Summer Camp FAQs

Yes! By three major entities.

First, Takodah is licensed by the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services as an Overnight Youth Recreation Camp. Second we are accredited by the American Camp Association, meaning that we have undergone a thorough review (300+ standards) of our operation—from staff qualifications to emergency management. Lastly and most recently we have become accredited by Praesidium. An organization wholly focused on youth safety and child abuse prevention.

Our year round staff team take the year to hire 170+ caring and mature seasonal staff members based on their character and proven ability to work with youth. Around 75% of our staff members attended Takodah as campers and graduated from our Leadership Development Program, 20% are part of our international staff cultural exchange program, and then the remaining 5% are referred to camp from alumni, campers, and staff. All staff members are high school graduates and go through an extensive summer camp staff training before campers arrive.

Yes. All of our staff members pass rigorous applications, interviews, reference checks, and criminal background checks before the start of every summer. In fact part of our licensing and accreditations we spoke about above require it.

All of our staff members attend over 10 days of training before campers arrive. This staff training covers all sorts of topics such as but not limited to the ones listed below:

• Child Abuse Prevention
• Behavior Management
• Group Dynamics
• Skills Training
• Lifeguard Certifications
• First Aide & CPR Certifications
• Group Games
• Safe Supervision
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

Our goal is to have 10 campers, 2 college-age leaders, and usually 1 Leader-in-Training (high school aged camper in our Leadership Development Program). Our overall ratio in camp is one adult staff member to every three campers.

Our cabins are cozy, rustic, and well maintained. All cabins have electricity and screened windows for fresh breezes. Campers sleep in twin-sized bunk beds. All cabins are within eyesight of the Twins (bathroom and shower facilities).

Our professional chefs serve healthy, kid-friendly, and delicious meals.

We work hard to ensure our menu provides good options for all campers. Every meal includes an extensive breakfast or salad/sandwich bar, along with vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. In order to attend summer camp, children must be able to maintain proper nutrition and hydration from the options provided. We are unable to accommodate special requests or additional food supplements from home

For the safety of all campers, Takodah maintains a nut-aware environment.

If you’re unsure whether your child will have trouble with the options provided (e.g. unusually picky eater, food anxiety, oral sensory issues, dietary restrictions/allergies), please contact us to learn more about whether Takodah is the right fit for you child.

We have partnered with CampInTouch on electronic health records to ensure the best care possible for campers. If we see that your child has medications entered in their CampInTouch account, you’ll receive a blister pack from us via mail in mid-May. You’ll fill/seal the blister pack before coming to camp.

You’ll still need to bring the original prescription bottles with you to camp (so our nurses can confirm the dosage amounts/times). Due to their licensing requirements, our nurses must distribute the medications as prescribed on the original packaging. If you have liquids, inhalers, or Epi-Pens, you’ll need to bring them in their original packaging, sealed together in a Ziploc bag, labeled with your camper’s name. When you arrive at camp on Opening Day, you’ll need to check in your medications in the Dining Hall.

State-licensed RNs, EMTs, EMRs, and/or WFRs distribute medications and provide 24/7 on-site care for campers. Medications are normally distributed at meals and bedtimes. The Health Center is also stocked with common over-the-counter medications if needed.

Camp Takodah is a gender-expansive inclusive and welcoming space in a way that is considerate of all campers. As a general guideline, we meet the needs of gender-expansive campers on a case-by-case manner. The first step is having a conversation with the camper and their family about how Camp Takodah can best meet their needs:

• What would be helpful to make your experience positive?
• What can we do to help you feel more welcome here?

We’ll seek to find options for meeting the camper’s needs, while being honest and realistic about any facility or programmatic limitations.

We’ll also want to discuss the camper’s expectations/boundaries and thoughts on confidentiality.

Please refer to our Gender Inclusion Policy for additional information.

We strive to create summer camp programs that are enjoyable for as many children as possible. In everything we do, health and safety are our top priorities. As such, we need to recognize the limitations of our facility, program, and staff. Below is a list of Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) deemed necessary for participation.

All children must be able to do the following at a developmentally-appropriate level for their age: 

Communicate needs and concerns verbally with others at a conversational level of English

Understand and comply with directions given by staff

Refrain from unsafe and/or harmful behaviors toward self and others (including self-harm)

Identify and avoid health/safety risks

Feel comfortable living in a rustic, outdoor environment (e.g. no air-conditioning, varying weather conditions, insects/animals, grass/dirt/mud)

Maneuver rugged terrain and distances

Follow a varied individual schedule and manage free time

Assume responsibility for personal hygiene

Maintain proper nutrition and hydration from the camp menu, which includes non-restrictive, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options; we are unable to accommodate special requests or additional food supplements from home

Adapt to a group living environment with little time alone

Demonstrate age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict

Manage the sensory stimulation of a frequently large, loud, and energetic group environment (especially in the dining hall during meals)

Participate fully in all scheduled activities and programs

Engage in behaviors that contribute to the positive community and spirit of Takodah

We are not able to provide an attendant (one-on-one staff member) to address a child’s personal needs.

