Camp Kingswood

Campers entering 2nd–5th grade are in the unit of Olim (newcomers). Olim staff are hand-picked to help guide our youngest campers through their camp experience with love, fun, and compassion. They are trained to pay close attention to the small details and needs of 7–10 year olds, such as gently making sure they take care of their personal hygiene and helping them write letters home. Our experienced staff help campers create friendships, develop healthy habits, and learn how to live as part of a community. Olim campers try every camp activity with their bunk, providing them with a taste of everything Kingswood has to offer! They also choose two electives each week with the guidance of their counselors, empowering them to specialize in activities they want to do more often. Olim campers take part in American Red Cross instructional swim lessons, and each bunk is introduced to the Kingswood tripping program with a bunk overnight at our special, secluded Olim campsite on our property. Sleeping under the stars and cooking their own food over the campfire makes the bunk overnight a favorite memory for many campers. A highlight for Olim campers is Kingswood’s Big/Little program, where they’re paired with a Chalutzim camper for the summer. Our oldest Chalutzim campers also look forward to this incredible Kingswood tradition, and they love getting a taste of being on staff by spending time with their ‘Ol buddy’ at some meals, during special programs, and on Shabbat. Olim campers live in our newest bunks with bathrooms, and they are the closest to the shower house.

Tsofim (scouts) is our unit for 6th and 7th grade campers, known for their crazy camp spirit and fun! The staff selected to work in Tsofim come with the patience, empathy, and encouragement needed to help ‘tsofs’ charter the rocky waters of being a tween, while providing the energy, creativity, and excitement to keep everything fun and exciting! The Tsofim program is designed to foster independence and strengthen the campers’ developing sense of self. Tsofim campers love feeling more independence than they did in Olim, and their schedule strikes the ideal balance of structure, choice, and supervised free time. Kingswood is the perfect place for tsofs to be immersed in a safe social setting of their peers where they can feel uninhibited to explore their own interests and passions, whether that’s on the sports field, on the stage, or on a trail.

Bogrim (graduates) are our 8th and 9th graders—and they’re a force to be reckoned with at Kingswood! The Bogrim unit is designed to allow campers to feel empowered to take ownership of their experience, with more choice, deeper programs and projects, and more privileges, like hang-out time after evening program and a later bedtime! Bogrim staff bring lots of experience working with younger teens, and they understand that in Bogrim, your friends are everything. Bunk dynamics are more important than ever, and Bogrim staff are trained to be tuned in to the needs of each individual camper and the group as a whole. They are experts at striking a balance between offering guidance and encouraging independence and leadership. Whether it’s telling stories around a campfire, performing at the Talent Show, or just chilling at the waterfront, Bogrim campers know more than anyone that camp is what you make it!

Chalutzim (pioneers) have reached the pinnacle of their camper days as the 10th and 11th graders at Kingswood. The Chalutzim program is intentionally designed to offer a capstone experience that looks and feels differently from our other camper units. In Chalutzim, each camper is encouraged to develop their own individual goals for the summer, and then work closely with each other and their staff to make sure there’s nothing left on their Kingswood Camper Bucket List! Chalutzim campers serve as leaders and role models for the whole Kingwood community, and 11th graders can be selected to be Color War captains! They have special roles in all-camp programs, and in addition to bunk activities, they have unit time, when they are elevating their leadership skills, focusing on their personal growth, and strengthening their ability to work as part of a team. Kingswood alumni say that Chalutzim was a better crash course in leadership and personal growth than any summer job they could have been doing in high school! Chalutzim incorporates social justice and tikkun olam into their program, and each summer they contribute to our local Bridgton community as volunteers at soup kitchens, senior centers, and other community programs. Each grade in Chalutzim has its own special 3-day adventure trip, and Chalutzim campers have special opportunities to explore our incredible natural Maine surroundings right outside our gates with rock climbing, hiking, white water rafting, and more!