KELT Kids Camp: Summer 2026!

There's a reason why Maine gets the title “Vacationland”. Its glittering summers lend themselves to a slower paced life. The heat settles in over the rolling hills and we all take a break to defrost. All except the children that is…

This summer KELT welcomed two groups of campers to enjoy an action packed week long summer camp. The kids rolled up on the first day, pouring out of their cars into the sunny parking lot of the Brightfield school in Bath. Immediately friends reunited and drew new peers into their games. One round of a name game and we were off to the races. Each morning we piled into the van and set off on an adventure. The van rocked with singalongs and buzzed with excitement for what's to come. 

The doors opened and the kiosk at Thornehead awaited. Looking at the map the world unfolded before them, all the possibilities of summer exploration. Starting off down the trail it was not long until we were drawn into a glowing vernal pool. Frogs croaked and teased as the children drew near. We were joined by a family of ducks sifting through the reeds. Bridges were built, berries were foraged, and before long we were starting off down the trail again. Both groups discovered the game of camouflage at Thornehead. Thrilled by the possibility of hiding in the woods and not being seen, the campers scattered amongst the trees and shrubs. Staying still behind pines and crouching low behind the huckleberries they held their breath trying to stay hidden. Disappearing completely into the lush Maine summer woods. 

Day two of camp took us to the trailhead at Morse Mountain. We decided who our antler (line leader) would be and set off on the trek. Along the way we were distracted by a towering cliff face just off the side of the trail. Fearlessly the campers climbed into small ledges on the rocks and declared themselves the rulers of the world. Shortly after they conquered the rocks another game of camouflage broke out. The new terrain unlocked different hiding techniques and given the practice they had before, giggles emerged from behind completely opaque hiding spots. After all our backpacks were back on we continued up the trail. Little legs carried the campers far up to the peak of Morse Mountain. As the field of blueberries opened up to a rock face overlooking what feels like the whole Maine coastline the campers plopped down eager to enjoy lunch in a breathtaking place. After a few days in the woods we all looked forward to the prospect of water in the hot days to come. 

Reid State Park hosted our campers for the next day packed full of ocean activities. Our campers enjoyed some relaxing beach time. Relaxing that is until the waves drew their attention. Screams and squeals reached the waters edge as they let the whitewater splash over their feet. The ocean, a staple of Maine’s summertime draw, entertained our campers for hours. Those hanging out on the sand enjoyed an endless penalty kick shoot out inspired by the World Cup. A few of our campers could hear the crowds in their heads as they lined up to take their kicks. 

After enjoying the beach, we headed over to the famous tidepools at Reid. Sifting through the kelp, creatures began to emerge one by one. Buckets of crabs were collected and the snails enjoyed a chorus of humming as the campers tried to draw them out of their shells. As we looked deeper into the pools a couple famous faces appeared, lobsters! Big enough to eat! The campers shrieked with excitement when they peered in at Maine’s most popular creature scuttling on the sandy bottom of the pool. One camper who had been patiently waiting by a small pool was observing something closely in a plastic bottle that he had caught. When he presented it we realized that it was in fact a nudibranch! These elusive creatures are a tidepoolers dream. Sea slugs come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. This particular one was bright orange with a pink hue and covered in small soft spikes all over its body. Upon further exploration we found that it was a Maned Nudibranch. The campers' faces lit up as we passed the sea slug around. A moment of pure joy and wonder. 

As the week reached its peak in temperature we set off on a paddleboarding journey with Seaspray Kayaking at Sewall Pond. The campers boarded their watercrafts and worked together to paddle out into deeper water. Promptly once reaching deeper water the campers dropped their paddles and jumped straight in. A welcome refresher from the hot humid day. Three campers in particular created a game of “can we all stand on one paddleboard?”. They giggled as they lost their balance and ended up all underwater time and time again. Swimming quickly after the board as it bobbed away from them. A few campers took to the actual paddleboarding itself, rather than the allure of the cool water beneath them. Quickly learning how to turn and paddle swiftly, they sliced through the water. This day was largely considered the best day of camp. Paddling of any type is surely the best way to enjoy Maine’s beautiful waterways.

Our final day of camp took us back to Reid State Park to explore the clam flats at low tide. With rakes in hand we tramped through the marsh and out onto the wide open sandy clam flats. Digging through the sand we pulled about a dozen large clams out into the sunshine. Marveling at the different colors in their shells and even doing a short clam dissection to learn about the anatomy of a clam. 

Camp wrapped up with some much enjoyed beach time. A hush fell over the van as the campers nodded off to sleep. Dreams of salty air, giggles with lifelong friends, and summers in beautiful Maine washed over them as an action packed week of camp came to an end. 

Keep on the lookout for camp registration for next year! We hope to see you next summer for KELT Kids Camp 2027!