In addition, we are not able to accommodate medical issues requiring treatment beyond the scope of our health center and nurses. As such, we are not able to accommodate children with diabetes and/or active seizure disorders.

Before enrolling a child with any special needs, please contact us to discuss potential accommodations.

If Camp Takodah ends up not being a good fit for your child, we are happy to connect you with another camp better suited to your needs and interests.

Homesickness is normal for campers in the first couple of days away from home. We help campers conquer homesickness in a nurturing way that builds confidence and independence. If your camper feels more homesick than normal, we’ll call you right away for input on supporting them. Please visit our Overcoming Homesickness page for more information.

Yes! We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to attend camp, regardless of their fincial situation. That is why we offer a Tiered Pricing model which you can read more bout here. Those indeed of additional tuition assistance should apply for Tier 4.

Reduced rates for multiple siblings have been incorporated into our Tiered Pricing Model. Making it so that families can choose which tuition rate is right for them.

Reduced rates for multiple sessions have been incorporated into our Tiered Pricing Model. Making it so that families can choose which tuition rate is right for them.

We accept payments by cash, check, VISA, and MasterCard.

It’s possible via a cabin mate request.

We make every effort to honor requests in ways that maintain the integrity of our “Friendly to All”  motto, putting an emphasis on helping campers make new friends. Cabin mate requests are prioritized for new campers first. Each camper is allowed one cabin mate request as long as they follow the proper procedures. We cannot accommodate more than one request per camper under any circumstance. Read more about cabin mate requests here.

Yes. 1-Week Camp is the perfect stepping-stone to our classic Boys+ Camp and Girls+ Camp programs. Please visit our 1-Week Camp page for rates, dates, and program information.

Our camp was named Takodah in 1916 by Elgin Jones, a member of our Board of Directors. The name, meaning “Friendly to All,” is a reflection of the friendship shown to Jones on a visit to Sioux people in South Dakota. Learn more about our History.

“Friendly to All” is our motto and way of life — it’s how longtime campers and newcomers alike become a tight-knit family almost immediately. It guides how we live, work, and play together. It helps us learn and grow in a place where we feel comfortable being ourselves. We seek to create a welcoming, affirming, and inclusive environment, and we’re proud that camp is made up of people from every walk of life.

Founded in 1916, Takodah is celebrating 110 years in 2026!

Your child will be in a cabin with 9 other kids of the same grade/gender, two college-age cabin leaders, and sometimes (sessions 2 and 4) one Leader-In-Training. Beyond the cabin, your child will be in a division with 60 other campers of similar grades. Within our camp of 330 campers and 125 staff members, our cabins feel like families and divisions feel like tight-knit communities.

Takodah offers concurrent programs, wherein we host both girls+ and boys+ at the same time, while maintaining a gender majority experience for all campers. In order to maintain this experience, we have two different sites within the same campus: South Village and North Village.

Our gender-focused programs provide well-rounded childhood experiences. By relieving the pressures of co-ed environments, Takodah helps campers increase positive self-images, positive behaviors, and confidence—all while supporting deeper friendships and bonds.

Both sites within our campus give campers a classic Takodah experience marked by confidence, character, and friendships that will shape their lives. Read more about the nuances of each site on the South/North Village page. Please contact us if you want to talk more about which site is best for your camper.

Yes. The majority of our campers attend Takodah without knowing anyone ahead of time. Everything we do at camp is about helping campers develop meaningful friendships and a sense of belonging. Campers and alumni alike often tell us that their best friends are from Takodah.

Takodah offers 100+ activities every week to capture the interests of every camper. Learn more about our most popular Summer Camp Activities.

Yes. Campers choose three skill classes per week. Campers take one Red Cross instructional swim class each week, although advanced swimmers may test out of swim lessons. Campers also have 90 minutes of “Camper Choice” time each day, when they can try out new activities or revisit favorite activities.

Campers should pack everything they need for two weeks, including a sleeping bag, pillow, clothing, and personal items. Please see the “Packing for Camp” section of the Registered Families webpage.

Campers may not bring electronics or cell phones to camp. Given the unique opportunity to unplug at Takodah, campers enjoy face-to-face conversations, active recreation, and nature exploration. Our experience shows that electronics and cell phones increase feelings of homesickness, diminish the camp experience, and affect other campers in negative ways.

Writing letters to your camper is important. Receiving letters from home helps campers get through feelings of homesickness. Writing letters home helps campers reflect on their camp experiences. Hand-written letters are the best, although you may send one-way emails to your camper. You may also send care packages to camp. To learn more about camp communications read here.

Campers are not able to bring cell phones to camp or call home because talking to parents almost always increases feelings of homesickness. It not only affects your camper, but it also has a negative impact on campers around them. If there are any concerns that require parent contact, our staff members will call you right away. If you’re concerned about your camper, you’re always welcome to call the Camp Office. We’re happy to check on your camper and call you right back.

Because visitors to campers almost always create feelings of homesickness—and have a negative and disruptive impact on other campers around them—Takodah does not permit visitors except in emergencies or during changeover weekends (for 4-, 6-, and 8-week campers).