Camp Wekeela — Local services in Hartford

I can only imagine the incredibly positive reviews that Camp Wekeela will receive from parents for the experience that the camp directors Ephram and Lori, together with the entire staff, provided the campers during the summer of 2020. Our daughter (10 years old) and son (7) attended Camp Wekeela for the first time this summer, both for the full five week session (shorter than the typical full seven week session given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). It was truly no small feat what Ephram and Lori accomplished in making camp happen this summer -- beginning with establishing a vigilant set of pre-camp set of protocols designed to ensure a virus-free camp "bubble" (including requiring the counselors to arrive two weeks before camp began to effectively quarantine), followed by an initial phase of social distancing and mask-wearing by campers, and culminating with multiple campus-wide coronavirus tests around a week into camp that came back All Negative. Counselors and campers alike remained on-campus the entire summer (with all camper sessions starting on the same day and only departing when their respective session concluded), further mitigating the risk of any inadvertent contagion. It was so clear to me that Ephram and Lori (and I have no doubt the entire staff) had every taken every appropriate precaution in creating the campus "bubble", and suffice it to say, at all times, I felt like the safety of my children was the camp's #1 priority, which I very much appreciated this summer in particular.

In any event, words really cannot express the happiness or the gratitude that I felt as a parent over the course of the summer, seeing the countless photos that were posted daily on the Wekeela website of the campers smiling, having fun, hugging their friends, forming new relationships, participating in all sorts of traditional camp activities, and.....frankly just being kids again after a long spring of home schooling and social distancing (and what looks like more of the same this upcoming fall!). Our daughter and son had a blast from day 1, and are already counting down the days until a return to Camp Wekeela in 2021. Whatever the state of the pandemic at that time, I am certain that Lori & Ephram will take the necessary measures to provide for everyone's safety while ensuring that each camper has a memorable and fulfilling experience attending their wonderful camp. THANK YOU so much Camp Wekeela, your love and attention to our children surpassed my expectations and I will always be very grateful that you provided during the...

I've already reviewed Camp Wekeela but I feel like I should review it after every summer my son goes so it shows that the level of love for this place only grows stronger.

This is my son's third summer and his "home away from home". We live in NJ. We send our son to Wekeela in Maine for many reasons. Some ask- why so far? There are camps closer to you. But there is something magical just in the place. Something about being up there that draws kids and staff from all over the country and other countries. My son loves the diversity he finds there. It's not just kids from NJ/NY/CT. This summer he had kids from Mexico, Haiti, AZ, MD, etc. In other summers he's had kids from Brazil and Dubai.

He's always gone the full session and he's never even considered wanting to go for less time. He wishes it was longer. He's always sad when he gets home. He loves it so much for the first time he was able to get three of his friends from home to sign up for the second session this summer. We were nervous of him sharing "his place" with his home friends but it turned out great. All three of his friends from home had the best time and are now bonded in a way they weren't before they left. They've all hung out every day since they have been back. For the first time our son had people to share his camp inside jokes, memories, and just talk camp with.

Last summer and this summer, due to Covid, kids needed sleepaway camp more than ever. They don't even know how to relate to each other in person. Their anxiety has been ramped up. Camp Wekeela was a remedy to all that. If there was ever a time they needed Wekeela it was then and going forward. You can also rest assured that Wekeela was able to handle Covid in both 2020 and 2021 safely, which is huge. If you want to give your kid a much needed gift at the end of what looks like it's going to be yet another uncertain school year, send them to Wekeela. It's the only time in their lives you can feel like they are 100% taken care of, physically and emotionally, experiencing amazing personal growth and independence, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you. You get to mentally reset and recharge knowing they are in the best...

Our family cannot recommend Camp Wekeela enough. Ehpram, Lori and their family have created a truly unique experience at Camp Wekeela. Their values are put into practice on a daily basis. Our son spent his 5th year at camp as a "senior" at 15 and came home as he does every year, to have grown tremendously as a person. He can't wait to return next year for their LIT program. The bonds he has formed with his friends at Wekeela are incredibly special and his counselors genuinely care beyond measure and truly invest in our children. There are so many amazing experiences that grow our kids as individuals and connect them as a community. I love how they bring all ages from elementary school kids to high schoolers to a place of happiness and peace. Big kids mentoring little kids and people respecting who each other are for what is inside. No external judgements. It's a beautiful place to grow. There are so many special experiences I'd hate to spoil by revealing in this review. Nightly cabin share sessions which have a topic and allow trust, discussion and vulnerability. Skits, songs, star gazing, campfires, etc.

Our son has maintained these close relationships throughout the year until the following summer and he can't wait to return each year. Last example, their alma mater is sung as a group. One of the many cool traditions is as the song is sung by the whole camp, each cabin (age group) drops off, until only the seniors are left standing and singing the camp alma mater. All 13 boys in my sons cabin were so moved that they were crying and grateful for the incredible summer experience. I just love what they created. Summer fun without electronics starts as a dreamy idea, but the depth beyond this is what is...