- 8 to 16 years
About Kingsley Pines Camp
Reviews
Reviews
Services
Age Ranges Served
Languages
- English
51 Coughlan Cove Rd, ME, 04071
Get in Contact
- (207) 894-9030
- info@kingsleypines.com
Reviews
Beaming’s Promise to Families
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. Learn more
We spent three years at Kingsley Pines Camp as a family for family camp yeah week 2 people and then our daughter attended for three weeks each summer last year and this year aged 14 and 15. As a family camp it was an excellent vacation experience. Good food good activities nice accommodations friendly staff friendly fellow campers. We really loved it. As parents sending our kid to sleepaway camp we were glad to know more about Kingsley Pines before we sent her because we trusted that she would have a good time there and would be well cared for. I think that they hire excellent staff and that is a key to a great experience. Another key is the fact that the campers have no access to devices the whole time they are there. So they learn to rely on themselves along with the other campers and the staff to figure out how to handle the little challenges of everyday life and social interactions. Its an incredible growth experience aside from just being super fun.
My wife and I married at Kingsley Pines at the end of September 2022. The campground staff was helpful and easy to work with stood by for support but also let us do our thing. Our guests all had a great time relaxing and enjoying the beach and grounds getting to know each other or catching up exactly what we hoped for an experience for everyone. The majority of our guests chose to stay on site in the campgrounds cabins which was great fun. There are nearby stores for supplies and the campgrounds kitchen including icemaker and walk-in fridge were available for use which was very helpful. We were able to use the indoor spaces like the dining hall main lodge and big barn for different meals and events throughout the weekend which was very useful and helpful. We found the dining hall or outdoor area near it useful for the meals other than the reception held in the barn and the lodge proved to be the favorite for unscheduled hang outs. The big fire pit by the lake was put to good use most evenings. Some of the cabins for guests are fairly rustic no ac or heat but most have their own bathroom and bedding is provided. All in all Kingsley Pines provided the perfect weekend campground experience we were hoping for ourselves and our guests for our wedding thanksShout out to Dan and Izzy for the communication and help leading up to the weekend as well as providing help during the celebration.
Our family has attended Family Camp since 2015 and both of our sons have attended camp at Kingsley Pines for multiple years. Our experience this year was just as amazing as every other year we have been a part of the KP family. Consistently excellent is the phrase weve used for years. From the location on a pristine lake to the amazing staff to the creative and wonderful activities weve been impressed every year. Our kids attended several different camps before we discovered KP and none can even remotely compare. Kingsley Pines has a special place in our hearts for a very good reason. KP is the best
Our family has attended Kingsley Pines family camp since 2011 and my daughter began going there for kids camp 2 summers ago. We have LOVED it. Family camp has always been the entire familys favorite week of the year and that has been true from the pre-school years all the way through high school. I am extremely impressed by the consistency of the quality of the counselors from year to year. We must have seen a few hundred over the years so KP must have a great way to screen new hires and to train them to get the high quality they do and so consistently. Regardless of their age number of years at KP what country they are from etc etc the counselors all have an amazing ability to be crazy fun and silly and also to share their big hearts and compassion and look out for every kid. I have been particularly impressed by how comfortable my children have felt at KP especially in their awkward vulnerable early teen years. I credit the counselors with creating a welcoming supportive environment. Our whole family strongly recommends KP
We have been going to Kingsley Pines for family camp for 17 years essentially my kids have grown up there one week a year with others who have become life long friends. My son also attended camp there for several years as an adolescent and had the time of his life. He bonded with his cabinmates in a very special way and all the activities are super fun and amazing in terms of skill building and problem solving. It is a true camp experience in an idyllic setting in Maine and I highly recommend.
Kingsley Pines has been a great experience for my kids. The counselors are especially amazing. From archery to waterskiing and every in between KP has been a wonderful and important part of my childrens childhoods
Was here for a wedding and the place was great Setup like a camp but most of the cabins are pretty nicely done inside. Mine was a solo and had its own bathroom and shower. Grounds are great. Theres a nice beach a volleyball court ping pong an amazing rope swing and more. They provide paddle boards canoes kayaks etc. Its a great place
My 11 year old son attended Kingsley Pines this summer. He had a fantastic experience. His counselors were excellent. My son learn waterskiing fencing and yoga. He loved it so much that I already enrolled him for next year. The staff is very professional and focused on the kids having a great time.
