The West End House Camp boasts first class, log cabin-style facilities that add to the beauty and charm of the mountains around us. We make sure that everything is well-maintained, clean, and in close proximity – making programming, logistics, and safety infinitely easier.
Cabins
Each spacious cabin is home to 10-12 campers and 3 or 4 staff who stay within that cabin. It has its own bathroom including private toilets and private hot shower. Each boy has his own bed and locker with ample shelving to store his clothes and items. All the cabins have electricity, screened shutters for comfortable temperatures, recently updated light fixtures, and newly painted or polished floors. Each cabin has a water fountain on the porch which boasts the best drinking water in the world – direct from our own 400 foot wells!
Dining Hall
The dining hall is large enough to accommodate all 130 campers and 40 staff at one seating. Newly purchased tables and seats have added to the quality of that facility, which is also used for indoor activities, including movies, orientation, instructional classes, and evening programs. The kitchen is the pride of the crew of experienced cooks who prepare three full meals a day (complete with salad bar for lunch and supper), plus a snack at night. The addition in the kitchen of a large, new grill and electric food warmer has meant even better products coming forth from the hands of our expert culinary staff.
Gym/Rec Hall
West End House Camp boasts a full size gymnasium, complete with professional basketball court, electronic scoreboard, and stage. We are stating a fact when we claim that we have the nicest gym of any camp around! Basketball is a very popular sport at West End, but the rec hall is also used often for dodge ball and other sports and games. This building is also ideal for rainy day activities and evening activities. The exceptionally large stone fireplace is another unique and beautiful part of the rec hall.
Fields
Large playing fields are the sites for the outdoor sports and recreation programs, including baseball, softball, flag football, soccer, lacrosse, kickball, ultimate frisbee, Color War Track meet, and many other games and activities. Our baseball field was totally renovated prior to the 2012 season, complete with irrigation system, and now is one of the top camp ballfields anywhere!
Courts
In addition to our amazing Rec Hall , there is also an outdoor basketball court. This court doubles as a volleyball and newcombe court. There is a separate and adjacent beach volleyball/newcombe court too. The nearby batting/lacrosse cage allows boys to perfect their swings or shots, while the tennis courts are down a few steps next to the lake. A very popular new activity takes place at our Gaga Pit which is located near the tennis courts. Our archery range is a brief walk halfway up our inner path and archery remains near the top of many campers’ favorite activities!
Waterfront
The camp is located on beautiful Long Pond, which is actually a spring fed lake, which helps keep it one of the cleanest lakes in Maine! A permanent H dock, sailing and boat docks, and an “Old Timers” dock (complete with waterslide) are in full use all summer. The refreshing waters of our lake are especially inviting on warm days or after an active morning or afternoon on the playing fields and courts. West End House Camp also owns and frequently uses its beach area (“Kennard’s”) that contains remarkable natural sand and a very warm temperature.
Council Ring
Centrally located in the camp, the Council Ring is an ideal meeting place for campers and staff, the site of the famous wiffle ball tournaments and ladders, and an area where campers can find both sun and shade, read a book, or just sit with their friends and take in the surrounding view. It is also the meeting place for the entire camp prior to each meal, as well as the site of various evening activities.. The flag pole is located at the head of the Council Ring, and the raising and lowering of the flag on a daily basis are done with respect and dignity throughout the summer.
Firepit Area
Overlooking the lake is a recently constructed firepit area which is now one of the more popular places at camp! There is a centered firepit surrounded by beautiful stone masonry, along with bench and wall seating for dozens. There are regular opportunities for campfires at night, complete with roasted marshmallows and s’mores!
Fitness Pavilion
New for 2017 was a fitness pavilion that is located in between the rec hall and dining hall. This screened in structure has many stations at which campers can exercise to get in the best shape of their lives, under the supervision of trained and enthusiastic staff mentors. “The Eddie” has proven to be a great addition!
Office/Library
At the front entrance of camp is a a multi-purpose office that was built in 2000, but like many of our buildings, still looks new! We do much of our camp “business” there, but it is often used by campers as a meeting spot, a place to read in our fabulous rocking chairs, an open lending library of books and games, and the site of our weekly canteen opportunities.
Disc Golf Course
Throughout lower camp is a new and nicely designed frisbee golf course! This activity has quickly become a favorite of campers and staff alike! It is akin to golf except with big metal baskets as the holes.
The Margolin Center
This brand new building, on the site of the former Wonderland, was utilized for the first time in 2019. It will be the home of fun projects and games for the next century! There was a dedication ceremony in August of 2019 to honor Bill Margolin for his 60 plus years of helping children at West End House Camp! Whether it is games, nature, music, science, technology, engineering, arts, math, or many other creative and cerebral activities, the benefits and flexibility of this beautiful structure will be available to all this coming summer and for generations to come!
Health Center
Our brand new Health Center is staffed by a licensed health care supervisor. The examining room contains camp medicines as well as the medicines that individual campers bring with them. There is also a private area where campers who need extra quiet or attention can relax or be monitored. As part of the annual State of Maine inspection, the Health Center is thoroughly checked for cleanliness, current licensing, up to date record keeping, and proper safeguarding of all medicines.
The Leaders’ Cabins
The leaders at West End House Camp are all former campers and counselors! In order to comfortably accommodate them (not that they spend much time in there during the season) and their families, new cabins have been built or renovated during the past decade. This serves the camp well now and will continue to do so in our second century!
