CAMP LIFE
A Look into a Day at WEHC
A World of Adventure, Community, and Connection
At West End House Camp, camp life is filled with excitement, growth, and meaningful connections. Our multi-tiered staff provides stellar care, ensuring that every camper receives personalized attention and support throughout their day. With a diverse population of both campers and staff, your child will experience a vibrant community where they can learn from others, celebrate differences, and form lasting friendships. Each day is packed with engaging and fun activities, from sports and arts to team-building challenges and adventure outings, creating opportunities for both personal development and teamwork. With a full, action-packed schedule, campers enjoy a long day of play, connection, and exploration, making memories that last well beyond the summer.
Our Philosophy for Each Day
Play Together
Camp isn’t just about activities—it’s about fostering a strong sense of community.
With around 120 campers, ages 7-15, WEHC offers the ideal setting for forming close bonds with bunkmates while also connecting with peers across different age groups. The 40 dedicated staff members serve as positive role models, providing support and guidance every step of the way.
Play with SPIRIT
At WEHC, “The SPIRIT of the House,” which comes from its alma mater, refers to the thread that ties all West Enders together.
The Spirit of the House encompasses six character development areas: Social, Perseverance, Independence, Responsibility, Integrity, and Teamwork that give everything they do at camp purpose and meaning.
Play Forever
WEHC has a unique program that mixes team sports, waterfront adventures, and creative games (think strategy challenges and building awesome stuff!).
But there’s also plenty of free time for boys to just be boys – pick-up games, bunk activities, or even chilling with a book by the lake. It’s a wonderful balance between structure and independence.
Camper Care
At West End House Camp, we believe that every child is unique and deserves personalized attention to thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Our dedicated team works closely with each camper, focusing on their individual needs, from emotional well-being to physical health.
Our frontline staff, including cabin counselors and activity leaders, are the first to provide guidance and care, fostering a sense of belonging and personal growth. Adult staff, such as our Unit Leaders, Social Worker, Healthcare Workers, and Nutritionist, work collaboratively to ensure that each camper’s health, happiness, and dietary needs are met. In partnership with our families, our Administrative Team—including our Administrative Coordinator, Assistant Camp Director, Camp Director, and Executive Director—ensures smooth communication and support throughout the camp experience.
This close-knit team is committed to creating an environment where every camper is seen, heard, and cared for, so they can make the most of their time at camp, grow in confidence, and build lasting memories.
Diversity
At West End House Camp, we celebrate the rich diversity that makes our community so special. We proudly welcome boys from across the country and around the world, representing a wide range of ethnicities, races, religions, family situations, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
This diversity enriches the camp experience and fosters an environment where mutual respect, understanding, and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do.
Our campers learn from one another, build meaningful friendships across differences, and are encouraged to embrace the unique qualities that each individual brings to our camp family.
We believe that every camper deserves equal opportunity to grow, explore, and thrive. We are dedicated to ensuring that all feel valued, supported, and accepted during their time at West End House Camp.
Odds & Ends
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical day like at West End House Camp?
Campers spend their mornings, after breakfast and cabin clean-up, playing team sports and participating in an elective period. After lunch and a rest period, campers participate in waterfront activities and another elective period. After Dinner campers enjoy an evening activity followed by our traditional cake and milk and then time to unwind with their cabin. We encourage you to listen to Camp Director Ryan’s S2Ep1 Podcast to hear more about what happens during the day at WEHC.
What is the daily schedule?
- 7:45 Wake up
- 8:15 Breakfast
- 9:00 Cabin clean up
- 9:30-11:30 Team Sports
- 11:30-12:30 Elective time to do each camper’s preferred activity
- 12:30 Lunch
- 1:15 Rest period
- 2:15-4:15 Waterfront activities and individual sports
- 4:15-5:30 Elective time to do each camper’s preferred activity
- 5:30 Dinner
- 6:30-8:00 Evening Activity- Games and Challenges
- 8:15 Cake and Milk- extra snack
- 8:30 Back to cabin to have fun with bunkmates and prepare for bed
- 10:00 Lights Out – campers go to bed at various times based on age
There are several variations of this when there are special activities, but the most typical day looks like the above.
Where do the campers come from?
