YMCA CAMP CONISTON

THE CONISTON EXPERIENCE

WHAT MY CHILD CAN EXPECT AT CAMP CONISTON

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Fifteen hundred acres of pristine wilderness in the mountains of western New Hampshire are home to YMCA Camp Coniston. Our summer sleep-away camp encompasses a rustic environment nestled along the 3.5 mile shore of the lake from which Camp takes its name. As a nonprofit social service agency with a focus on youth, our mission is to create experiences that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Camp is where campers canoe and swim, make fires and friends, try archery and riflery, and explore drama and the arts away from screens, cell phones, & technology. But Camp is much more than that. Campers and counselors work together, learn new skills, and build an honest, caring and respectful community where all individuals grow. It is this strong sense of community that translates into an unparalleled loyalty and fondness for Camp Coniston, among counselors and campers alike.

The heart of our programs has much to do with stretching to meet mental and physical challenges, gaining confidence and becoming skilled at teamwork. Our programs incorporate the natural surroundings and require a can-do attitude, cooperation and age appropriate independence.

Active and successful participation in the sleep-away camp experience at YMCA Camp Coniston entails the ability to independently, safely and cooperatively:

  • Live with (i.e. sleep with and create a summer home with) similarly aged and gendered campers in a tent or cabin, and take part in the social and play time of the unit.
  • Exhibit suitable behavior without needing more than the usual amount of individual attention.
  • Be responsible for personal care, and individual health and safety.
  • Follow a varied individual and group activity schedule, manage free time with minimal supervision and show flexibility and adaptability when schedules change.
  • Maneuver rugged and steep terrain and distances between activities that are part of the natural surroundings.
  • Enjoy overnight excursions which may require challenging hikes and offer little or no shelter.
  • Understand and respond to group instruction for most of the activities offered at Camp.
  • Join in large group activities that build community, such as evening programs, campfires, and eating, singing, and dancing together with the entire camp community in the dining room.
  • Act appropriately in case of an emergency.
  • Contribute positively to the overall spirit of the Camp community.

YMCA Camp Coniston endeavors to arrange reasonable accommodations to make Camp accessible while preserving the rustic facilities, natural surroundings and a quality camping experience for all.

Adopted by the YMCA Camp Coniston Board of Directors, March 25, 2004. Updated by Board of Directors on March 7, 2024.