Food allergy management — nut-free facility and FARE membership
Somerset is a 100% nut-free facility. Our Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan is reviewed in detail with every Somerset staff member and family of a camper with a food allergy. Both Josh and Chef Dakota are licensed ServSafe Food Managers. Somerset is also one of only a handful of camps that is a member of FARE, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of individuals with food allergies. In the spring, Kate and Josh will conduct an allergy intake call with any family and camper with a known food allergy so that we may best understand the allergy, severity, history, prior reactions, and treatment plan.
50 acres along East Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of Smithfield, Maine; more than 2,000 feet of shoreline on a quiet wooded cove.
Activities
Waterfront
Swimming
Canoeing
Kayaking
Sailing
Fishing
Waterskiing
Land Sports
Tennis
Gymnastics
Arts & Creative
Dance
Music
Culinary arts
Outdoor Adventure
Zip line
Clues to fit
Den program — youngest campers and first-time campers
For the youngest campers, full of energy and creativity, The Den program offers a very structured schedule focused on maximizing exposure to all the activities that Somerset has to offer. Campers travel in an activity group along with other friends from the same division, and are guaranteed to swim every day plus experience the thrill of waterskiing, gymnastics, the adventure course, tennis, dance, culinary arts, and much more. For these campers typically away from home for the very first time, Somerset is a safe space focused on kindness, fairness, and respectful communal living.
Homesickness and bullying — directors' honest reflection
Not every day was perfect. Campers faced all the typical camp challenges, including homesickness, shifting friendships, physical ailments, and navigating new activities. With a community of our size, we also saw and heard about some upsetting "mean girl" behaviors: teasing, mocking, and exclusion. These behaviors are unkind and unacceptable. It is bullying, and it has no place at Somerset. That is why each camper signs our behavior contract at the start of the summer — so expectations are clear and every girl understands the responsibility she has to herself and to others. Every challenge, even the hard ones, presents an opportunity for growth.
Every cabin comfortably sleeps 12 campers and four counselors in a light-filled space with a massive picture window. Every camper has ample drawer, shelf, and hanging space right at her bedside. Spacious and colorful bathrooms include showers with enclosed changing areas. Cabins are equipped with full electrical and plumbing, emergency exits, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. Cool and spacious, there is plenty of room for nightly circle time, card games, spa nights, and more.
Facilities — adventure course, Somersault, Pavilion, and more
Our state-of-the-art adventure course, nestled in the woods, features seven low-rope elements, a three-sided climbing tower, a 300-foot zip line, and five traversing bridges. The 5,000 square foot Pavilion is home to our drama, music, and dance programs. With more than 7,000 square feet, the Somersault is home to gymnastics, fitness, yoga, cycling, and martial arts. Opened in 2023, our Culinary Arts center boasts two separate kitchens and a vegetable garden just steps away, reinforcing Somerset's farm-to-table commitment.
Somerset's history — 60 years of tradition woven into new camp
Somerset's rich history and 60 years of tradition are woven into every part of our program. Our passionate alumni have shared stories, memories, and inspiration that help us re-create beloved signature activities, ensuring that every camper in this new chapter of Somerset's story feels connected to the generations who came before her. Along with our partners at Camp Manitou for Boys, we have nearly 100 years combined experience in camping.
The summer after 9th grade marks the beginning of a camper's participation in our leadership program, and the final summer of being a camper. Hideaway is a time for our campers to take pride in being the leaders of camp. The Hideaway summer includes trips off-campus, group discussions, leadership and supervisory opportunities at camp, and creative and engaging workshops in communication, assertiveness, problem-solving, and decision making. Hideaway benefits include a large cabin with expanded bathroom and "living room," weekly sleep-ins with breakfast in bed, weekly evening ski or boat cruise, and a Winter Weekend in Maine.
Staff quality — female-first leadership and college-graduate counselors
Our entire staff is made up of college students or graduates, with an average age of 21. Best of all, we're female first. From driving our boats to running our tennis tournament, our female staff take the lead. While we'll always hire the best person, we believe there's no job at our camp that can't be done by a strong and competent woman. And that's a message we intend to send to our campers, every day.
Food and dining — quality, variety, and dietary accommodations
Josh brings 15 years of experience as an owner and operator of five restaurants in Washington, D.C., as well as of a produce farm in Maryland. He and Chef Dakota are dedicated to serving the most well-rounded, healthy, and delicious food in a safe and allergy-friendly environment. All meals are served family style and include a rotating main meal, along with a breakfast or salad bar, and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives as needed. All allergens are fully accommodated in our 100-percent nut-free, state-of-the-art facility. The daily menu is published in our Somer Sun and shared for all our families to see.
Camp is not about what you have but who you are with, and part of this obsession with "skin care" is consuming our kids more and more each day. We want the campers to be comfortable in their skin, literally and figuratively, and not weighed down by the demands of this trend. In a shared living environment, we must recognize that there is no room for everything, only what is necessary. We would prefer that nightly routines not affect precious cabin time, and we want to avoid unnecessary competition over who has what.
A nightly sharing circle in the cabin, usually that includes cookies. All counselors and campers are expected to participate, but it is not a requirement to share. Usually, it's good to reflect on a highlight of the day, something nice that happened to you, something you want to try, etc.
Dress code — eliminates unhealthy competition, keeps things easy
We're a dress code camp. While individuality and self-expression are important, a camp dress code eliminates distraction and unhealthy competition and allows campers to focus on having fun and making friends. Blue shorts along with any Somerset logo shirt or a plain white tee allows for plenty of options. We're not about matching, but we are about making things easy. Here's all you need to know: wake up, get dressed, go!
Food and dining — picky eaters and always-available options
Picky eater? No problem! Breakfast always includes the daily breakfast bar while lunch and dinner feature the salad bar. In the afternoon and evening, there's also homemade soup, sun butter and jelly sandwiches, and the pasta bar at night, with penne or noodles along with red sauce, cheese and butter, chicken, and steamed broccoli. The dining hall stays open throughout the day for campers to stop by for a cold drink or fresh piece of fruit.
Health center — 24-hour nursing staff and medical team
Somerset's health center is staffed 24 hours a day by one of our ten nurses. There are two private triage rooms and seven bedrooms in case anyone needs to spend the night. Two hospitals along with an urgent care facility are all less than 15 minutes from camp. A resident camp doctor lives one mile away at our brother camp, Manitou, and visits Somerset once a day and is always on call. Parents will be contacted by a director or the head nurse or doctor should your daughter need to see the doctor, be taken to the hospital, or require an overnight stay in the health center.
