Standing on the dock on a blazing hot July day, my kids could hardly contain their excitement. They were excited to stretch their legs after a 2.5 hr drive north from Boston to Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. But even more exciting, we were waiting next to a pile of luggage and sleeping bags to board the Big Sandy II, our ferry to Sandy Island, a YMCA Family camp (think summer sleepaway camp for the whole family!) in the middle of Lake Winnepesaukee. We had been eagerly anticipating this trip since booking it 9 months earlier, but had no idea what to expect since this was our first camp week ever.
Our good friends had tipped us onto Sandy Island, having heard rave reviews from another family who had been returning to the camp for years. Since I had fond memories of my childhood summers Camp Marshall and had spent 6 years as a teenager working as a camp counselor at Camp Putnam, a week of swimming, kayaking, crafting and campfires sounded like nostalgic fun and we jumped at the opportunity to introduce our kids to the same kind of summer memories.
We boarded the boat without our luggage while camp staff loaded and transported our bags in a separate boat, and then delivered them to our cabin on the island. A short boat ride later, we disembarked and met our good friends who would be camping with us for the week, and who had arrived on an earlier boat that morning. The kids were excited to explore the log cabin where we'd be sleeping for the week (our family of 4 was in the 1-room Wee Hoos, which had 2 twin beds, and 2 bunk beds, for up to 6 people). There really are no bad cabins. Many cabins are waterfront and all have water views. Our cabin was one of the closest to the main assembly hall, waterfront and playgrounds, so we were a little nervous about it being noisy during our kids' early bedtime, but with our fans on at night, we couldn't hear a thing. We found it convenient to be near the bath house, and even then our 3 year old often didn't make it all the way to the toilet without an accident first thing in the morning.
After an easy-going first afternoon to get ourselves oriented, we quickly settled into our camp routine on Day 2 and for the rest of the week: Our kids woke us up every morning around 6 a.m. (sun lit our cabin up before 5!). I'd get up with them, visit the bath house to freshen up, and then we'd head to the playground until breakfast. I'd get a coffee and the kids would get hot chocolates and we'd sit on the deck of the dining hall taking in the gorgeous lake views with the other early risers.
The dining hall bell rang at 7:30 a.m. to announce breakfast, at which point Mohit (who is NOT a morning person!) would join us. After breakfast, the kids would run back outside to the playground while the adults lingered over coffee. From 9-12 our kids would attend camp activities under the supervision of counselors (available to kids 3 and up). During these kid-free mornings, Mohit and I enjoyed kayaking and stand up paddle boarding together, Mohit tried jet skiing, yoga and tubing, and I made handmade pottery and other crafts at the craft shop. At noon we all met up again for lunch. All of our meals were eaten together at the same table, which we shared for the week with our good friends, another family of 4.
After lunch, our friends' 1-year old would nap with his dad, and we often headed to the craft shop with the older kids. My son and his friend, both 6, enjoyed the organized kids' craft projects such as leather stamping, "gimp" bracelets, beads, slime-making. The camp does not allow kids under 6 inside the craft shop due to the many adult-oriented and potentially unsafe tools and supplies in the shop. I found this frustrating for my craft-loving 3-year-old, but adjusted. I managed to beg for some watercolors and paper one day, and for acrylic paint (to paint rocks and pine cones) another day, which we enjoyed on the picnic tables just outside the craft shop.
Late afternoons we usually spent swimming in the lake and laying around on the shore. The kids ran in a pack together while the adults enjoyed chatting. Around 4 p.m. we'd buy ice to chill our beer/ wine and then fill our insulated travel mugs to carry to the waterfront for our improvised "happy hour". One afternoon we took the kids on a hike to explore the full circumference of the island and it was fun to stumble upon a deer in the woods! (On an island??) The dinner bell rang every night at 6.
After dinner there was often an activity for the kids (camp fire sing-a-long with s'mores, dance party, talent show, bingo night, sunset boat ride), which we'd quit around 8 pm to head back to our cabin for bedtime. Mohit and I would usually read in bed until 9 or so, but we found we were ready to call it a day pretty early after so much sunshine and fresh air.
Our kids had a fabulous time, and were begging to stay longer/ come back next year before the week was finished. I think the part that was the neatest for them was that because everything was self-contained on the island, with no traffic or roads to worry about, even the little kids could have a lot of independence. They enjoyed being able to run off to the playground ahead of me, or make a trip back to the cabin to retrieve something themselves, or run around with the dozens of other kids. Mohit and I are pretty sure we will return next year. Many other families we met during our stay had been attending Sandy Island Camp for 5, 10, or even 30+ years!
Want to try it out too? Here are a few tips:
Register early! Applications for next summer open in October each year. Cabins are reserved on a first come first served basis, and preference is given to returning families. All the weeks book up quickly. So if you want to try it out for the first time, make sure you get your application in as early as possible!
DO BRING:
1. Nothing fancy. The predominant dress code for everyone between 1 and 81 is bathing suits, flip flops or running shoes, tie dye T-shirts (you can make your own at camp!), and athletic shorts.
