Time at a quality summer camp makes a difference in children's lives.
The magic of
a great summer camp.
Our inclusive summer sleep away camp features distinctive programs for children ages 8 to 14, as well as teen programs for ages 14-17. Depending on personal interest, HVC is an arts camp, a horse camp, an adventure camp, a performing arts camp, a nature camp, a water camp, a sports camp, and much more. Or it can be all of these!
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Hidden Valley's roots are in the movement of progressive camps and schools that embrace experiential learning, tolerance, inclusion, and holistic education. Over the years, we have built on this history with a commitment to distinction and professionalism, a deep sensitivity to individual needs, and group life. Our diverse, non-competitive community nurtures individual growth and independence in a structured yet un-pressured atmosphere.
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Our days together are devoted to the following values: acceptance, regardless of race, gender, religion, or background; independence to choose one's daily activities and to be who you really are; responsibility to one's community and peers; creativity in all dimensions of the daily experience at camp.
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For years parents have told us that their children come home from HVC more independent and confident. They feel free from the pressures, expectations, and routines of school and home. With the support of professional staff and experienced leadership, children find new and expanded personal strengths.
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Our focus on living in nature and being present allows us to replace virtual engagement with vital engagement.
Our approach nurtures camper relationships and their capacity for empathy as they develop a deeper sense of their ability to lead independent, joyful, productive lives.
We are cognizant of widespread concern in the medical community about the toll that overuse of electronics is taking on children and have tailored our community and programs to remove the need for devices while at camp.
HIdden Valley makes positive use of technology in group settings for dance classes, music and video programs, and other performance arts.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hidden Valley?
A: That nobody has a phone and we just talk. - Alice, aged 12
Our Location
Our beautiful summer camp in Maine provides a multitude of opportunities on 350+ acres of meadows, classic Maine woodland, and a large private lake. Acres of pasture and miles of trail support our thriving equestrian and animal care programs.
Hidden Valley is a few miles inland from the lovely coastal towns of Belfast and Camden, home to working waterfronts, galleries and restaurants, and Maine's breathtaking coastline.
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About our corner of the world:
70 buildings include modern cabin facilities designed to support group development and camper comfort.
Modern, large dining hall provides an awesome menu for all dietary needs and amazing food choices.
Our vast 350+ acre location in Freedom, Maine allows for a campers to have the perfect setting for hiking, swimming, and immersing themselves in the natural beauty of the Pine Tree State.
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HVC’s cabins are open, airy and fun.
Campers are grouped by age or grade.
Campers sleep in bunk beds. (Let us know if you like a top or bottom.)
Each cabin has full bathroom facilities (shower, toilet, sink), electricity, and hang out spaces.
Each cabin has a dedicated team of counselors that reside in the cabin with campers.
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Hidden Valley Camp recognizes that our children will soon become stewards of our planet. The lessons they learn and practice while at camp will influence their communities and beyond.
Hidden Valley Camp is a member of Green Camps. Like many summer camps in Maine, HVC is striving to reduce our carbon footprint and teach children about the many ways in which individuals and groups can conserve and recycle resources.
Our dining hall limits food waste and delivers what is left to a local pig farm.
Campers and staff recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metals.
Campers participate in environmental community service projects each summer.
We purchase local produce where possible.
Hidden Valley teen campers have planted over 2,000 trees at Acadia National Park.
The camping tradition in Maine has long connected children to the natural world through experiences that promote simple living in an outdoor setting.
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Maine is the home of the Wabanaki people. The Wawenok and Penobscot bands of the Wabanaki confederacy lived in the coastal area for thousands of years.
They believed that the Earth had always existed and called it their “Grandmother.” We have learned that we live near what was once a valued hunting ground and that what is now the camp road was a trading route for indigenous people.
About 400 years ago, Europeans arrived and through ensuing war and disease, the population of indigenous peoples declined drastically. We acknowledge the Wabanaki - "people of the dawnland" - for their historical stewardship of the land, their current struggle for sovereignty, and for their continued contributions to Maine's culture.
Leadership Team
Meet April and Wes
Owners and Directors
April and Wes first met at Hidden Valley Camp in 2000, where April worked as an arts counselor and Wes served as a counselor known for running creative classes, mechanics, and epic games. Wes originally joined the camp community in 1988 (while at Hobart College in Geneva, NY) and served as a counselor throughout the 1990s, while April brought her undergraduate background in art and design (Pratt Institute) and business (MBA, Trinity College Dublin) to evolve from teaching staff into camp leadership and behind-the-scenes operations. Their two daughters spent over a decade as campers before becoming camp staff themselves. Today, April and Wes direct and operate Hidden Valley together—and you can still regularly find Wes on the basketball court for a quick game of knockout with the campers, and April in the ceramic studio glazing a piece with campers.
Will Remnick
Associate Director
Will’s first summer at Hidden Valley Camp was in 2007 as a camper and he has spent 18 summers since in every position at camp - AWAC, Counselor, Program Director, and currently as the Associate Director. His passion spans every aspect of the HVC experience as he finds joy in everything from horses to the lakefront and a friendly camper-versus-counselor basketball game. After graduating from college, Will spent time directing youth sports initiatives in New York before moving to Chicago, where he now serves as a middle school guidance counselor during the school year.
Bones Boshielo
Program Director
Bones enters his fifth year as Program Director, overseeing all camp sports, off-site trips, visiting guests, and vendor operations. His passion for youth development extends far beyond summer; during the off-season, he serves as a program director at camps in South Africa. Dedicated to creating high-energy, memorable experiences, Bones has made empowering young people his true life’s work. Whether coordinating complex logistics or coaching on the field, he brings endless enthusiasm to every season.
