Slovenski Camps

children playing a field game

Slovenski Camps

A traditional camp experience in the beautiful Maine woods

Explore Our Camps

Camp Philosophy

Slovenski Camps are guided by the Liberal Arts traditions of Western Civilization. We believe in helping campers learn what we call the Liberal Arts for Children: swimming, dodgeball, capture the flag, singing, dancing, paddling, sailing, manners, thoughtfulness, reading classics, and cleaning up after ourselves. Summer camp should be a place free from the distraction of glowing screens. Campers will learn to have fun the way their parents and grandparents did — playing outside. They will engage in unique, exciting activities that teach real-life skills such as mental toughness, how to work alone and in teams, how to quickly adapt to new rules and conditions, and how to defend yourself with Battle Rockets and dodgeballs.

Our talented staff is trained to inspire fair play, good sportsmanship, bravery, and exercise. We play a lot of active games. We use exercise for fun, and exercise for consequences. Similar to an old school athletic team practice, our activities often include running, push-ups, or swinging a lap. Counselors, campers, and even camp directors participate in the active games and exercise. In the fun of competition campers will create new friendships.

A day at camp includes games, education, and exposure to the arts including classic literature, music, dance, and poetry. Campers hear and often learn to memorize poems such as "No Man is an Island" by John Donne, "If" by Rudyard Kipling, "The Happy Warrior" by William Wordsworth, and "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll. Camp also includes free time periods similar to the freedom children have during school recess or while playing with friends in the neighborhood.

Each evening concludes with a campfire that features contests, singing, dancing, recognition, stories, and encouragement for good standards of self-reliance and friendship that we remember from our Protestant Sunday school classes. "Thoughts for the Day" are read aloud at campfires each night, and include wisdom of the ages such as George Washington's "It is better to be alone than in bad company", and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" from Jesus in the Book of St. Matthew.

Children's Mental Health

Our summer camp program has been positive for childhood mental health. We stayed open all through summers 2020 and 2021. Our camp helps children enjoy childhood, while also learning a lot of things that are good for mental health. Learning activity skills and how to clean up after yourself are excellent elements of childhood self-confidence.

Our counselors coach campers in character development activities such as meeting new people, welcoming new people, overcoming challenges, dealing with the adversity of not getting what you want all the time, being brave (in a safe setting), embracing high standards of conduct, and learning the joys of self-reliance. Our program emphasizes mental toughness and grit.

Who We Are

The Slovenski Family has been in the summer camp business since 1987: "We love summer camp culture. We are excited to show your family what an incredible experience your children can have at our camp."

Headshot of Peter Slovenski

Peter Slovenski

Owner Peter Slovenski or "Coach" graduated from Dartmouth College in 1979 with a B.A. in English. He spent 34 years working as a college track coach. He has been running educational, fun, and safe camps for over 30 years.

Headshot of Dugan Slovenski

Dugan Slovenski

Owner and 'Camp Mom' Dugan graduated from Stanford University in 1980. She is the mother of three boys. She is "outnumbered, but not outsmarted". Most of her adult life she worked as a full-time Mom, and also taught math and SAT Prep.

Headshot of David Slovenski

David Slovenski

David Slovenski, Director, is a graduate of Princeton University where he broke the Ivy League Pole Vault record and ran the school dodgeball tournament. Dave coached track & field at RPI before teaching math, physics, and robotics at Choate Rosemary Hall and then Franklin Road Academy. When he's not at camp, Dave lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Ieva and sons Henry and Theodore. Henry was born right in a camp cabin in September of 2019.

Headshot of Mike Slovenski

Mike Slovenski

Mike Slovenski, Assistant Director, is a 2015 graduate of Harvard University. Mike studied The Classics with a minor in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He was a four-year member of the track and field team at Harvard, competing in the pole vault. He earned a Master of Science degree in Information Studies from the University of Texas in 2020.