Frequently Asked Questions About Camp

What is tiered pricing?

Pilgrim Lodge realizes that families have different abilities to pay for camp. Therefore, we seek to balance the cost of providing the camp experience with options for families to pay at the level that fits their budget in order to keep camp as accessible as possible. Pilgrim Lodge has a voluntary three-tier fee program.

  • Tier 1 reflects a price that aims to keep Pilgrim Lodge sustainable, including upkeep of the facility.
  • Tier 2 reflects the true cost of providing the camp session.
  • Tier 3 is a subsidized rate that does not include all costs of providing the session. If you are unable to pay all of this, please apply for a scholarship.

Please choose the tier that is most suitable for your family.

If at all possible for you, Tier 1 will help us assure that Pilgrim Lodge is sustainable for future generations of campers! For those families that cannot afford Tier 3, additional financial assistance is available to ensure that everyone has the wonderful opportunity to attend camp. All campers receive the same Pilgrim Lodge experience regardless of what tier is chosen.

The scholarship application can be completed online or you may call 207-724-3200 to have one mailed to you.

In addition to scholarships offered by Pilgrim Lodge, many local churches also have their own camp scholarship program. If you are connected with a local church, please ask your pastor if scholarship funds available in your church.

When should campers be dropped off and picked up?

Transportation to and from Pilgrim Lodge is the responsibility of the parents or guardians.

Those campers arriving to Maine from out of state by plane, bus, or train; should contact the camp office to make travel arrangements. For additional information, please read our Transportation Information. 

  • Check-in/registration is generally 2-4 pm the first day of the session (often Sunday)
  • Pickup is 9:30-10:30 am the final day of the session (often Saturday)
  • If there is a change to either of these times, the actual times will be listed in the Dean’s Letter

When you arrive at camp:

  • Drive ½ mile down the road to the “Welcome to Pilgrim Lodge” sign
  • Follow the direction of the arrow under the sign (generally to the RIGHT)
  • At the bottom of the hill, staff will greet you, help you unload and tell you what’s next

When picking up at the end of camp:

  • Follow the arrow’s direction to the LEFT
  • Park in the parking lot and meet campers in either the lodge or Quitobaquito (the dean’s letter will describe which location to meet)
  • Closing programs may be planned so check your deans letter!

Can campers have their cell phone at camp?

Disconnecting from the world of electronics is a necessary part of creating the camp community.

Cellular Phone and Electronics Policy:

It is the intent of this policy that neither campers nor counselors are distracted from the Pilgrim Lodge community while participating in a Pilgrim Lodge event.

Counselors are requested to leave cell phones and other electronic devices turned off or silent during all camp events.
Cellular phones may, however, be used when the counselor has personal time away from the camp activities and in the evening after the campers are in bed.

Youth Campers are requested to leave cellular phones at home (with the exception of those attending Camp Pride or the Confirmation Retreat).

  • If a camper brings one of these items, the dean will hold it until the end of the event.
  • Campers may be sent home for cell phone use at the discretion of the Director.

A number for emergency contact (207-724-3300) is available 24 hours a day for the duration of the event.

Adult Campers are requested to leave cellular phones at home, but we recognize that adults may have family and business requirements that require them to make contact.

  • Please do not use your cell phones and other communication devices in the company of others.
  • If you must carry your phone with you:
    • Please set your phone to vibrate or silent
    • Please let voicemail answer the phone and retreat to an isolated place to check the message and return the call

Can campers bring a personal music device to camp?

Policy on Music Devices

CIT’s, Middler, and Senior High aged campers, may bring listening devices to camp to help them fall asleep if the following conditions are met.

The device:

  • is not internet capable
  • is not also a cell phone, electronic communication, or gaming device
  • is not used at any time other than when lying down on one’s bunk, at either bunk or bed time
  • does not leave the cabin (except for approved, program specific, events)
  • is used with headphones or earbuds so that others cannot hear the music
  • is turned off at the counselor’s request

Counselors may choose to keep listening devices in their possession and distribute them before bed or bunk time. Any listening device can be confiscated if used outside these guidelines, or guidelines established by the dean. Any confiscated device will be returned when the camper is signed-out the final day of the session.

May we visit our camper during the week?

Parents, family members and friends of campers are encouraged to visit during registration and departure only. At other times campers will be fully occupied and friends are asked to please refrain from visiting or calling by telephone.

Should we send mail?

YES! Campers love to receive mail. Cards and letter are encouraged. Please do NOT mail candy or food.

Please do not send mail after Thursday, since it will not reach your camper on time. Please use the following camp address:

Camper’s Name, Cabin #
c/o Pilgrim Lodge
103 Pilgrim Lodge Lane
West Gardiner, ME 04345-3687

Can we send E-mail to campers? 

