Camp

Machagamee

Pelham, NH

Camp Machagamee is located in Pelham, NH on the Camp Runels property. For 58 years girls ages 6 –16 have spent their summers here, swimming, making new friends, and singing around the campfire. Come and join us for another fabulous summer of fun!   The weather at Camp Machagamee is...

Information Meet the Camp Director A Typical Day at Camp Machagamee What to Bring to Camp Comments From Last Summer's Campers and their Parents The 2008 Camp Machagamee Brochure Online Camp Registration Camper Release Form The 2008 Camp Machagamee Health Form Summer Camp 2008 Details Bus Schedule Special Events 2008 Frequently Asked Questions

Meet the Camp Director Camp Director Becky “Zazu” Anderson is a classroom teacher, Adventure Ropes Course Facilitator, and Outdoor Educator; her camp counselors are teachers, college students, international staff and adult Girl Scouts. Learn more about Zazu in this interview from last winter.

What is your best memory from camp as a camper? My first closing campfire. I remember how much fun I had at camp and the friends I made, and how I was sad that camp was over, but excited to go home, too.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Why?If I was a crayon, I would be forest green because I love being outside and seeing all the trees. My second choice would be a color that combines all the colors that you see when there is a beautiful sunset.

What is your favorite camp song? There are so many to pick from, but I really enjoy "The Littlest Worm." It is a funny song and I love to teach it to younger campers.

If you could have superhero powers, what powers would you want to have? The superhero power that I would like to have would be the ability to fly that way I could get everywhere that I wanted to and see everything from a different view.

Tell us about your favorite thing to do on a rainy day at camp. My favorite rainy day activity at camp is an Alien Auction. The campers help the counselors dress up like aliens and you never know what kind of creatures you might see. Then everyone gets to play a big game because there are all sorts of things that the aliens are looking for. You never really know what aliens might want so it is different every time.

What is an outdoor activity that you enjoy doing? There are so many outdoor activities that I enjoy, but one of my favorites is playing on the ropes course. Between Extreme Team, Adventure Team, and Flying Squirrel, I have plenty of chances to work with troops and I enjoy being outside and working with them through the events. My favorite of the three is Extreme Team.

Do you have a favorite campfire food? My favorite campfire food is the S’more, but it had to be made with a golden brown marshmallow. The best way to cook a marshmallow is to very slowly turn it gently over hot coals.

Which do you prefer, sunrises or sunsets? I don't have a preference, but I do enjoy watching both. A beautiful summer sunset over the pond at Runels is one of my favorite things about camp.

What is the reason you come to camp every summer? I love camp. I grew up coming to Runels as a camper and then I went back to work there as a counselor and I haven't left. I love working with the campers and the staff and I love the opportunity to be outside.

What is the one thing every camper needs to bring to camp with them? A positive attitude, willingness to try new things.

What to Bring to Camp

Please put your name on everything, and pack in a backpack!

What to bring:
Swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen
Non-perishable Lunch (an ice pack or
frozen juice box keeps it cool.)
Water shoes for boating
Water bottle
Sweater or Light Jacket and/or Raingear
(but not an umbrella)
Insect Repellent (stick or lotion)
Hat with a visor

What should my daughter bring for lunch?
The camp provides cool water for girls to drink all day long, so be sure your daughter packs a re-fillable water bottle to carry with her. Her lunch should be filling enough for a long day of activities, and should be in a cooler bag or not need refrigeration, as no refrigeration is available at camp. If she would like a drink other than water, pack that for her as well. Juice boxes can be frozen, and will melt during the day to help keep her lunch cool You might also want to include snacks for the morning and afternoon to keep her fueled for the day.

WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
Gum, candy, soda
Electronics: cell phones, pagers, CD players
Pets or animals
Weapons or illegal substances
Items of great personal or financial value

GSSSC is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen property or personal equipment. Lost and Found is held two weeks, then donated to a charitable organization.

A Typical Day at Camp Machagamee

9:00 Arrive at camp! Campers come by bus, or are dropped off*

Opening Flag Ceremony (Units take turns conducting the ceremony each day), Announcements, Theme activity, Challenge of the Day

9:15 Program Areas Units of girls and their counselors swim, boat, go to arts and crafts, do nature activities, work on badges, practice outdoor skills, go on a hike, etc. Activities are planned by the girls.

12:00 Lunch Campers bring their lunches, and each unit has a shaded area with picnic tables where they eat together. Once a week, campers will plan a cookout lunch they’ll prepare together over a campfire.

12:45 Afternoon Programs Special theme events, All-camp challenges and games, Individual choice activities, etc.

3:30 Closing Flag Ceremony and end-of the-day events awards, announcements, or celebrations

4:00 Head for home campers leave on bus, or are picked up*

What are some Special Theme Events?
Every week has a theme. For example, during “Pirates” week, girls might plan a boating relay race and water activities for an afternoon, or have a treasure hunt challenge throughout the camp.

What are Individual Choice Activities?
These are also called “Scatters”. Since so much of camp is planned by the unit, or group of girls, scatters are a chance for individual girls to spend time doing special activities that she might enjoy. She might choose to spend the scatter period at Arts and Crafts,. While others from her unit might choose to be at the waterfront.

If girls plan the activities, who leads them?
Our staff are trained to help girls carry out their program ideas. At program areas such as the waterfront, the lifeguards supervise all the activities; if the girls have planned to work on a badge, the unit counselors supervise and gather materials. There are also activities during the day that are planned by the staff, such as swimming lessons and nature programs.

*Extended day hours begin at 7:30am, and end at 5:30pm. Girls in extended day do additional crafts and activities until 9am. Fee required.

What People are Saying About Camp Machagamee

Machagamee campers say:

Swimming in the lake was scary at first, but by the end of the week, I couldn't wait until our swim time!

I came to camp with friends I already knew, but made more friends while I was there.

At Camp Machagamee, we made sand castles and I learned to build a campfire, and I made a lot of friends.

The counselors are really nice and they let you plan the stuff you want to do at camp.

Parents of Machagamee campers say:

The staff we met were all friendly and we liked them.

The Camp Director answered all my questions, and I noticed that she knew my daughter's name - that made us feel very comfortable.

My daughter broadened her horizons, and is more independent since her weeks at Camp Machagamee. It seemed like her confidence increased daily!

She had fun and uncovered various new talents, made new friends and most of all she was very happy and now planning and looking forward for next year summer camp.

Camp Machagamee provided many activities for a girl her age to explore to a higher level.