Izzy Harrison
Program Director
Izzy is entering her third year as Program Director, overseeing all schedules, calendars, and camp operations. With a background in social work, Izzy brings a compassionate and informed approach to supporting the emotional wellbeing of both campers and staff. She thrives on building structured, joyful environments where everyone feels safe, heard, and valued. When she isn’t mastering daily schedules, Izzy can be found connecting with staff and ensuring camp remains a supportive home.
Hilda Persson
Program Director
Hilda enters her third year as Program Director, overseeing program office operations with precision and care. She possesses a unique empathy and knack for guiding campers through homesickness, helping them transition smoothly into camp life. Hilda especially loves working with our youngest campers, creating a supportive atmosphere where they can thrive. In the off-season, she studies law in Sweden, bringing her strong dedication, problem-solving skills, and compassion to every aspect of camp.
Taylor Williams
Program Director
Taylor returns for her third year at HVC and second as Program Director. She originally revitalized HVC's wildly popular Outdoor Adventure program, bringing exceptional skills in operations, efficiency, and meticulously planned, safe outdoor experiences. Known for her dynamic leadership, Taylor excels at making complex adventures run seamlessly. During the off-season, she continues her passion for youth development by leading outdoor scout programming in South Africa, bringing global expertise and infectious energy back to camp each summer.
Meet The Year-Round Team
Albert Paradis
Facilities Director
Albert lives at camp year-round with his family, looking after facilities and caring for our many animals. For the past 20+ years, Albert has been responsible for camp maintenance and upgrades, including using his carpentry skills to build new structures and refurbish older cabins. During the summer, you can find Albert and his facilities team tending to the extensive grounds and gardens, repairing bikes, and working with campers on awesome projects.
Anna Durrett
Communications Director
Anna has served as Communications Director at HVC for the past 3 years, connecting camp life and families with warmth and transparency. Anna came to camp for the first time before her first birthday, and has come every single summer since! Anna has a deep affection for HVC’s inclusive traditions and unique offering, and uses this skill to manage parent communications, both for new and returning campers. She ensures parents feel connected to their campers’ experiences while highlighting the magic of camp culture. Outside the communications hub, Anna loves teaching campers in our Culinary Arts program.
Carmi Katsir
Glass and Ceramics Director
Carmi also lives at camp all year with his family, looking after the camp’s organic garden, grounds, and arts facilities, in addition to camp’s technology. During the summer, Carmi leads the glass and ceramics programs with over 25 years of experience as a professional glass blower. He also ensures that campers have amazing studios and ideas to create within. Carmi has a gift for problem-solving and his creative solutions are at the heart of what makes Hidden Valley so unique.
Maya Bond
Social Media
Maya brings energy, creativity, and a passion for storytelling to her role as year round Social Media Manager. For the past 4 years, Maya has been capturing the dynamic spirit of camp life and sharing it with the world. Maya started her time at Hidden Valley as a camper, then an AWAC, and then counselor, where during the summer she leads the theater program and the AWAC (Counselor in Training) program. Maya has a gift for celebrating the camp magic and spreading it throughout the world.
Kisha Lavell, RN
Health Director
Kisha serves as Health Director, bringing over eight years of camp nursing experience to camp. Dedicated to keeping every camper healthy and thriving, Kisha manages daily medical care, medication administration, and emergency preparedness with warmth and expertise. She prioritizes helping campers and keeping parents informed. Outside the health lodge, Kisha enjoys doing rounds at camp to encourage campers to hydrate and do their tick checks!
Elise Willingham
Arts Director
Elise serves as Arts Director at Hidden Valley Camp, inspiring campers to unleash their creativity all summer long. Overseeing general arts, screen printing, photography, and creative projects camp-wide, Elise fosters a welcoming studio environment where campers explore new mediums and express themselves freely. Elise is a professional art educator outside of camp as well when not at HVC. When not in an art studio, Elise loves taking photos around camp, printing the camp t-shirts and collecting creative inspiration outdoors.
Hidden Valley's cabins are open and airy, designed for a fun communal experience. Campers are usually grouped by age or grade.
Cabins & Facilities
Food and Dining
Our modern dining hall provides an awesome menu for all dietary needs and an excellent range of choices. We accommodate many allergy and dietary needs.
Founded in 1948 as a farm camp, Hidden Valley is now an arts and outdoors camp experience for young people.
Accreditation and Memberships
American Camp Association
The American Camp Association is the world’s largest professional camping organization. Its Accredited Camp insignia is a recognized symbol of quality, saying to those seeking a summer experience for their children: “This camp has met or exceeded standards for health and risk management, staffing and counselor training, facilities and administration, and all of its camper programs.” In addition, ACA provides ongoing training and resources to our staff and community so that we maintain the highest quality and standards in camping.
Maine Summer Camps
Through its educational efforts and relationships across the state, Maine Summer Camps (MSC) supports meaningful developmental, educational, environmental, and recreational experiences for children. MSC has long been a pioneer in the field of youth camping, creating the first state camp licensing law in the country. The American Camping Association uses many of these original standards in its accreditation of youth camps.
Maine Camp Experience
As a proud member camp of the Maine Camp Experience, Hidden Valley is part of an exceptional community of premier camps. This collective is wholly dedicated to providing children and their families with the absolute highest quality summer camp experience. The owners and directors of MCE camps—including our own—are highly esteemed leaders, many of whom are the second or third generation in their families to shape the camp industry. Like the leadership at Hidden Valley, many of these leaders were once Maine campers and counselors themselves! We are thrilled to be united with this incredible group of camps under the MCE umbrella.
What Families Say
Ready for summer?
Complete your enrollment today and get your camper ready for an amazing summer experience.