You can buy a block of 5 emails for only $5.00.  Log in to your online account and click on “Email a Camper” to sign up for email.  Your camper’s email will be printed and delivered at bunk time along with US postal mail. Campers will not be able to reply to emails.

Is there a camp store?

Yes. The store carries T-shirts, memorabilia, postcards, postage and various necessary items. Store accounts for children are set up on arrival.  Usually $20 or so is enough for ice cream every day and various sundries. Any remaining funds are returned when the camper is picked up. The store account is also where the camper will draw money for any mission offering they wish to make.

What if campers get homesick?

Very few campers need to go home. Usually extra attention from the counselor and cheerful letters from home are all it takes to help an uneasy child. Parents concerned that their child may become homesick can do some things to help the child prepare for camp. A visit to camp ahead of time is the best way for a child to know what to expect. Please call before you visit. Coming to camp with a friend is another good idea (although we do not house friends in the same cabin).

Can campers stay in the same cabin with friends from home?

No. This is a common request. We do not house friends from the same church together, nor do we grant requests for campers to be together. Our experience is that friends from home tend to relate together instead of getting to know new cabin mates. We hope you will make new friends in your cabin. Cabin time is limited and there is ample time for friends to be together during camp.

What about camp photos?

Every camper will receive an 8×10 photo of all the people in their camp. Many more are available to purchase digitally, which can be pre-ordered at the store when you drop off your camper or ordered on Saturday at pick up.

What should we bring?

Pay attention to your dean’s letter for specific items they request, but for a suggested list of items see the Camp Guide appropriate to your session on the Guides & Forms page.

What should we NOT bring?

Candy; gum; food; personal listening devices; pets; pocket knives; valuables; jewelry; cell phones; computers; other electronic devices; and, of course, weapons; fireworks; alcohol; or illegal drugs.

May campers call home?

Phones are available for use by campers only in case of emergency.

Please see our page of contact information if you need to reach your camper during the week.

What if a camper has particular accommodation needs?

Pilgrim Lodge is an accessible site with paths, ramps, and a boardwalk connecting the majority of the sites’ facilities. However, we are a naturally wooded environment and some of the terrain may be difficult for those with mobility issues. We do have a golf cart to provide individuals needing assistance with access to some of the more difficult-to-access locations.

Please let us know ahead of time if you, or your camper, require specific accommodations or mobility assistance, so we can be sure to have an appropriate plan in place. Call the camp office at 207-724-3200.

If you require additional assistance with verbal or sign language interpretation, vision, social interaction, mobility or fine motor skills, medical or other personal situations, we ask that you attend with an “aide” to provide the extra care you need.

Accommodation Policy

Pilgrim Lodge is an accessible site with paths, ramps, and a boardwalk connecting the majority of the sites’ facilities. However, we are a naturally wooded environment and some of the terrain may be difficult for those with mobility issues. All the roads, trails, and paths are dirt or gravel and the boardwalk is made of cedar decking.

Currently, access to the waterfront swim area is difficult for those needing mobility assistance, but there are plans in the works to make the waterfront more accessible and user friendly.

We do have a golf cart to provide individuals needing assistance with access to some of the more difficult-to-access locations, such as: the cookout field, both ball fields, chapel, labyrinth, and Quitobaquito (dining hall).

In addition, we do have 2 cabins with ramps and handicap accessible showers for those who need them.

If you require additional assistance with verbal or sign language interpretation, vision, social interaction, mobility or fine motor skills, medical or other personal situations, we ask that you attend with an “aide” to provide the extra care you need.

For youth camps, we recommend the aide be a parent/guardian or individual with a personal relationship and knowledge of the campers’ situation. The aide could participate in camp activities on a similar level to a counselor, but their main focus and priority would be to ensure the camper has the assistance and support they require to have the best experience possible at their camp session.

For adult camps, we recommend the aide be a friend or relative with a personal relationship and knowledge of the campers’ situation and the ability to provide the additional assistance required. The aide would be a camper registered for the session, and could fully participate in camp activities, maintaining the priority of ensuring the camper has the assistance and support they require to have the best experience possible at their camp session. Both individuals would be housed together, with the potential of sharing a cabin with other campers as well.

In addition, if you are an adult camper and will be attending with an aide, please provide us with that information so we can be sure to house you both together with the appropriate accommodations.

Pilgrim Lodge Sign-Out Policy

While we prefer that Adult Campers remain present at camp throughout the duration of the program, if it is necessary to leave camp, the following procedures should be followed.

Applies to Adult Campers, Counselors, and Deans

If an individual needs to leave site for any reason they will:

  1. Tell the dean they are leaving
  2. Sign out at the office
    1. Provide time of departure
    1. General location destination
    1. Approximate return time
  3. Sign back in at the office upon return