Pine Tree Camp opened its gates in 1945 as a summer camp for children with physical disabilities.  Over the years, it has evolved into a place where children and adults with disabilities are able to participate in all the recreational activities for which Maine is known all year long.  The barrier-free setting, along with an amazing staff, ensure that activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, boating and even camping in a tent under the stars are completely accessible to all.  Participating in activities that take people beyond their disability has a tremendous impact.  It builds self-esteem and self-confidence.  That experience coupled with meeting friends who understand and experiencing the feeling of acceptance is transformational.

Returning camper? Register here.  New camper? Register here.

Questions? Call 207-386-5993 or email info@pinetreesociety.org.

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2020 Pine Tree Camp Overnight Schedule:

Session 1 | June 16th – June 21st	Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (Ages 19 & over) Session full.
Session 2 | June 23rd – June 28th	Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (Ages 35 & over) Session full.
Session 3 | June 30th – July 5th	Adults with Intellectual and/or Physical Disabilities (Ages 19 & over) Female spots full, male spots limited.
Session 4 | July 21st – July 26th	Children
Session 5 | August 4th – August 9th	Children
Session 6 | August 11th – August 16th	Children
Session 7 | August 18th – August 23rd	Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (Ages 19 & over) Session full.
Session 8 | August 24th – August 28th	Camp Communicate

2020 Camp Pine Cone Schedule:

Week 1 | August 3rd – August 7th	Children with Intellectual and/or Physical Disabilities (Ages 5-12)
Week 2 | August 10th – August 14th	Children with Intellectual and/or Physical Disabilities (Ages 5-12)

Pine Tree Camp has undergone many improvements over the years to ensure the highest level of care, comfort and safety of our campers, but one thing remains the same: the view never changes!

After many years of work, the majority of our iconic buildings have been modernized and winterized.  This not only addresses our campers’ needs, it makes our buildings much easier to keep clean and allows Pine Tree Camp to offer its transformational programming all year long.

“Now that we can offer programming year-round, the sky is the limit,” said camp director Dawn Willard-Robinson.  “Having winterized buildings allows us to think outside of the box. This year we’re adding adult specialty weekends in the fall, winter and spring to give our adult campers the chance to spend extra time out in nature throughout the year.  There’s a big need for that.”   

When people think of Pine Tree Camp, they often think of the kids we serve. Many of the people who first came to camp as children are now adults who continue to return to this special place every year.

“We have a lot of adult campers and they are an aging population that really needs support,” Dawn said. “We have one camper who is now almost 60 years old and has been coming to camp since she was eight.  She has never missed a single summer.”

Her home in southern Maine doesn’t provide her much access to nature and, each year when she gets to Pine Tree Camp, the woods are the first place she wants to be. 

Dawn recalled, “She sits outside all the time when she’s here.  You always see her reading a book on the porch of her cabin or going down the trails in her wheelchair to the woods.  It’s where she finds peace.”

In addition to updating our buildings for the comfort and safety of campers, the team at Pine Tree Camp has also been deliberately developing and improving access to camp’s unique features.  The next focus is an exciting project to expand the trail system.

For so many of our campers, Pine Tree Camp is the only place they are able to access nature.  Knowing that is the reality, we are constantly working to create more nature-based experiences.

“Our Pine Tree Camp alumni remember the original trail as the one that went out to the overnight camp area,” Dawn continued. “It wasn’t accessible for many campers and most had to get to the overnight area by boat or via the trail through the Preston Woods area.” 

About 20 years ago, Greg Ouellette, the former director of Pine Tree Camp and executive director of Pine Tree Society led a project to build a nature trail to the overnight area.  A trail at the other end of camp followed a few years later.

Pine Tree Camp is now undertaking the next phase of trail development, which entails joining the two existing trails to create a three-mile loop.

“These trails are necessary for our campers to experience and explore the woods,” Dawn noted. “The trails are wide and fairly level, yet they meander and wind around so there’s lots to discover along the way. The new section of trail we’re designing has huge glacial boulders that campers will get to go around so they can see how big they are. There’s also a bridge over a little stream that we’ll get to go over now.”  

Campers will also have the chance to see vernal pools, eagle nests, blue heron, loons and an active beaver dam. There’s even a spot where an eagle comes to the trail and leaves shells.

For Dawn, “Camp has changed over the years, but the heart of camp remains the same. We love having alumni come see the improvements and our door is always open for a visit.”

The Levant Hungry Hollow 76ers and the Penobscot Snowmobile Club are teaming up to cohost a silent auction at the 47th annual Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-In to benefit Pine Tree Camp.

The silent auction will begin at 7 AM during the all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Hungry Hollow 76ers club in Levant, where the items will be on display for bidding.

Can’t make it to breakfast? Join us at the Penobscot Snowmobile Club in Hermon at 10:00 AM where the fun and bidding will continue! Enjoy refreshments put on by the Carmel Snowmobile Club. Plus, check out the Antique Sled Show.

Bidding will close at 2 PM – winners do not need to be present.

The generously donated prizes to be announced!

For questions related to Ride-In events, please contact Stevie Bonnevie by phone at 207-386-5915 or email sbonnevie@pinetreesociety.org.

You won’t want to miss this! The Penobscot Snowmobile Club will be hosting an Antique Snowmobile Sled Show during the 2020 annual Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-In to benefit Pine Tree Camp.

The show will be from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Penobscot Snowmobile Club in Hermon, where you can expect to see a variety of antique snowmobiles, with the vehicles ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s.

The Carmel Snowmobile club will be helping during the event, selling snacks to benefit Pine Tree Camp. The Penobscot Snowmobile Club will also be selling various refreshments.

The Q106.5 Celebrity Egg Riders will make a pitstop at the event during their messy ride, where several antique sleds will join them in the final ride to Dysart’s in Hermon for a benefit luncheon, with proceeds going to Pine Tree Camp.

For questions related to Ride-In events, please contact Stevie Bonnevie by email at sbonnevie@pinetreesociety.org or call 207-386-5915.