Camp Arcadia Kicks Off 100th Season With Celebrations Around the World

Camp Arcadia Kicks Off its One Hundredth Season with Gatherings Around the World

Summer Camp for Girls in Casco, Maine, USA marks 100 Years Guided by Same Family

Darien, CT – Camp Arcadia, www.camparcadia.com, a fourth-generation family-operated overnight summer camp for girls in Casco, Maine, kicked off its centennial season on Thursday, January 22 with gatherings in 17 cities across the globe, from Darien to Dublin, Denver to Shanghai.

Approximately 170 campers ages 8 to 18 and 65 counselors over several sessions come to Camp Arcadia each summer, from 23 states and 12 countries since the mid-twentieth century.

Each gathering included former and current campers and counselors. Camp Director Louise Fritts Johnson, who resides in Darien, Connecticut, anchored the Connecticut celebration. Other cities celebrating the 100th season of Camp Arcadia included New York, Boston, Portland, Maine, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, Cincinnati, Burlington, Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, Sarasota and Vero Beach. There will also be parties in London, Dublin and Shanghai.

A variety of activities are planned in the centennial spirit for 2015 to celebrate with campers, counselors, parents, alumnae and the local community. Arcadia will be also be publishing a book on its history and the history of camping, a historical songbook, and a cookbook of recipes that have been staples for the Camp since it was founded in 1916.

“Reaching our 100th season as a family-run camp is significant, inspiring me to look forward and, inevitably, back,” said Louise Fritts Johnson. “We have had the opportunity to grow with generations of wonderful girls and young women, many of whom attributed significant parts of their lives’ successes to their experiences at Arcadia. This inspires us to keep Arcadia’s century long traditions alive and thriving. As we live and work in this busy, busy world, we are convinced more than ever that an experience at Arcadia gives a young girl the balance needed to take her place as a leader – and the ability to choose her place in the world, based on the confidence grown in large part from their Arcadia experience.”

“We believe each camper should, with guidance, carry out her own individual program,“ said Anne Henderson Fritts. “In all our activities, which range from cooking to camping skills, to horseback riding and to tennis, our counselors’ encouragement, response, feedback, support, warmth, humor and enthusiasm enable our campers to find their own way, to develop expertise and to investigate new areas of interest in a supportive and nurturing environment.”

Louise Fritts Johnson said, “First hand learning by experience - working together at the ropes course, taking nature paddles, sleeping under the stars - cannot be taught in a classroom. Camp is where a girl learns to be dependent on herself and on nature. At Arcadia a girl is involved. She grows in understanding herself and the world around her, and learns to live happily with others. Friendships are forged that last a life-time.”

And let’s not forget Family Camp.

Family Camp at Arcadia has been a tradition for 40 years. At Family Camp, there is something for each member of the family. All are welcome to participate in activities, which include a sailing regatta, distant swims, day hikes, yoga, camp fires, horseback riding, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, among others. Participants are also welcome to read a long overlooked book while relaxing on our beach at Pleasant Lake or strolling the trails. Meals are healthy and plentiful, with family style dining, made to order breakfast buffet, picnics at the beach and a Gala Dinner of Maine lobster. Arcadia’s Family Camp brings friends and families together for laughter, fun and experiences in the out of doors.

A bit about the history of Camp Arcadia

The same family has guided Arcadia from the beginning. Dr. George L. Meylan had been the director of Physical Education at Columbia University and founder of White Mountain Camp for boys on Sebago Lake in Maine in 1905.

Dr. Meylan and his daughter, Juliette Meylan Henderson, directed Arcadia for many years. He became the first president of what became the American Camping Association. Juliette oversaw growing the Camp in many ways, increasing its acreage, establishing a strong and diverse overall program as well as handling staffing and enrollment.

Juliette’s daughters, Anne Henderson Fritts and Louise Henderson, became directors in the 1970’s, and oversaw growth in the number of campers and counselors. Anne worked on the establishment of Family Camp, the Camp Arcadia Scholarship Foundation and other program aspects of the Camp. In 2006 Anne’s third daughter, Louise Fritts Johnson, joined Anne and Louise as a director of Arcadia.

About Camp Arcadia: Celebrating its 100th season in 2015, Camp Arcadia, a girl’s summer camp, is beautifully sited on 365 acres encompassing woods, the lake and fields in Casco, Maine. For more information: www.camparcadia.com

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