PROGRAMS | TEEN PROGRAMS

Creative teen programs offering adventure and friendship

Hidden Valley Adventures

Wilderness adventures in Maine.

Participants challenge their physical abilities in a well-supervised, upbeat atmosphere and develop friendships, self-confidence and leadership skills in the process.

    • Wilderness Canoe Trips (Allagash & St. Croix Rivers)

    • Rock Climbing

    • Whitewater Rafting

    • Sea Kayaking

    • Mt. Biking in Acadia National Park

    • Hiking

    • Adventure-Ropes Course

  • Trip leaders are college-trained, experienced in outdoor adventures, and support the Hidden Valley philosophy of personal growth through group interaction.

    Leaders are professionally trained facilitators who possess relevant outdoor and safety certification, and enjoy work with this dynamic, energetic group of campers.

  • Please read the detailed packing list and important reminders here

Hidden Valley Alive

Hidden Valley Alive is our camp’s advanced teen arts summer program for Creative and Performing Arts.

The program cultivates emerging artists’ creative potential and provides opportunities to explore a variety of visual and performing arts at any level with our staff of professional artists.

Campers work on two main projects, a gallery for their visual artwork and an original music, dance and theater production.

    • Theater: acting, improv, play-writing, musical theater, experimental theater, comedy.

    • Art: drawing and painting, sculpture, stained glass, environmental art, pottery, glass blowing, etc.

    • Dance: jazz, modern, ballet, cultural dance, choreography, and contact improv.

    • Music: singing, song-writing, guitar, rock band.

    • Communication Arts: writing, poetry, photography, video, computer art.

  • The schedule includes many days filled with a variety of arts activities and other days with intensive performance or visual arts workshops.

    Trips to significant Maine art venues round out the experience.

    In the morning, students engage advanced arts activities. Afternoons find campers focussed on the group's concluding performance. This includes set design, writing, rehearsal, music practice, etc. Evenings may include a live performance outside of camp, a classic film presentation and discussion, talent shows, craft projects, or a final performance rehearsal.

    • Portland Shakespeare Company

    • Wyeth Gallery

    • Bates Dance Festival

    • Monmouth Theater Company

    • Maine Arts Festival

    • Rockport Chamber Music Concerts

    • Portland Museum of Art

    • Colby College Art Museum

    • Rock or Folk Concerts

    • Monhegan Island Artist Colony

Hidden Valley Community

Community service summer program, for campers ages 14-16 and who are committed to making a difference in their communities and their own lives.

Develop skills in self-sufficiency, leadership, and community service useful at home, in school and in any work related activity.

Community service credit available

  • The goal for Hidden Valley Community participants is to strengthen one’s capacity as a community member and become a better person at all levels of community life. The program also represents the camp’s understanding that Hidden Valley is not an island. Since 2003, our volunteers have led the camp’s efforts to share with its neighbors our rural community’s way of life.

  • MORNINGS
    Breakfast at the Blodgett House
    Chores and Workshops
    Community Service at Camp
    Lunch at the camp or on the road

    AFTERNOONS
    Assist in Hidden Valley classes, or
    Lead a special project for camp interest groups, or
    Work on a building or decorative project, or
    Volunteer outside of camp.
    Dinner at the Blodgett House or at camp

    EVENINGS
    Lead a Cabin Night program, or
    Sing, tell campfire stories, or
    Go on a special trip to a Maine performance or events.
    The month at HV Community concludes with a special trip to Canada, Campobello Island or Quebec.

    • Plant trees at Acadia National Park

    • Assist with an alternative energy project

    • Maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail

    • Construct a picnic area on conservation land

    • Help elderly farmers with chores

    • Care for cats and dogs at a nearby animal shelter

    • Maintain equipment at a volunteer fire department

    • Assist at a local arts festival

  • Live in The Blodgett House – an off-grid farmhouse visited by Teddy Roosevelt on his expeditions to Maine with 17 acres of woods and fields.

    Prepare your own meals or share them at the Hidden Valley Dining Hall, and spend time in three environments – your micro community, the camp, and the neighboring Maine towns.

Hidden Valley AWACs

Awaiting Work As Counselors. Gain counseling experience and teaching skills and become respected and beloved "older siblings" to HVC younger campers.

In order to become an AWAC one must be a former camper and complete application and interview process.

AWACs come to camp 2 days early and pay reduced tuition.

    • AWAC's live in cabins with the youngest campers and 2 to 4 adult staff. They assist with daily living, counseling, and adjustment issues, and occasionally supervise this group.

