Camp Lohikan — Local services in Buckingham Township

We had a really challenging experience with this camp and I feel obligated to pass on our experience so others can make informed decisions in the future.

We sent our 12yo this year for 2 weeks. It was her second time at a sleep-away camp, 1st time at Lohikan. I had some reservations based on the website and Google reviews, but she was insistent that she go and so we followed her lead.

Not even 1 day into her time there, she was despondent and insisting she come home. However, they have a very strict parent-contact policy and she wasn't allowed to call us for 3 days - Wednesday. I knew about the policy, but had no idea they would prevent a child who had been crying constantly from calling her parents. When she finally was allowed to call us, she cried and cried and cried. She insisted that nothing in particular happened, but that she was just really unhappy at the camp and wanted to come home. We assured her we would make arrangements to come get her on Friday. On Thursday, I tried to connect with her counselor just to check in and got no reply. I finally was able to get in touch with her in the evening and she was very resistant to letting me talk to my daughter. She said, "I know if she hears your voice, she'll just want to come home." Like, okay, so???

She never gave my daughter the message to call me until later that night. When I finally spoke to her, she was still insistent that she wanted to come home.

When I picked up my daughter this morning, there was a weird, very unorganized process for signing her out and then when she got in the car, she unloaded a litany of issues that she encountered while at camp for only 1 week: gross and not private bathrooms and showers, rude counselors, terrible food (for a camp of such expense, this was really surprising), picking and choosing of rules (we spent a lot of money on new bathing suits because the literature said "no bikinis" and apparently all the girls were wearing bikinis and the rule was not enforced), a requirement to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning (strange given that they're so proud of their international delegation), antiquated and problematic enforcement of gender expectations, a game appropriating Native American culture, and on and on. She said the general vibe was that it was "a prison" and that people talked about it like that. The walls to the cabins were cinderblock. I certainly got that vibe around the language of communication with my daughter. My biggest beef was that no adult at any point expressed concern or care for my daughter's struggle. They were just trying to keep her there, not actually do what was best for her. Also, we were told that she would get 3 days of orientation since she was a new camper. She only got 1 orientation and it was just a guy telling them all the rules.

All to say that this was not the gentle, fun, easy-going summer camp experience that I wanted our daughter. I'm sad she came home early but I'm also glad that she advocated...

This was our daughter's third summer at Lohikan (the camp had been recommended to us by a friend who sent both of her children there 10 years prior with a positive experience). Overall this is an amazing camp. Every summer our daughter has returned home and started a countdown for when she returns to Lohikan. Her summers have been full of fabulous memories and new friendships - she feels Lohikan is her second home and part of her long term plans for life. She is already bursting with information on what camp life will be like next year when she moves up to an inter and fully intends to be a CIT and counselor in the future. The letters we receive from her are generally short because she is typically running from one activity to another. Lohikan gives the options of many activities while still allowing those who want to focus on a few activities the ability to do so. The kids in her bunk have been welcoming and friendly with many repeat campers from year to year.

From our perspective, Lohikan has quick, clear and effective communications and a well organized check-in and check-out process. This was maintained this summer with additional safety checks in place due to COVID. As parents, we also value their no technology policy which allows kids to focus their time and energy on screen-less activities. While we've been fortunate to date that there has been minimal "drama" it does seem any interpersonal challenges are handled fairly and thoughtfully by the camp and our daughter has always felt well supported and cared for by the staff.

Of special note, Lohikan devised a safe and effective plan to manage camp in the COVID summer of 2020. They were 100% successful with no cases over the course of 8 weeks at camp. As parents, we are immensely thankful and grateful that they provided a safe (while still fun) environment for our daughter. They gave her back a portion of her life that had been gone since March, this is invaluable to us as we start a school year remotely.

We would highly recommend Lohikan to anyone...

This will be my 5th year working at Camp Lohikan. I have to say that from the moment that I was hired to work here the staff made me feel right at home. This place has now become my home away from home. I have met some of the greatest individuals that remain awesome friends even across oceans. The experience of working with so many people from all over the world is probably only matched by the cruise-line industry. In my time at Lohikan I have grown as both and individual and a professional . I have learned skills, techniques and philosophies from the most random of wise minds. If you are wanting to break out and be free in an environment that is loving and open to various cultures this is the place to do it.

THAT BEING SAID- I wont say that the entire summer is all peaches and cream. There will be times where you say "why am I here?". You will be Hot, You will be tired, you will be mad,sad,an angry. That's ALL a part of working somewhere. Anytime you take 700+ people and keep them in ONE area emotions can be tense. Yes people come and have a bad time...Unfortunately, not everything is for everyone. Working at a summer camp is hard work. - IT BUILDS CHARACTER!!! :)

I tell new staff this every year " The summer is what you make it" On one hand- If you come looking for a good time, wanting to make friends and open to experiencing new things---you'll have a blast!. On the other hand- If you come with a negative attitude.... you'll have a negative summer. In an environment such as camp, an upbeat demeanor really makes all the difference. HAPPY STAFF= HAPPY CAMPERS :)

If you can push through the lack of electronics and a bit of sweat on your brow, you are in for a summer filled with the craziest memories. Each day that I wake up at camp I can trust I'm in for something crazy in my day. Whether its TACO TUESDAYS or a crazy skit written by a bunch of campers. This...