Parent FAQS

Somerset is located in Smithfield, Maine, on East Pond, one of the Belgrade lakes. Smithfield is located in central Maine, approximately 3 hours north of Boston and 90 minutes north of Portland. Waterville, Maine, home to Colby College is 6 miles to our east.

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Click here to see all the session options and rates.

We have chaperoned buses to and from the greater New York and Boston areas as well as chaperoned flights to and from LA, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C./Baltimore, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. Parents are welcome to drop off and pick up their daughters at camp as well. Additional fees apply for camp buses and airport transfers.

Our staff-to-camper ratio is one counselor to every three campers. All of our staff undergo a week of intensive staff training at Somerset prior to the start of camp.

8-12 campers live in one of our brand-new cabins with 3-4 counselors.

Yes, but we call it a dress code. Campers are required to stay within clothing parameters while in camp but we offer a wide selection of both camp and non-camp apparel from which to choose. The standard daily attire is blue shorts (any shade with or without Somerset logo) along with any Somerset t-shirt or a plain white tee. We encourage families to not “over order” from the camp store and to definitely send at least one pack of inexpensive white tees.

Amazing! One of our directors owns restaurants! Click here to read all about meals at camp.

Somerset’s quiet cove along East Pond provides an excellent setting for our waterfront activities. We also have a pool in the center of camp. Campers may elect to sign up for instructional swimming as an activity choice (mandatory for youngest campers) or come down for a cool dip in afternoon. Our waterfront and pool are supervised by certified lifeguards whenever open for us.

Yes! Somerset partners with Thistle Ridge Equestrian, located in our hometown of Smithfield and only a short, five-mile drive from camp. They operate a year-round facility with beautiful, well cared for horses, professional instructors, and two huge riding rings, both indoor and outdoor, meaning that campers will always be able to ride, rain or shine! Additional riding fees apply.

For regular prescriptions, we work with PackMyRx. They will fill your prescription and individually pack and send us all the necessary dosages depending on your daughter’s session length. If your daughter will be traveling with an inhaler, epi-pen, or other medication or device that PackMyRx is unable to send, please note this on her medical form and the Nurses will collect these items upon arrival.

Outside of minor medical matters (cut/scrape/tummy ache), a Nurse or Director will always contact you if your child has to spend the night in the health center, go to the ER, see the Doctor, require an x-ray, or be treated for any other serious medical matter. We know this can be a very helpless feeling for a parent and we will keep you informed every step of the way, guaranteed.

Waterville is home to two major hospitals, both less than 15 minutes from camp. There is also an urgent care facility open daily.

The camp PA system broadcasts important announcements both externally and within all buildings. Emergency call boxes are located throughout camp with a direct line to the office. A security guard monitors the gates and grounds every day from 9:30 pm until 6:30 am. As a precaution, a mass texting alert will be sent to all parent cell phones should any situation require immediate and widespread communication.

Our prevention plan is designed to address ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy simultaneously. We work with a third party, certified in tick control, that comes to camp monthly to provide us with both short- and long-term prevention. Their process includes ongoing tick population measurements, landscape modification, natural control methods and more.

Yuck, right? We get it and we go to great lengths to keep our entire population free of lice. All staff will receive medical and lice checks upon arrival. On camper arrival day, everyone must get their arrival “passport” stamped before heading off to their cabins. This includes handing in money, tech, meds, and getting a lice check from one of our third party lice treatment personnel.

Campers may receive one 10-minute call per session (except for Short Somer campers). Calls will be scheduled on our online booking system and camp will call you at the scheduled time. Additional arrangements will be made for camper birthdays or special circumstances.

Kate and Josh and are available to you at any time, all year round. During the summer you’ll be able to reach us in the office, on our cell phones, or via email. Want to facetime or skype? We’re glad to do that too. We’ll also send you a morning “wake up” email recapping everything from the day before along with what’s in store for the day ahead.

Of course not! There is no need for a camper to have a phone at camp and we kindly ask that you do not send one with your daughter as it will be confiscated and safely held until she departs. Camp is an escape from technology, a time to disconnect from objects and embrace personal relationships. Music only devices, such as Ipod nanos or touches, are permitted.

As you can imagine, there is a good deal of information we need from you prior to your daughter’s arrival at camp. Once registered, you will receive a login to your mySomerset account. Here you will find all required forms and be able to update your contact information should anything change.

Of course! Hundreds of photos from the day will be posted every night and our automatic texting system will alert you when new photos are posted so you’ll never need to sit around hitting refresh! If you can’t find your daughter one day, it does not mean she’s not having a good time. Quite the opposite. It probably means she’s off doing so many things the camera just can’t keep up!

No. Packages often create unhealthy competition among campers. Also, the anticipation of receiving a package can shift the emphasis at camp from fun to awaiting the arrival of the mail. If you have a question about something you would like to send, please contact the office. If you send something that does not meet the requirements, we will keep it and re-use it for another purpose or donate it.

This is one of the most valuable lessons of camp. Encourage your daughter to speak to her counselors, Division Head, or to Kate and Josh if she needs anything at all. We have people in town every day and can pick up virtually anything! Plus, our office is stocked with batteries, pens, staionary, stamps, bug spray, toothpaste, water bottles, goggles, and more. If she needs something from home, we’ll let you know and can make an exception to our package policy.