    • AWAC's assist in 2 or 3 classes daily in areas in which they feel comfortable. AWACs take 1 class daily, and spend 1 class period in a training class with the other AWACs and ARPs (Counselors who supervise the AWAC program).

    • Other AWAC responsibilities involve evening and lazy day event preparation and participation, mail sorting, dining hall supervision, etc.

  • AWACs come to camp 2 days early for training and group building.

    The group meets with key staff and directors on a daily basis for feedback, discussions of counseling issues, etc.

  • Applications for Summer 2025 are now closed. Applications for Summer 2026 will open on July 1st, 2025.

    Summer 2026 Application Schedule:
    October 24th - All Applications Due
    November 1st-15th - Phone Interviews
    December 1st - Decisions Made

    The application is a means for you to present a picture of yourself and what you can bring to the role of AWAC. Providing thoughtful and well-articulated answers will allow us to understand how you view the role and your interest in working with children.

  • Decisions are made using the same values and analysis that we employ to make our staff hiring decisions. We will consider applicants' applications and interviews as well as our knowledge of each individual as a member of the camp community.

    There is, as always, a great deal of interest in a small program. We will have approximately 8-10 positions to fill anticipate a greater number of applications. It is possible that we will not be able to find room for candidates of whom we are quite fond. The hiring process is one that is between Hidden Valley and the potential AWAC.

    All of our correspondence, including any conversations after decisions are made, will be with applicants only. Parents with questions: Please contact [email protected]

Hidden Valley Apprentices

An in-depth commitment in one of the camp’s major program areas. Our expectation is that, having spent time here as a camper, an apprentice will have gained some familiarity with one of HVC’s many outdoor or arts programs and spend their time learning more and teaching others. In this program, Apprentices develop their independence creatively and productively as a contributing member of the camp community.

  • In each of the many camp areas available, Apprentices learn from professional camp staff, arts instructors, etc. Additionally, each Apprentice works on a special, independent project during the day, an art installation or planning a camp event, for example.

    • A Sports Apprentice helped organize a local road race.

    • A Glass Arts Apprentice taught in our glass studios.

    • An Equestrian Apprentice made contribution is horse lessons, stable management, etc.

  • Apprentices live with two adult staff who oversee the program in a group-living environment where everyone can try their hand at cooking, organizing game nights and activities, and personalizing their individual and shared space.

    Counselors lead daily discussions with Apprentices, addressing teaching and learning issues and the struggles and rewards involved in the independent projects. The group also explores interesting corners of our rural area, attending local concerts and other events, and visiting local enterprises, such as organic farms and art galleries.

  • Apprentice candidates must have spent at least one summer at HVC and are encouraged to apply online.

What Families Say

  • Hidden Valley Adventures was the single most trying experience of my life. It is the hardest I have ever had to push myself, the strongest I have ever had to be, and the most fun I have ever had. I wholeheartedly believe that who I am today was greatly impacted by my HVA experience; I am stronger, more confident, and more outgoing.

    HVC Camper

  • Two years later and dispersed around the world, the friends I made that month are still my family. I would recommend HVA to anyone who is interested in a life-changing experience and the best month of their life

    HVC Parent

  • This program was a wonderful experience. In addition to gaining outdoorsmen skills, I had the opportunity to make very close friends, whom I speak to or email regularly. The activities in HVA were exciting, demanding and showed me I could master challenges which I never thought I could do. This was a life lesson which will help me with different types of challenges I may encounter throughout life.

    HVC Camper

  • We found Hidden Valley Alive to be a very supportive program which offered many opportunities for exploration of the arts. My daughter enjoyed the field trips to see various concerts and dance performances, as well as the arts activities at the camp. There was something for everyone's tastes!

    HVC Parent

  • Alive was so great for me, because it gave me a chance to find out what I could really do when given the opportunity. I got to be in the place where I love to be, and express myself through the arts every day.

    HVC Camper

  • As a practical matter, Daniel has a community service requirement at school and the Community program was a good way to earn a lot of hours over the summer. And he loved it. It was an opportunity to actually do things and not just sit in school and learn about things. He made good friends and worked with a lot of different people

    HVC Parent

  • Our 15-year old daughter went to camp liking community service and she returned in love with community service. In a world scarred by self-absorption and greed, HV Community teaches the pure joy of giving. Along the way, she helped plant 600 trees in Acadia National Park and tasted curry for the first time. The friendships she made are lasting and deep.

    HVC Parent

Ready for Summer?

Complete your enrollment today and get your camper ready for an amazing summer experience.