbrook (Hannaford) – Arrives 4:40 pm
Gorham (Hannaford) – Arrives 4:25 pm
Bus schedule was updated as of Friday 6/26/11
There is no additional charge for extended care or for bus transportation.
Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp Sessions 2011
Session I :: June 20 - 24
Core Values
Welcome to Otter Pond! Let’s start the summer off with what’s right! The four character values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility! Join us in our beautiful nature setting as we do projects and play games that help teach these values! Hope to see you there!
Session 2 :: June 27 – July 1
Red, White, & Blue
Come to Otter Pond to celebrate our nation’s birthday! Campers will be involved in activities that highlight our country’s history! What does it mean to be a responsible citizen? Come and find out through a variety of patriotic activities.
Session 3 :: July 5 – 8
Aqua Adventure
Who doesn’t like an adventure? How about an adventure with water at Otter Pond! This week will be all about water! Water games, water art projects, and water safety! Don’t miss out on this week of wet and wild fun!
Session 4 :: July 11 - 15
Earth Week
The planet Earth! What can we do to care for it? Come to Otter Pond and find out. Campers will learn about the environment, and what they can do to preserve it. What better place to do this than our beautiful outdoor camp site!
Session 5 :: July 18 - 22
Otter Olympics
We are the Champions! The Olympics are about competition, and coming together as a team! Join us at the Otter Olympics, as we enjoy sports and games, as well as learning about teamwork and sportsmanship! This is sure to be a week filled with fun!!
Session 6 :: July 25 - 29
Island Madness
What is island life like? Let’s explore this at Otter Pond! We will navigate through islands all over the world, from Maine to the Far East! We will also host Camp Pineland with a celebratory Luau!
Session 7 :: August 1 - 5
The Otter Extreme Experience
Survival in the outdoors, knot tying, orienteering! This is what Otter Pond is all about! Campers will enjoy many activities focused on the outdoors. They will also learn about preserving nature, so others will be able to enjoy it in the future. We will have a visit from the Maine Rescue Dogs, as well as the Portland YMCA camp! Don’t miss out on all the fun!
Session 8 :: August 8 - 12
International Week
Let’s go Global at Otter Pond!! Campers will be learning about countries from all around the world. They will enjoy games and projects from many different places. This week will conclude with a Penny Carnival, where campers are invited to donate their pennies to a global cause!
Session 9 :: August 15 - 19
Wild Life
Otter Pond and wild life! It can’t get better than that! Campers will learn about local wildlife and how to protect and care for them. A special guest will join us this week to help us get to know our furry friends better!!
Session 10 :: August 22 – 26
Family
This is the week to bring it all together! This week we will show the people we care about most, what we have learned this summer. We have learned the core values and will bring them to our families, as well as our communities. To celebrate the end of this fantastic summer, we will invite our family and friends to a BBQ!
Teen Leadership Opportunities
Through our Teen Leadership Programs (LIT and CIT), we develop leadership skills that young people can use throughout their lives to help others and themselves in identifying and achieving goals. In addition, in our Counselors in Training (CIT) program, we help young people learn how to effectively lead children. There are three components to our skill-based, leadership training process:
1. We help young people figure out what good leaders do and say.
2. We give them lots of opportunities to practice doing and saying these things.
3. We make it fun!
Ages: 13-15
Dates: LIT: Sessions 2-4 (June 27 – July 15)
CIT: Sessions 5-7 (July 18 – August 5)
Cost: $270 for each three-week session
Camp Fees
Camp Fee: $190 per session per child
One-Time Registration Fee: $15 per child (This fee is waived for Cumberland County YMCA members.)
Early-Bird Incentive! Register by May 1st and pay only $180 per session.
Multiple Session Incentive! Register by May 1st for 7 weeks or more and pay only $170 per session.
Sibling Incentive: $10 per session per child for the second and every subsequent child from the same family attending the same camp session.
Financial Assistance
The Cumberland County YMCA strives to serve the entire community, regardless of ability to pay. We do this by providing need-based financial assistance, made possible through the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the area. The Y also accepts Aspire, Child Care Connections, and other vouchers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about financial assistance.
Directions
Click here to find the entrance to Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp on Google Maps.
Otter Pond Outdoor Adventure Camp is located on Chadborne Rd (Route 35) in Standish ME. If using GPS, using the address 73 Chadborne Road, Standish will bring you within a few hundred yards of the entrance to the camp. (Note: this is not the exact street address). The entrance to camp is located af the corner of Chadborne Rd and Mountain Division Trail Rd.
From Portland:
Follow Route 302 out of Portland (Route 302 begins as Forest Ave in Portland) into North Windham. At the intersection of route 302 and Route 35 turn LEFT onto route 35/Tandberg Trail. (Gilbert's Chowder House will be on your left just before the turn.)
Follow Route 35 north for approximately 6.3 miles. The name of the road you are on changes from Tandberg Trail to Chadborne Rd when you cross the Standish Town line - just remain on Route 35, heading into Standish.
The entrance to the camp is on your left, and is clearly marked with a sign.
If you come to the center of Standish (the intersection of Routes 35 and 114) you've gone too far and should turn around. The entrance to camp is about 1/2 mile from the intersection of Routes 35 and 114 in Standish (TJ's sandwich shop)
Special Needs
We want to best serve your child and to make his or her camp experience enjoyable. Communication is a key component of this and critical to a successful relationship. Therefore, if your child has any behavioral or medical challenges (including allergies), please speak with our Camp Director to determine if we can safely accommodate his/her needs.