Once a session, each cabin goes on an overnight. You will take your campers and hike or canoe them out to an overnight spot, somewhere around the lake. You will take a bag of food, prepped by the overnight staff, and make a fire and cook the food for you and your campers. Overnights are really fun and you can play games, or use them as a time to help the cabin bond. You will then all sleep out at one of the overnight spots (they all have some shelter) and hike back in the morning.
Fifteen hundred acres of pristine wilderness in the mountains of western New Hampshire, along 3.5 miles of shore of Lake Coniston. Boys and Girls Camps on separate sides of the lake with shared facilities in between.
Ages
8–15
Enrollment
Coed
Accreditations stated by camp
American Camp Association, Praesidium
Activities
Waterfront
Swimming
Canoeing
Kayaking
Sailing
Snorkeling
Land Sports
Soccer
Tennis
Basketball
Archery
Lacrosse
Gymnastics
Arts & Creative
Photography
Dance
Music
Clues to fit
Cabinmate requests — policy for first-year campers
There are many factors that go into cabin placement and every effort is made to honor requests. However, first year requests are the only ones guaranteed. Campers must request each other and be in the same grade.
First-timer — new campers not alone in cabin, counselors trained to welcome
It is unlikely that your camper will be the only new camper in their cabin. We place kids based on their age and grade, and do our best to make sure there is a combination of new and returning campers. We are sensitive to the dynamics that new campers face, and our counselors are specifically trained on how to make them feel immediately welcome and a part of the Coniston family.
Camp Coniston transformed on a sunny Thursday evening. In main camp, senior boys sprinted past for an intense game of manhunt. Right in the middle of the game, younger junior girls decorated delicious Christmas cookies with mountains of rainbow sprinkles. Near the tennis courts, older senior girls met their younger junior 'sisters.' At the waterfront, an intense game of 'greased up watermelon' started in area one. With the beautiful weather on their side, many cabins took advantage of the boat house. They capsized canoes, 'yoga-ed' on paddle boards and enjoyed PFD swimming.
Cabin life — behavior expectations and community standards
As a close-knit community, YMCA Camp Coniston expects each camper to respect themselves, their cabin mates, and everyone in camp as well as all property. All campers dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not allowed back in camp for the remainder of the summer.
Daily life — Sunday chapel and Ice Cream Social tradition
For two-week campers, Sunday is a different day. First off, we begin as a 'lazy day' sleeping in a little late. We then have camper run program with all camp together. We call it chapel and it is fully run by kids and staff. There is always a theme, like 'friendship,' 'community,' or 'togetherness.' They will choose a song or poem and share it with the rest of the Camp. We then move on to a great brunch! For the afternoon, we have all Camp activities and games followed by free time and a barbecue. The evening is a long-time favorite called the ice cream social. It is a Camp wide dance, with a movie in the lodge and ice cream at the dining hall!
Daily life — Vespers tradition at 5:15pm every day
You may have noticed in the schedule that at 5:15pm every day we have Vespers. Vespers is a very special time of day at Coniston. This is where we all gather at a Campfire ring and one member of staff tells a story/speaks about something that is important to them. It is the one time of day at Camp that everyone is calm and quiet, it's a really peaceful time in a very busy day.
Alumni testimonial — confidence, community, camp as life cornerstone
This camp is amazing. It serves as the cornerstones for most of our lives. Best friends are made here, counselors and campers. You go there for just one session (even though I went for seven) and your life is truly changed. The environment, the education, the social aspect, the food, the morals of everybody are all better than any other place in the world.
Alumni testimonial — confidence, place to be yourself
The place that changed my life and gave me the confidence to be myself! The camp leadership constantly works to make Coniston better and better each year and to allow more kids the opportunity to have a positive camp experience. The facilities are unmatched and the commitment of the staff is outstanding. Proud to be a Coniston alumni!
Every evening after dinner and flag lowering, the program directors organize an evening program for all campers. Past evening programs have included: Capture the flag, The Talent Show, The Drama Show, The Dance Show, Zombie Apocalypse, Division nights, Run arounds – stations are set up around camp, Coniston Festival, Science Fair, Campfires, Cabin nights, Circus night and Color War.
Daily schedule — what a typical day looks like at overnight camp
Our daily schedules for a two-week session contains four program activity periods a day. Every camper has instructional swimming and seven other activities during the session, which are run on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday schedule. The day runs from Reveille at 7:30am through evening programs and Closing & Snack, with Taps & Lights Out at 9:30pm.
