Camp DeForest
Camp DeForest | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag | |
| Motto(s): Ad Lumen Ignis | |
  Camp DeForest Location within the state of Maine | |
| Coordinates: 44°17′53.6″N 69°0′44.8″W / 44.298222°N 69.012444°WCoordinates: 44°17′53.6″N 69°0′44.8″W / 44.298222°N 69.012444°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Knox |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Elevation | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04849 |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-80880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582796 |
| Website | www.campdeforest.org |
Camp DeForest is a co-ed family summer camp in Lincolnville, Maine. It is an ACA (American Camp Association) member camp.[1] It was founded in 1955, closed in the 1970s when the grounds were converted to a seasonal hotel, and re-opened in 2025. The camp historically emphasized aquatics, nature study, and outdoorsmanship.[2]
History
Founding and early history (1955–1976)
Camp DeForest was established in 1955 during a postwar boom in organized youth recreation. Its daily schedule, typical for summer camps of that period, included waterfront instruction, field games and crafts, and evening campfires.[3][4]
The camp’s routines (flag ceremony, song-fest assembly, “good-night” rituals) were designed to mirror those of 4-H camps, including standardized assemblies, flag raising/lowering, and end-of-day ceremonies.[5]
The camp operated for two decades, serving hundreds of campers each summer with a traditional program of swimming, hiking, crafts, drama, and community life. By the early 1970s, however, enrollment began to decline due to shifting vacation patterns, the rise of new youth programs, and long-term financial strain following Hurricane Donna's inland impact in 1960; the site was subsequently closed and refitted as a roadside hotel.
Conversion to hotel (1970s–2022)
Following closure in the mid-1970s, cabin rows and the mess hall were adapted for seasonal lodging while retaining much of the vernacular camp architecture typical of Maine’s longstanding sporting-camp tradition.[6]
Revival (2025– )
In 2025 the property was re-opened as Camp DeForest, blending boutique hospitality with revived camp programming (guided hikes, lake swims, crafts, and campfire socials). Thematically, the relaunch draws on Maine’s “Vacationland” identity and heritage tourism.[7]
In its 2025 iteration, historic structures were refurbished for safety and comfort.
Facilities and program
The mid-century facilities comprised:
- 10–12 bunk cabins with screened windows
- A central mess lodge and assembly flagpole
Camp DeForest Mess hall menu, circa 1959 - Outdoor amphitheater
- Small riding ring (added early 1960s)
Camp DeForest also has an overnight and day-trip program, including trips to Mount Desert Island, Mount Katahdin, the Allagash River, the Kennebec River, and Montreal.
Traditions
- Flag & Song – Morning assembly with flag raising, announcements, and communal singing.[8]
- Lantern Night – A bay side ceremony with floating lanterns.[9]
- Pinecone Games – Cabin-vs-cabin field day.[10]
- Song-fest & Vespers – Evening folk music and reflection.[11]
The camp colors are forest green and orange.
Regional context
Camp DeForest sits in Maine’s Mid Coast, a region historically known for its bays, islands, and hill country walking (e.g., Camden Hills State Park), and for its network of youth camps and family resorts.[12]
Maine’s sporting-camp literature situates lakefront compound layouts, dock systems, guide boats, and communal dining halls that influenced DeForest’s site plan and later hotel conversion.[13]
External links
See also
- Summer camps
- American Camping Association
References
- ↑ "Find a Camp: Camp DeForest". Retrieved 2025-08-01.
- ↑ Recreation, Vol. 53. National Recreation Association. 1960. Search this book on
- ↑ Camping Magazine, Vol. 27, No. 3. American Camping Association. 1955. Search this book on
- ↑ Recreation, Vol. 53. National Recreation Association. 1960. Search this book on
- ↑ Steps to 4-H Camping. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1950s. Search this book on
- ↑ In the Maine Woods. Maine Woods. 1967. Search this book on
- ↑ Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Federal Writers’ Project (WPA). 1940. Search this book on
- ↑ Songs of the Pines. American Camping Association. 1951. Search this book on
- ↑ Moore, E.C. (1932). Camping and Character. Association Press. Search this book on
- ↑ Recreation, Vol. 53. National Recreation Association. 1960. Search this book on
- ↑ Songs of the Pines. American Camping Association. 1951. Search this book on
- ↑ Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Federal Writers’ Project (WPA). 1940. Search this book on
- ↑ In the Maine Woods. Maine Woods. 1960s. Search this book on
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