Where the magic happens
Camp is spread across 52 acres, but the main camper areas are close enough that campers can easily walk between their cabins, meals and activities. Campers spend much of their day outside moving around the property rather than staying indoors.
The property includes open fields, wooded areas and trails, activity spaces and direct access to Lower Highland Lake. Campers also have access to the surrounding D.A.R. State Forest, giving us considerably more space to explore than our 52 acres alone.
We are a summer camp, not a resort. Campers should expect dirt paths, bugs, changing New England weather, rustic cabins and plenty of time outdoors. At the same time, we have electricity in our cabins, hot showers, indoor dining and recreation spaces and the facilities needed to make camp comfortable.
Cabins
Our cabins are simple and rustic—and that is very much part of the Camp Howe experience. Cabins are unheated and do not have air conditioning or bathrooms, but they do have electricity, lights, bunk beds and mattresses.
Cabins typically have between 4 and 6 bunk beds and are home to small groups of campers and their counselors. With approximately 200 beds across camp, cabins are intentionally small, helping campers get to know the people they are living with and develop a sense of community.
Each cabin is just a short walk from a centralized bathhouse with toilets, sinks and hot showers.
We understand that some campers may want or need additional privacy. A separate central bathhouse offers individual private bathrooms, each with its own toilet and shower. Campers are welcome to request these facilities whenever they need them.
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Dining and Rec Hall
While our cabins are intentionally simple and rustic, our larger community buildings are more modern and give us plenty of indoor space when we need it.
Our dining hall is one of the main gathering places at camp. Cabins eat together, with campers and counselors sitting at the same tables. Meals are an important part of the camp day- not just a time to eat, but a chance for cabins to catch up, talk about their day and spend time together. Mealtimes can be loud and busy, with plenty of conversation, announcements and the occasional camp song.
Whenever the weather allows, we prefer to eat outside. We have a second outdoor dining area with tables set up so the camp community can enjoy meals together while taking advantage of the summer weather. On beautiful days, there are few things better than eating outside at camp.
Our multipurpose recreation hall, or Rec Hall, is another important gathering space. It is a large, modern indoor building used for activities, evening programs, dances, performances, special events and all-camp gatherings. It also gives us plenty of room to move activities indoors when the New England weather doesn't cooperate. It also houses the camp store and our "Chill Out Room" which is a low sensory room giving a dedicated space to decompress and chill in. This building also has a basement that can accomodate the entire camp in the event of an emergency.
Rain is part of summer camp. Having large indoor spaces means we can adjust the schedule, move programs inside and keep camp going, even when the weather has other ideas.
Activity Buildings
Camp Howe has activity areas spread throughout the property, giving campers plenty of space to be outside, try new things and enjoy different parts of camp.
Waterfront
Our waterfront sits directly on Lower Highland Lake and is one of the busiest places at camp. Campers use the waterfront for swimming, boating, fishing and other water activities.
Along with our swimming and boating areas, there is a large picnic and shaded area where groups can gather, take a break or enjoy activities by the lake. Our boathouse sits right at the waterfront and stores our fleet of canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and other boating equipment.
Arts & Crafts
Our Arts & Crafts area has both indoor and outdoor workspaces. Campers can paint, draw, build, create and, most importantly, make a mess!
Nature Shack
Nature is everywhere at Camp Howe. The Nature Shack provides a dedicated space for campers to bring that exploration inside through nature-related crafts, hands-on activities and learning. It is a place to create, investigate and learn more about the natural world that surrounds us.
The Barn
Our barn area is home to our animal program and gives campers the opportunity to spend time caring for and learning about animals during their time at camp.
The area includes the main barn along with outdoor pens and space for campers to interact with the animals. Campers can help with feeding, cleaning, grooming and the everyday jobs that come with caring for animals.
Other Buildings
In addition to our cabins, dining hall, recreation hall and activity areas, Camp Howe has several buildings that support the day-to-day needs of our campers.
Health Center
Our Health Center is centrally located and staffed by our camp nursing team. It includes an assessment area where campers can be seen by a nurse, separate sick rooms for campers who need to rest or be monitored, a bathroom, and sleeping quarters for our nurses.
Coaches Corner
Coaches Corner provides large, private individual bathrooms. Each bathroom is a separate room containing its own toilet, sink and shower. These bathrooms provide an alternative to our traditional unit bathhouses and are available for campers who may need or feel more comfortable using a private bathroom or shower.
Camp Office
Our Camp Office is located in the center of camp and is home base for our summer leadership team. It is where much of the behind-the-scenes work of camp happens, from answering family questions and coordinating transportation to keeping the daily operation of camp running.
Activity Areas and Surroundings
Camp Howe sits on 52 wooded acres surrounded by the D.A.R. State Forest, with mature trees, open fields, walking trails and direct access to additional hiking trails within the State Forest.
Many of our activity areas make use of this natural setting, including our high ropes course, low ropes course, climbing wall, archery range, sports fields, volleyball and basketball courts, and The Glen, a wooded outdoor gathering and activity space.
Hammock areas are also tucked throughout camp, giving campers quieter places to relax, read or spend time with friends.
Our trails and wooded areas are intentionally natural rather than paved or highly groomed—it is very much part of the Camp Howe experience.