Camp Wyonegonic

Wyonegonic Camps for Girls, the oldest girls' camp in the United States, is located in Denmark, Maine, noted for its non-competitive atmosphere.

History

Wyonegonic was founded by organized camping pioneer Charles E. Cobb in 1902. Cobb had previously started a camp in nearby Parsonsfield, Maine in 1896 but wanted to start a retreat in the Maine woods for young women. Starting from those first few summers of wool swim suits and bloomers, Cobb’s Wyonegonic expanded due to his entrepreneurial nature with land acquisitions that then supported a "Club Wyonegonic" on Moose Pond in Denmark, remote sites for older girls (the present day location of the camp), a hotel on the summit of Pleasant Mountain, an inn for parents in Denmark village, a working farm for dairy and vegetables, a tea room and a boys camp, Camp Winona.

The camp ownership transferred to Cobb's son Roland Cobb in 1930 who at age 35 had spent each summer of his life at camp. The camp expanded into three separate camps for girls so that each age group could experience a small sized camp setting rolled into a larger overall administration system. Roland actively owned and directed the camp into the 1960s while also serving as the State Fish & Game Warden for decades.

In 1969, after five years of tutelage from the retiring Cobbs, George and Carol Sudduth purchased Wyonegonic. The Sudduth family has continued to run Wyonegonic since that time. George Sudduth passed away in August 1991. George and Carol's son, Steve, returned to camp in 1993 on a part-time basis and then in 1995, started to work year round. Today, Wyonegonic is run by the co-Directorship of Carol and Steve Sudduth.

Activities

Wyonegonic offers 3½ and 7 week programs for girls between 8 and 18 years old. Its waterfront offers swimming, diving, canoeing, rowing, sailing, sail boarding, and water skiing. Other activities include horseback riding, tennis, archery, land sports, pottery, arts & crafts, theater, music and dance, wilderness camping on Moose Pond, single and multi-day hiking, backpacking, canoeing and sea kayaking. There are five daily instructional periods, and time for informal play.Singing is a large part of camp spirit. Girls sing at night, in the Cobb Dinning hall, and with counselors and at all times of day. Unit musicals are also put on during the summer by the campers.

Wyonegonic places emphasis on outdoor living skills and ecology in an out of camp trip program in which all campers participate. Leave No Trace principles are taught.It is a great place for girls to be themselves!

Affiliations

Wyonegonic's brother camp, Camp Winona, was established in 1908, also by the Cobb family on Moose Pond in Bridgton, ME. Wyonegonic maintains a strong affiliation with Winona that has existed for over a century.