The Westport Weston Family Y’s annual Open House at Camp Mahackeno takes place on Saturday, May 21, 12 to 2 pm. If you have a new or prospective camper in your family, or simply want to reacquaint yourself with our 32-acre Mahackeno Outdoor Center, please join us. It’s a great time to tour the camp, see sample schedules and meet with Camp Director Jennifer Perrault and her staff. Use our entrance on Sunny Lane, past the Red Barn restaurant at the northbound ramp of Merritt Parkway’s Exit 41.
Located amid 32 acres of scenic woodlands and open space along the banks of the Saugatuck River, Camp Mahackeno is part of Westport history. Founded in 1938 as a “stay at home camp” for boys, the property was rugged and rustic, as befits its original role three centuries ago as a summer lodge and hunting grounds for a Native American chief and his tribe.
Today our camp features an array of amenities and programs for boys and girls, including an outdoor swimming pool, 12-acre pond for canoeing and fishing, rock wall for climbing, ball courts and playing fields, a new teaching garden with organic veggies, and plenty of space and time for such traditional camp activities as archery, leather making and arts and crafts.
Find out what's happening in Westportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
We offer eight one-week sessions for campers entering grades 1 through 10, as well as two Special Events Weeks for campers entering grades 1 through 6, held before and after the regular camp season (June 27—Aug. 19). In addition to arts and crafts, swimming and sports, these fun-filled weeks include special activities like a “gold rush,” Zider Zee, water inflatables and other fantastic events. Space is limited, and early sign-up is recommended.
Camp Mahackeno is divided into units designed to give age-appropriate levels of supervision and camp activity. These groups have 20 to 24 campers each, with 200 to 250 children per week per session. Camp is held rain or shine, 9 a.m. to 4 or 4:30 p.m. every weekday. Bus service is offered to local campers, and campers with working parents can also enjoy extended opportunities before and after regular camp hours to participate in special activities.
Find out what's happening in Westportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Our programs are balanced to meet the needs of each camper, including our Special Cares camp for children with special needs. There’s also a strong outdoors program for older campers, complete with team-building exercises and local field trips.
Behind all of the fun at camp is a staff that cares a great deal about keeping campers both physically and emotionally safe and secure as they play, explore, try and succeed. A big part of summer camp is meeting new friends and doing all kinds of things with them. While a camper may know one or two people in their group at the beginning, by the end of the session, groups really come together under the guidance of our trained staff. Mahackeno has provided generations of families from Westport, Weston and surrounding communities a camp that keeps youngsters laughing and learning all summer long. Come join the fun!
To register or to view our Camp Mahackeno 2011 brochure online, please visit www.westporty.org. For more information or to ask specific questions, contact Camp Director Jennifer Perrault at 203-226-4221 or jperrault@westporty.org.
