O-AT-KA brings together all different types of boys from all around the world
that all have different interests and these children will spend 2, 3, 4 or even 7 weeks
learning about themselves and each other. Each camper at O-AT-KA picks their own
craft schedule and many of our campers pick things that they may have never done
before. Some campers will find they have an inner talent for stained glass,
photography, or pottery, some may pick up a passion for lacrosse or tennis, while
others may develop a love for sailing or fishing. O-AT-KA allows children to explore
a wide variety of activities that many may have never tried before.

O-AT-KA encourages all of our campers to try something new and not be
afraid about trying these new crafts. In the end this is what makes O-AT-KA so
special. O-AT-KA brings together campers all with different talents and allows them
to thrive. In each cabin you might have the talented musician, playing a card game
with the talented athlete. The O-AT-KA experience allows those with different
interests to find their niche and be proud of those talents they possess.

O-AT-KA has a special place in all of our hearts and to see our campers come
back year after year, more confident in themselves and in their abilities, is the most
rewarding experiences all of our staff have. Parents have also shared with us over
the years the confidence their sons have has carried over to activities at home and at
school. All in all, O-AT-KA has had a positive effect on each and every one of us, and
we look forward for you and your son joining us on Lake Sebago soon!

-Chris Kohl

Come Celebrate 75 years of the JMG Program!

12 – 2pm, Rangeley, ME

Lobster and Steak Feast

Registration Information and details to follow!

http://mainecamps.org/junior-maine-guide/

Dear Guest,

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to visit Camp O-AT-KA’s web portal. We hope that your visit will give you a better sense of who we are and what we’re all about.

If you’ve been daydreaming about summer recently, you’re not alone. The O-AT-KA senior staff has actually been thinking about and planning for the summer 2012 season ever since last August, when the last camper departed. In January, we gathered in Boston for our annual retreat and for the Green and Grey Ball, and focused specifically on how we can make next summer O-AT-KA’s best one yet. We are very excited about what we’ve put together, and we hope that your son will be able to join us this year!

To date, nearly 90% of our counseling staff from 2011 is planning to return in 2012, and like last season, every single cabin counselor has previous O-AT-KA experience. These numbers are extraordinarily high for summer camping, and we are very proud of them, since they are representative of our strong, caring community. Last season, the cabin staff alone had 238 combined summers at O-AT-KA, and this unmatched level of experience
directly contributes to a high quality, safe experience for our campers. If you add in our senior staff of professional educators, that number grows to over 500 summers!

We are also incredibly proud of our diverse program, which in 2012 will offer thirty different crafts in four distinct areas, twenty wilderness trips, intercamp competitions in eleven sports, a multi-layered awards program, a wide variety of evening activities, green and grey intramurals, dances, special activities such as camper-counselor and theme days, and much more. Our program is structured to offer something for every boy, at every level of ability and interest level. It is geared not just towards safety and fun, but towards skill
development and progression as well. We are always eager to improve and expand our program offerings, and this coming year will include a SCUBA certification course, the return of Moxie Whitewater Rafting on the Kennebec River, a cabin Olympic theme in celebration of London 2012, and the Maine Adventure Program. This new program is a 2-week long hiking, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and climbing trip for boys ages 15-17, that will be led by veteran O-AT-KA staffer Bubba Brownley.

Finally, we are very proud of Reverend Dennen’s founding mission, which is building strong boys. Everything we do at O-AT-KA is centered on the Galahad values of helpfulness, obedience, truth, chivalry, and service. As our world becomes increasingly fast-paced, wired, and urbanized, we are happy to slow down a bit, unplug ourselves, experience the natural world in a picturesque setting, and build strong face-to-face relationships with others in our community. In 2012, in honor of Reverend Dennen’s vision, we will for the first time offer a community service theme day, which will allow us to live out Galahad values more fully as we carry them into the greater community.

While there are many excellent opportunities competing for your son’s attention this summer, we hope you agree that a summer experience at O-AT-KA is too valuable to pass up. It is not too late to enroll – you can apply online, download an application, or you may call us at (800) 818-8455. If you know other families that would benefit from an O-AT-KA experience, please pass this information along. Finally, we are very mindful of the
state of the economy, and that sending your son to camp might represent a significant sacrifice. If finances are a hurdle to your son attending camp, please let us know and we can see if we can come up with an arrangement that works.

O-AT-KA’s staff and fellow campers hope to welcome your son to our community this summer. Until then, best wishes for a strong finish to the academic year!

