Finding the camp that is a good fit for your family is an essential part of making your son’s first summer a success! There are many aspects of a sleepaway camp experience that new families have questions about. We ensure our families feel prepared and comfortable contacting us at all points of their journey with Winaukee. Below are some common questions that may be helpful as you gather information.
Please reach out anytime to Ashleigh, Matt or Poff.
Give us your email and we’ll ensure we spend the time to answer any questions or concerns you might have!
There will be anywhere from six to ten campers per bunk depending on the age of your son. There are at least two counselors per bunk, and often more. Counselors stay with the campers in the bunk overnight to ensure round the clock supervision.
Your son’s counselor might be someone from the United States or perhaps someone from Spain, Australia or Scotland! All of our counselors undergo a rigorous interview process, references are collected and checked, a criminal background check is conducted and we also check every employee against the national sex offender registry. We recruit staff based on a unwavering commitment to helping young people build the skills necessary to be successful in their sport. We hire the best of the best who leverage sports competition and activities to instill our values of spirit, brotherhood, sportsmanship and community within your son. #It’s In My Soul!
Camp Winaukee offers buses from the Westchester & Boston areas, group flights from Florida, Philadelphia, and the Baltimore/D.C. area. Our buses and flights are staffed by experienced staff to ensure that the camp experience begins even before your son arrives at camp!
Camp Winaukee is not a uniform camp. We do ask that your son comes to camp with a few required logo’d items for inter-camp competitions, tournaments and trips that can be purchased through our clothier, The Camp Spot.
We encourage letters from you as the best way of communicating with your son. Positive, supportive communication lets him hear from you in a constructive way. You may want to send a letter a few days prior to the session to ensure that it is received within the first few days of his arrival. Or, even better, is waiting for him on his bed the first night! Additionally, we have partnered with Campanion to provide email service for our camp families.
Each day our media team captures hundreds of photos of camp in action. We have designated photographers for both the mainland and the island so there is plenty of time to catch all of the action on both of our campuses. Each evening the photos are uploaded online. Enrolled families will be sent an email to create an account and access photos. You can share this link once your account has been created with family members and friends.
Camp Winaukee is ‘unplugged’ and we take our commitment to this seriously. We strongly believe that time for your son to spend time away from technology and focus on building relationships, having fun and learning about himself is critical to his future success.
Winaukee offers comprehensive swim instruction through the American Red Cross learn to swim program. Swim lessons are offered as frequently as needed for indiviual campers to improve their skills and gain confidence in the water.
The Winaukee waterfront is spectacular, and we believe it is unrivaled in both beauty and choice. Campers choose from waterfront options everyday that include free swim, playing on our inflatable water park, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swim lessons, waterski, wakeboarding, paddleboarding and sailing!
Winaukee offers offers excellent sports instruction anchored in a traditional sleepaway camp environment.
Our main activities are athletically focused. However, we also offer arts & crafts, theater, woodshop, archery, high & low ropes, hiking trips and our incredible waterfront activities.
We also offer private, intensive instruction in Golf, Ice Hockey & Tennis.
All of our programs are taught by qualified staff who bring energy and enthusiasm to each activity!
Winaukee has two sister camps: Camp Wicosuta and Camp Robindel. We have socials with both camps regularly throughout the summer.
Winaukee’s counselors unpack for boys in grades 1-6 on the Mainland. The Island campers (grades 7-9) unpack themselves.
Winaukee offers fresh fruit, yogurt, many different types of cereal, bread (bagels, toast, english muffins, muffins, etc.) and a hot meal (such as eggs, pancakes, waffles) at breakfast daily. Lunch and dinner always have a fresh salad bar & deli bar in addition to the main meal. Winaukee provides snacks and unlimited fresh fruit throughout the day.
Camp Winaukee is a nut aware facility. There is no food in our kitchens that have come into contact with nuts. Food for campers with special diets or allergies are prepared in a designated area of the kitchen so there is no cross contamination. We will meet with each boy at camp to make sure the child has a point of contact in the kitchen and to review their food preferences.
Winaukee has a team of experienced Registered Nurses who live on campus and are on call 24 hours a day. We also have a Pediatrician on call 24/7 for telehealth visits, consultations and to support for our meical team througout the summer.
Our preferred hospital is Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth, New Hampshire. We have a strong and lengthy relationship and our experience has been excellent over the years.
Camp Winaukee has an experienced, warm and nurturing medical team. Our medical team consists of Registered Nurses, student nurses and an athletic trainer as well as our camp doctor, who is a Pediatrician. We have infirmaries on both the Mainland and the Island Campuses. We have arrangements with local medical specialists, dentists and orthodontists should your son need to be treated during the summer. If your son is in need of outside health care or if he will be kept in the infirmary overnight, you will be contacted by our nursing staff. In case of emergency, camp will contact you as soon as possible.
Camp Winaukee contracts a professional lice company to check each camper’s head on arrival day and the last week of camp.
Yes! Visiting day is the 4th Saturday of camp each summer. We invite parents and grandparents to enjoy a special day with their camper. Camp Winaukee does not permit food in bunks for safety and hygiene reasons.
Poff, Ashleigh, Matt, and Chandler lead the Camp Winaukee family, ensuring your son has a positive summer experience.