2. Sleeping bags and pillow cases. The camp provides sheets to cover the mattress, and scratchy wool blankets that you can layer over your sleeping bag on cool nights. Camp also provides pillows but you'll want your own case, and maybe your own pillow if that's important to you.
3. At least 3 bathing suits. If it's hot like it was during our visit, you'll be living in the water! We returned home with lots of unworn clothing since we wore our bathing suits all week!
4. Your own beer/ wine/ adult beverages and a cooler. Camp sells ice for $1/bag that you can buy daily to chill afternoon/ evening beverages.
5. An insulated travel mug. Good for coffee with a view of the lake while you wait for the dining hall breakfast bell. Also great for keeping your glass of wine or beer cool in the late afternoons.
6. If you're a coffee-lover like me, you'll want to bring your own coffee and a french press or other brewing method. I'm used to dark, strong coffee and the camp coffee tasted like water to me. (First world problems, I know...).
7. Sunscreen and bug spray. We find that roll-on sunscreen tubes work great for our kids' faces. We were happy to find that bugs were barely a problem, but you'll still want some pest deterrent for the evenings.
8. If you have kids under 6, bring craft supplies and games to entertain during down times. Camp has abundant activities and diversions catering to the 6 and over crowd, but we were surprised that our craft-loving 3.5 year old was not allowed in the craft shop, and the games and puzzles available to borrow were not suitable for really young kiddos.
9. For kids who will be in morning camp: a small backpack to carry their towel, change of clothes and water bottle.
10. Your own towels (both bath towels and beach towels).
11. Flash lights.
12. Extension cord. There's electricity in the cabins, but not always just where you need it.
13. Pack a small bag with your family's swim suits to carry on the ferry when arriving to the island. This way you can enjoy an inaugural swim in the lake while you wait for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin.
14. Band aids. My little kids joyfully got many boo-boos tripping on the bumpy dirt paths and while playing in the trees, and it was convenient to not have to visit the nurse's cabin for these.
15. Quarters. A load in the shared washing machines or dryers is $1.00 each.
16. Your own 100% cotton white articles (T-shirts or anything else you want!) for tie-dyeing. You can also buy these at the craft shop.
DON'T NEED TO BRING:
1. Sand toys or inflatables. Camp provides plenty of both at the waterfront!
2. Not necessary to bring your own life vest or flotation device. Camp has plenty of these for all ages, to be used both for swimming and boating.
3. Snacks. We thought we'd need these for the kids between meals, but the food provided is so abundant that we were never hungry between meals, and if we were, there was always cereal and fresh fruit available in the dining hall.
4. A fan. Several fans are provide in each cabin (ours had 5!).
Our good friends had tipped us onto Sandy Island, having heard rave reviews from another family who had been returning to the camp for years. Since I had fond memories of my childhood summers Camp Marshall and had spent 6 years as a teenager working as a camp counselor at Camp Putnam, a week of swimming, kayaking, crafting and campfires sounded like nostalgic fun and we jumped at the opportunity to introduce our kids to the same kind of summer memories.
After an easy-going first afternoon to get ourselves oriented, we quickly settled into our camp routine on Day 2 and for the rest of the week: Our kids woke us up every morning around 6 a.m. (sun lit our cabin up before 5!). I'd get up with them, visit the bath house to freshen up, and then we'd head to the playground until breakfast. I'd get a coffee and the kids would get hot chocolates and we'd sit on the deck of the dining hall taking in the gorgeous lake views with the other early risers.
The dining hall bell rang at 7:30 a.m. to announce breakfast, at which point Mohit (who is NOT a morning person!) would join us. After breakfast, the kids would run back outside to the playground while the adults lingered over coffee. From 9-12 our kids would attend camp activities under the supervision of counselors (available to kids 3 and up). During these kid-free mornings, Mohit and I enjoyed kayaking and stand up paddle boarding together, Mohit tried jet skiing, yoga and tubing, and I made handmade pottery and other crafts at the craft shop. At noon we all met up again for lunch. All of our meals were eaten together at the same table, which we shared for the week with our good friends, another family of 4.
After lunch, our friends' 1-year old would nap with his dad, and we often headed to the craft shop with the older kids. My son and his friend, both 6, enjoyed the organized kids' craft projects such as leather stamping, "gimp" bracelets, beads, slime-making. The camp does not allow kids under 6 inside the craft shop due to the many adult-oriented and potentially unsafe tools and supplies in the shop. I found this frustrating for my craft-loving 3-year-old, but adjusted. I managed to beg for some watercolors and paper one day, and for acrylic paint (to paint rocks and pine cones) another day, which we enjoyed on the picnic tables just outside the craft shop.