About 70 percent come from Massachusetts, approximately 30 towns, with boys from Needham, Natick, Newton, Sharon, Foxboro, Mansfield, Franklin, Lynnfield, Westboro, Brookline, Framingham, Boston, etc. Many different states are represented as well, including New York, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, North Carolina, California, Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia. We have many international campers from places like Spain, France, China, England, Ukraine, Japan, Colombia, Germany, and Israel. We pride ourselves in the quality of our campers and our diversity!
How many boys are at camp?
Enrollment is generally about 120 boys at a time. However, with the many session options we offer, each summer there will be a total of approximately 230 campers. We are known for being a small, welcoming, and comfortable community.
What should I pack?
Check out our Packing List Here
Can a bring snacks?
In order to preserve healthy appetites and to prevent rodent and insect infestation, WEHC will not be allowing food, drinks, drink mixes,
etc. inside the cabins. Campers will not be allowed to bring food items, including cookies, soda, juice, candy, drink mixes or other perishables to camp. Care packages will be opened upon arrival, and food items will be distributed to the camper’s cabin during canteen and/or snack time. Campers will not be able to bring food back to their cabins throughout the day. Cabins will be inspected throughout the day and prohibited items will be discarded.
Will the other kids be nice to me?
At West End House Camp we infuse everything we do with the SPIRIT of the House. These are character values that every camper has agreed to uphold while they are at camp. Each camper signs our Behavior Contract and every person on camp takes this contract very seriously. So while we can’t promise that everyone will be nice all time, we all do our best to be the best version of ourselves each day.
What about diversity at West End House Camp?
West End House Camp is known for the diversity and quality of our campers! We welcome boys from many different states and countries. We are diverse in terms of ethnicity, race, religion, family situations, and socioeconomic status, and we are proud of this! We emphasize mutual respect and equal opportunity for all.
My son is a picky eater and/or has food allergies, can you accomodate?
West End House Camp employs Wolfoods to provide all our food service. They provide a variety of kid-friendly, nutritious meals for the boys. Wolfoods will accommodate all dietary needs. When completing registration on CampDoc, type in all food allergies and dietary restrictions that your son has. That information is given directly to our chefs who have a master list and will offer a substitute meal for your son. West End House Camp is also nut aware and does not use nuts in any of the meals offered at camp. Our Nutrition Specialist, Holly, works closely with families before and during camp to ensure all dietary needs are accommodated while at camp. We encourage you to listen to Camp Director Ryan’s S4E3 Podcast to hear more about Wolfoods and reach out to camp with any concerns regarding your son’s dietary needs.
What are the bunks like?
The bunks are large, modern, and comfortable. There is a bathroom with a private hot shower in each cabin! We have 12 cabins and each one holds 10-12 boys of similar ages and 3 or 4 counselors who also sleep in the bunk. There are mostly single beds, and occasionally a couple of bunkbeds. People who see our facilities are amazed at how nice they are! This is what an overnight camp for boys should look like!
My son wants to go, but we (the parents) are nervous. Or, we know that camp will be a great experience for our son, but he is reluctant to attend. What do we do?
Parents and children should discuss this among themselves and view this web site together, arrange to meet one of the directors at your home, attend (if possible) the October or April Open House in Maine or the Annual Camp Breakfast in January, and/or arrange to meet other incoming new campers and their families. Consider a two week option as a way to start off slowly without a long term, major commitment.
I want to call my son, but that is not allowed. Why?
The sound of a parent’s voice on the phone can cause an emotional reaction by a camper who otherwise has been quite happy with his experience. Phone calls can be disruptive if a camper is at an activity. Parents are asked to communicate by mail, one way email via Bunk1, or feel free to call one of the directors to check on their son’s well being. Occasionally for campers who are with us for a longer stay and for whom homesickness is clearly not an issue, we may arrange a time for a phone call. Please send letters/packages to:
West End House Camp
c/o (your son’s name)
294 Road Between the Ponds
Parsonsfield, ME 04047
Where can I find instructions for viewing photos and sending one way bunknote emails to my son via bunk1.com?
Bunk1 Info Sheet:
Click here
I wish I could send my daughter to West End House Camp!
There is an excellent camp for girls that is on our same lake and is very much aligned with our value, values, tradition, and schedule. Check out West End House Girls Camp for your daughter and share this good news with any other families who have both boys and girls or just girls!