In a minute... but not now Ill describe to you the reason its a crime to not send your kids here.Was a camper there from the summers 2009-2015 with my younger brother and sister doing 2 sessions each time 5 weeks Im not sure how they structure it now. I can without a doubt say that this was easily one of the highlights of my Childhood. The staff of the Camp like Lead Director Alan and the BoysGirls side heads Jeff was mine in my day again not sure now are incredibly professional and qualified as they showed actual care about my development as a man the six years I was there. The councilors are world class supporting dozens of languages and an incredible ability to control the kids and yet let them feel like they are experiencing risk without the savior of a parent right behind them.The activities and days are some of the most fun I had in my time at KP. Basically Half the days are activity days where the kids sign up weekly for things like kayaking wakeboarding football or stained glass Honestly any sport or art they add more every year and it keeps getting crazier. From 8AM-56PM its all day activities and fun without feeling like a grind or boring. The other half are Special Days where the staff creates themed days and make games around that theme ex. Jurassic Park day playing games like herbivores v omnivores v carnivores Best game by the way gotta play it to knowThis camp helped me develop lifelong communication and social skills opening up more doors than I could ever believe now that I am in University. The relationships fostered and created at the camp turn lifelong with my favourite councilor Eric Hooke still keeping in contact with me from time to time and yearly reunions to trash-talk for the superbowl These people really do care.The best way I can put it is that Kingsley Pines is a special place a place I plan to send my children.I hope you send your kids here as-well they will thank you in ten years.
I had my wedding at Kingsley pines in September of 2017. I couldnt have been happier about the weekend and the whole experience. I lived the venue from the first day I saw it because it was everything I wanted in a venue and was exactly what my husband and I were looking for. We were thrilled to find it and even more thrilled during the 2 years of planning that led to the wedding weekend. I am the kind of person that has a lot of questions and likes to see all angles of a situation so as you can imagine with a venue like this I had a lot of questions and ideas through the planning process. Drew was absolutely amazing in helping me with questions and helping me with anything I needed. He had multiple walk through with me and was very accommodating to my busy schedule. He even took the time to help me set up tables and look at different arrangements for seating out his busy schedule and he didnt have to do that but wanted to ensure I was happy and at ease before the big day. Drew gave us a lot of ideas and catering and other options for food and beverages. He truly wanted to make sure that I was happy and that it was everything I wanted. He was very accommodating and very helpful through every step of the way. The wedding venue is gorgeous and there are so many ways you can go about doing it your way. There is a lot of leeway and the wonderful option of BYOB. The venue is perfect if you are looking for something casual or elegant fun adventurous and also classy. There are many options of activities and the whole weekend access of the venue which allows for so many options of things to plan and do and gives you time to do what you want. I loved that there was so much included in the venue and I didnt have to rent a tent or worry about facilities and tables and chairs. I had the best day of my life at Kingsley pines which was partly due to the venue but also a lot to do with Drew and his staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Autism-friendly camps come in all shapes and sizes, making it easier for you to find the one that best suits your needs. An autism-friendly camp may come in the form of a day camp, meaning you drop your child off in the morning and pick them up later that afternoon, or as an overnight camp. The camp programs can range in length from a few days to a few weeks. The campers that attend autism-friendly camps may be autistic only or a mixture of neurotypical and neurodivergent kids. When it comes to support for your child, some camps offer 1:1 support while others have a higher camper-to-counselor ratio.
When choosing the perfect camp for your child there are five key things you should keep in mind:
- Interests: What does your child like to do? A sports camp probably wouldn’t be a good fit for your little bookworm. Finding the right summer camp that sparks your child’s excitement will aid in transitioning to and from camp, while also ensuring they enjoy their experience.
- Professional Support: How much support does your child need? A traveling camp may not be best for your child who tends to elope. Some camps offer 1:1 support for your child, while others may have a higher camper-to-counselor ratio. When looking for a camp, pay close attention to those ratios to ensure there is adequate support for your child’s unique needs.
- Specializations: Does the camp specialize in a specific area? If your child is nonverbal and the camp has excellent experience working with nonverbal children, it may be the perfect fit!
- Responsiveness and Accommodations: Pay special attention to camps that meet with you one-on-one either by phone, video chat, or in person, to mark out a personalized support plan for your child. You can relax knowing they’re on top of things and making sure your child is properly supported. Don’t be afraid to ask tons of questions —a great camp will welcome them!
- Location and Commitment: Not many people like a long commute. You know your child’s comfort level better than anyone else, so you’ll know what’s best for them, whether it’s a half-day camp, a full day, or an overnight experience.
Here are just a few of the benefits of summer camp for autistic children:
Fostering Social Skills: Summer camp is an excellent opportunity for your child to learn about different social scenarios they may face as they grow up and provide them first-hand experience in how to approach those situations in a safe and supportive environment.
Maintaining Mental Stimulation: With school out during the summer months, a child with autism may be missing out on many of the core structures inherently provided by the classroom and their classmates. No matter what sort of camp you choose or your child’s unique needs and interests, summer camp is a great way to keep your child mentally stimulated and challenged.
Friendship: Depending on the camp size, campers are often divided into smaller groups defined by age, interests, gender, and/or needs. These groups not only give your child the opportunity to closely identify with a group that they belong to but provide them an opportunity to learn how to make friends.
Independence and Confidence: Possibly the greatest benefit of summer camp for your child is the independence they gain. While the counselors are there for support and guidance, kids will have their own responsibilities and choices to make while at camp. Your child will be doing activities independently and actively learning what they like and don’t like. Having these sorts of experiences can boost a child’s self-confidence and nurture your child’s natural curiosity about the world.