Late afternoons we usually spent swimming in the lake and laying around on the shore. The kids ran in a pack together while the adults enjoyed chatting. Around 4 p.m. we'd buy ice to chill our beer/ wine and then fill our insulated travel mugs to carry to the waterfront for our improvised "happy hour". One afternoon we took the kids on a hike to explore the full circumference of the island and it was fun to stumble upon a deer in the woods! (On an island??) The dinner bell rang every night at 6.
After dinner there was often an activity for the kids (camp fire sing-a-long with s'mores, dance party, talent show, bingo night, sunset boat ride), which we'd quit around 8 pm to head back to our cabin for bedtime. Mohit and I would usually read in bed until 9 or so, but we found we were ready to call it a day pretty early after so much sunshine and fresh air.
The food was great, plentiful and enough variety to keep everyone happy. At breakfast there was always a granola/ fresh fruit/ yogurt bar, plus toast and cereal. Hot options varied day to day and included pancakes, waffles, omelettes, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh blueberry muffins, banana bread etc. A salad bar was always well-stocked for lunch and dinner. Lunches were served buffet style and varied from tacos to pizza to chowder. Dinners were served family style, such as spaghetti and meatballs, turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, pasta with chicken and broccoli, or roast beef and baked potatoes. Two dinners were barbecues eaten outside, and I was pleasantly surprised that the menu not only included burgers and hot dogs but also grilled chicken and ribs, roasted cauliflower and a variety of yummy salads. Desserts included brownies, pudding, fresh-baked cookies and ice cream. Drinks available at all times included juices, flavored and plain waters, milk, tea and coffee.
Our kids had a fabulous time, and were begging to stay longer/ come back next year before the week was finished. I think the part that was the neatest for them was that because everything was self-contained on the island, with no traffic or roads to worry about, even the little kids could have a lot of independence. They enjoyed being able to run off to the playground ahead of me, or make a trip back to the cabin to retrieve something themselves, or run around with the dozens of other kids. Mohit and I are pretty sure we will return next year. Many other families we met during our stay had been attending Sandy Island Camp for 5, 10, or even 30+ years!
Register early! Applications for next summer open in October each year. Cabins are reserved on a first come first served basis, and preference is given to returning families. All the weeks book up quickly. So if you want to try it out for the first time, make sure you get your application in as early as possible!
DO BRING:
1. Nothing fancy. The predominant dress code for everyone between 1 and 81 is bathing suits, flip flops or running shoes, tie dye T-shirts (you can make your own at camp!), and athletic shorts.
2. Sleeping bags and pillow cases. The camp provides sheets to cover the mattress, and scratchy wool blankets that you can layer over your sleeping bag on cool nights. Camp also provides pillows but you'll want your own case, and maybe your own pillow if that's important to you.
3. At least 3 bathing suits. If it's hot like it was during our visit, you'll be living in the water! We returned home with lots of unworn clothing since we wore our bathing suits all week!
4. Your own beer/ wine/ adult beverages and a cooler. Camp sells ice for $1/bag that you can buy daily to chill afternoon/ evening beverages.
5. An insulated travel mug. Good for coffee with a view of the lake while you wait for the dining hall breakfast bell. Also great for keeping your glass of wine or beer cool in the late afternoons.
6. If you're a coffee-lover like me, you'll want to bring your own coffee and a french press or other brewing method. I'm used to dark, strong coffee and the camp coffee tasted like water to me. (First world problems, I know...).
7. Sunscreen and bug spray. We find that roll-on sunscreen tubes work great for our kids' faces. We were happy to find that bugs were barely a problem, but you'll still want some pest deterrent for the evenings.
8. If you have kids under 6, bring craft supplies and games to entertain during down times. Camp has abundant activities and diversions catering to the 6 and over crowd, but we were surprised that our craft-loving 3.5 year old was not allowed in the craft shop, and the games and puzzles available to borrow were not suitable for really young kiddos.
9. For kids who will be in morning camp: a small backpack to carry their towel, change of clothes and water bottle.
10. Your own towels (both bath towels and beach towels).
11. Flash lights.
12. Extension cord. There's electricity in the cabins, but not always just where you need it.
13. Pack a small bag with your family's swim suits to carry on the ferry when arriving to the island. This way you can enjoy an inaugural swim in the lake while you wait for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin.
14. Band aids. My little kids joyfully got many boo-boos tripping on the bumpy dirt paths and while playing in the trees, and it was convenient to not have to visit the nurse's cabin for these.
15. Quarters. A load in the shared washing machines or dryers is $1.00 each.
16. Your own 100% cotton white articles (T-shirts or anything else you want!) for tie-dyeing. You can also buy these at the craft shop.
DON'T NEED TO BRING:
1. Sand toys or inflatables. Camp provides plenty of both at the waterfront!
2. Not necessary to bring your own life vest or flotation device. Camp has plenty of these for all ages, to be used both for swimming and boating.
3. Snacks. We thought we'd need these for the kids between meals, but the food provided is so abundant that we were never hungry between meals, and if we were, there was always cereal and fresh fruit available in the dining hall.
4. A fan. Several fans are provide in each cabin (ours had 5!).
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