Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Bethel Camp for the Arts’ philosophy?
   We are a non-competitive camp. This means that we have no team sports, and all of our activities are based on learning and having fun, without the stress of competition. We want campers to feel comfortable being who they are, as they become an integral part of our small, caring community.
   
   
2. How many campers attend Bethel Camp for the Arts?
   Our enrollment is limited to approximately 130 campers per session.
   
   
3. How many staff do you have and what are their qualifications?
   We maintain a 3:1 camper to staff ratio. We have a mix of professionals and teachers, along with college students, at least 19 years old. We have professional instruction in diverse activities such as photography, theater, pottery, kayaking/canoeing, visual arts, culinary arts and more. College students, who live with our campers, are chosen for their interest in working with children and often are education majors. Many of them are multi-talented and are able to assist or teach several of our activities. Please visit our web site staff page to read the bios. We’ll continue to update this page as we hire new staff members.
   
   
4. What are the facilities like?
   Bethel Camp for the Arts is held at Gould Academy, which is a boarding school in Bethel, Maine. Gould’s facilities are ideal for all of the activities that we offer. In addition, we utilize a variety of resources in Bethel for off-campus activities. Please visit the Location and Facilities page on our web site for more details: http://www.maineartscamp.com/location.aspx.
   
   
5. What are the living accommodations like?
   Campers live in comfortable dormitories. Dorm rooms vary per building, with a combination of singles, doubles, triples and suites.  Boys and girls are in separate buildings, each with their own lounge areas. We match roommates and group the rooms according to age. Each dorm room has closets, dressers and desks. Bathrooms are shared by several rooms. 
   
   
   
6. How is the food served, and what choices will my child have?
   Campers eat their meals in the beautiful, spacious Ordway Dining Hall, seated at tables. Gould Academy’s food service staff serves us the same high quality, delicious food that the boarding school students enjoy all year long. Meals are served buffet style, with several entrée selections accompanied by a salad bar at lunch and dinner, and a sandwich station available at most lunches. Peanut butter is set up at a separate station to accommodate peanut allergies. Other dietary needs can be met upon request including vegetarian and vegan. We make every effort to encourage healthy eating habits, keeping sugary foods to a reasonable limit, having fresh fruit available at all meals, and discussing how to eat a well balanced diet. We also offer a healthy mid-afternoon snack.
   
   
7. When and how is my child’s activity schedule created?
   Campers are sent an activity sign-up sheet several months before camp begins. They choose 15 activities, listing them in order of priority. Their schedules will include 10 of the activities, with the extras allowing us to deal with any conflicts in scheduling since some activities are only offered at specific times. We limit our enrollment, which allows most campers to get the activities they request, but if a particular activity has the potential to fill up, we choose campers in the order that they registered for camp. Campers staying for two sessions choose activities for the second session after completing about a week of camp.
   
   
8. Do you go on trips?
   Yes, we have two trip days per session. Trips may include relaxing at a beach at Sebago Lake, a visit to Big Adventure Center to enjoy water slides, laser tag, miniature golf, and bowling; as well as other fun and relaxing excursions.
   
   
9. How much interaction do the boys and the girls have with each other?
   Throughout the day, campers spend time with boys and girls of varying ages who have chosen the same activities. In the evening, all of our campers come together to participate in activities chosen to help them get to know and respect one another, use their creativity and have fun. Our structured schedule and philosophy are conducive to helping each camper feel comfortable interacting with others without feeling intimidated or worrying about social competition. We quickly address the situation if we see cliques forming or we notice “public displays of affection.” We want our campers to feel good about who they are without trying to conform or impress other campers of the same or opposite gender.
   
   
10. How do I keep in touch with my child?
    There are several methods that parents and campers can use to keep in touch with each other. First of all, there’s good, old-fashioned snail mail: campers are required to write a letter home twice a week, and are encouraged to write as many letters as they’d like. We deliver mail to the campers every day after lunch, and some parents write in advance so that a letter is waiting for their child the first day. The second method is e-mail: friends and family can e-mail campers, and we print and deliver these with the mail.  If there are any problems or issues we need to communicate to you, we will call you directly as needed. Counselors also send an introductory and a departing e-mail to each camper’s family to report on the child’s progress.
    
    
11. Can I send packages to my child?
    Packages are permitted as long as they do not contain any food. Campers are given an adequate amount of food, and we don’t want them overindulging on treats. Also, food can not be stored in the rooms as it will attract bugs. Campers are asked to open packages in front of a staff member.
    
    
12. Can campers bring electronic devices to camp?
    Campers can bring inexpensive portable music players with headsets such as a Walkman. These are only to be used in the dormitory at bed time or during rest period. We do not allow devices such as Ipods, Gameboys, etc. We also do not allow cell phones. If a camper is traveling alone and needs to bring a cell phone to call home from the airport, we will collect the cell phone upon arrival and return it to the camper at the end of camp.
    
    
13. Do I need to pack everything on the clothing list?
    Our packing list specifies which items are necessary and which ones are optional. Certain items are only needed for specific activities. We'll provide some personal items such as toiletries, stationery and stamps if a camper forgets to bring them or runs out.
    
    
14. What equipment does my child need to bring to camp?
    We provide all necessary equipment including art supplies, costumes and cameras, as well as racquets and balls for tennis, golf clubs and mountain bikes. However, if a camper chooses to bring his or her own equipment, we can store it as needed.
    
    
15. When should I enroll my child?
    It?s best to enroll early, especially for your child to get a spot in all the activities he or she wants. If any activities start filling up, we give campers priority in the order that they registered. We need approximately one month to process health forms and activity signup sheets.
    
    
16. Is Bethel Camp for the Arts affiliated with a certain religion?
    No, Bethel Camp for the Arts is not affiliated with any religion. Our campers come from all different backgrounds and there are no religious activities at camp.