OUR PROGRAMS

Camp Howe is designed to give kids an experience that fits their age and where they are in their camp journey. Our Junior, Teen, and Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs each have their own community, activities and traditions, while still being part of the larger Camp Howe experience.

Day Camp is available for younger campers who may not be ready for overnight camp, and our ECHO program provides additional support so youth with disabilities can fully participate in a traditional camp experience.

We offer gender-inclusive cabins alongside our male-focused and female-focused cabin options, giving campers and families choices that help every child feel comfortable and know they belong. Campers use shared, mixed-gender bathhouses with private toilet and shower stalls. For campers who are more comfortable with additional privacy, more private bathroom and shower options are also available.

DAY CAMP

Our Day Camp is for children entering 1st through 6th grade, as well as campers in our ECHO Program who may not be ready for an overnight camp experience.

Day campers are typically a part of a cabin group with overnight campers of their age and spend their days enjoying the same activities, meals and camp traditions as our resident campers - they just head home at the end of the day. During weeks with a larger number of day campers, they may form their own cabin group.

Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, with drop-off at 8:30 am and pick-up at 5:45 pm. With advance notice, we can offer some flexibility with drop-off and pick-up times.

Day campers also have the option to stay late one evening to join in an evening program and experience a little more of camp after the sun goes down.

JUNIOR PROGRAM

Our Junior Program is for campers entering 1st through 6th grade. Campers live in cabin groups of up to 10 campers with two or more staff members.

This program is designed to provide a balance of structure and choice. Campers spend much of their day with their cabin group, giving them the comfort and consistency of a familiar group and routine. Together they experience activities such as the climbing tower, low challenge course, waterfront, arts and crafts, sports and farm life.

They also have opportunities throughout the week to choose activities based on their own interests. This balance gives younger campers the structure they need while allowing them to make decisions, try something new and begin developing independence.

Families can choose a male-focused, female-focused or all-gender cabin during registration. All-gender options vary by age group and session; see Dates and Rates. Junior cabins share a central bathhouse with private toilet and shower stalls. More private bathroom and shower options are also available for campers who prefer them.

TEEN PROGRAM

Our Teen Program is for campers entering 7th grade and up. As campers get older, the program gives them greater independence and more opportunities to shape their own camp experience.

Campers who have completed 6th grade and are entering 7th grade are considered “in-between” ages and may register for either the Junior or Teen program, depending on what feels like the best fit emotionally and socially. We’re happy to discuss which option might be best—please call us to talk it through.

Teens choose the majority of their activities based on their interests, allowing them to build a schedule that reflects what they enjoy, what they want to try and how they want to spend their time at camp. While there is more freedom and choice, teens remain part of a strong cabin group and the larger Camp Howe community.

Throughout their time at camp, teens naturally develop leadership, teamwork, responsibility, confidence and trust. Just as importantly, they have plenty of time to make friends, try new things and simply enjoy being at camp.

Families can choose a male-focused, female-focused or all-gender cabin during registration. All-gender options vary by age group and session; see Dates and Rates. Teen cabins share a central bathhouse with private toilet and shower stalls, with more private bathroom and shower options available for campers who prefer them.

COUNSELOR IN TRAINING

Our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program is for campers ages 16–17 who are interested in developing their leadership skills and learning what it takes to become a camp counselor.

The program is a four-week commitment completed over two years. CITs participate in leadership and counselor training, support cabin responsibilities alongside experienced staff, and learn how to teach and lead activities in program areas that interest them. The skills they develop - leadership, communication, responsibility, teamwork and problem-solving—extend well beyond camp.

All CIT cabins are all genders.

Becoming a CIT

Space in the program is limited, and a separate application is required. Interested youth should:

Reserve a CIT space when registration opens.
Complete the CIT application.
Provide two references.
Participate in a virtual pre-season meeting with the CIT Director.

Completion of the CIT program does not guarantee a future counselor position.

Please contact us with questions or to request additional information about the CIT program.

ECHO PROGRAM

Our ECHO Program is for youth ages 7–17 with disabilities who may need some additional support to fully participate in a traditional camp experience.

For more than 50 years, ECHO has been an important part of Camp Howe. ECHO campers are fully included in camp life - they live in cabins with their peers, participate in the same activities and traditions, and are part of the same camp community. We believe everyone benefits when kids of different abilities and experiences live, laugh and play together.

ECHO is an inclusive camp program, not a specialized or therapeutic program. We provide additional staffing within the cabin group to offer extra support, encouragement and guidance when needed. We are not able to provide one-on-one staffing or support campers who are unable to remain safely with a group or whose behavior may present a safety concern for themselves or others.

The additional ECHO fee helps provide an additional staff member assigned to the cabin group.

Families new to ECHO should contact us before registering so we can learn more about their child and talk together about whether Camp Howe can provide the level of support they need. For younger campers and those attending camp for the first time, we generally recommend starting with one or two weeks.

We work with families to explore accommodations and determine whether we can meet their child’s needs within our program. All-gender options vary by age group and session; see Dates and Rates.

ECHO campers may choose a male-focused, female-focused or all-gender cabin, based on availability and the camper’s age and program.