Sincerely,
Charles Donovan and Chris Kohl
2012 Co-Summer Camp Directors

18th Annual Spring Work Weekend (May 18-20)

As the result of Hurricane Irene there is tons of work to be done at this year’s work weekend. There are trees to be cut, wood to be split, brush to be chipped, leaves to be raked, mulch to be spread, many buildings to be painted, gardens to be weeded and planted, screens to be repaired, two major landscaping projects, trees to be planted, buildings need to be cleaned and lots of food to be cooked. This is a great opportunity to
volunteer, to reconnect with friends, and meet new friends. Last year more than 100 people attended part or all of work weekend. And fun was had by all! Come for the day or come for the weekend!

For more information and to signup, please fill out the following form: http://www.campoatka.com/forms/2012springworkweekend.pdf or click here.

On Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, MA, Camp O-AT-KA will be holding the 2012 Annual Green & Gray Ball, featuring music and dancing, Silent Auction, cash bar and hors d’oeuvres, coffee and desserts. All proceeds will benefit the Camp O-AT-KA campership fund. Click Here for more information and to RSVP.

Some boys would point to the courts, fields, and ranges. O-AT-KA’s intercamp teams achieved much success in 2011. The 15-and-under riflery team swept both matches against our sister camp Fleur-de-Lis for the first time in over 30 years, and reclaimed the coveted Wilkinson Trophy. O-AT-KA’s archers performed well in the Robin Hood Invitational (New England’s largest intercamp tournament), finishing first in the 12-and-under, second in the 15-and-under, and second overall. On Lake Sebago, O-AT-KA’s sailors captured first place in the O-AT-KA regatta for the first time since 1996, and earned honors at several others. In all, campers participated in 38 intercamp contests in 12 different sports.

Others might reference conquering a mountain, or enjoying the natural beauty of a waterfall. A robust Outdoor Skills program saw 21 different wilderness trips depart to locations all over Maine and New Hampshire. After a month of preparation, Josh McGovern successfully completed testing camp and became O-AT-KA’s newest Junior Maine Guide.

Still others would cite the spirited competition on Kings’ Day, which saw Green edge Grey by the narrowest of margins in the final event of the day. After King Brendan McCormick presided over a tasty medieval banquet on the shores of Lake Sebago, a highly popular jousting contest ended the festivities.

Some would undoubtedly mention the programs that made their debut in 2011. George Rothweiler and his team at Maine Divers offered Discover SCUBA to campers who wanted to see Lake Sebago from a slightly different perspective. In the Goff Center, Brian Rounds designed and offered two new crafts (Printing and Graphic Arts, and Studio Art Drawing), while Lynn Fox offered a two-period stained glass clinic to boys that wanted to focus on more advanced projects. Brian Petersen and his staff started up a two-period riflery clinic, which offered boys a chance to hone their skills more thoroughly. The chevron program was upgraded by an anonymous gift, which allowed us to replace the old two-color felt chevrons with more recognizable patches. In 2011, boys earned 575 chevrons in 34 different crafts.

Indeed, there were many things that made 2011 outstanding! And although winter is only beginning, we are already hard at work, planning to make the 2012 season even better! Already, over 70% of last year’s staff has signed up to return, including all of last year’s Senior Staff.

In addition to all of the great activities, trips, and crafts from 2011, 2012 will feature a return of the Kennebec Whitewater Rafting trip for Early Bird campers, as well as an expansion of SCUBA to include full certification in addition to the introductory Discover program. Many more great plans are in the works, so we look forward to seeing you again this summer! What will make the 2012 O-AT-KA season so special? You can only find out by joining us!

My first stop is usually Rocketry where I met with Dale Roussel. Though this was his first year heading up the Rocketry Program, he was ready and excited for the summer with great plans for the kids who took Rocketry. His passion for working with kids was evident right away when he wanted to streamline the process of selecting, working on and launching a rocket.

From Rocketry, I made my way into the Fly Tying Studio to chat with Roy Heller, Chaplain. Even though Camp doesn’t classify Fly Tying as part of the Art “department”, I love watching Roy plan and teach. He is so focused on the campers who have the chance to create something beautiful yet practical. Watching a fly tying lesson is truly a treat any time of the summer.
I next make my way into the Woodshop. Tom Salamone takes a moment to greet me and show me his plans for projects from Downeaster Boxes to Hand-Turned Pens. His studio is meticulously cleaned prior to camper arrival, and his prep work is evident in his smoothly run periods, watching kids construct a cutting board from start to finish is a highlight of my walk-throughs during the summer.

Moving along the decking, I make my way into the Stained Glass Studio. Lynn Fox and her staff take great care in preparing a lesson which includes safety and practicality. Watching Lynn work with each camper is like watching a master working with an apprentice. The projects start with simple glass cutting, foiling and soldering techniques. As the session rolls on, beautiful, faceted pieces of work begin to hang brilliantly in the studio windows. Lynn even teaches a Stained Glass Clinic which allows campers whom have taken the stained glass period before, a chance to create more complicated, intricate works
of art.

My last stop in my walk through is the Photography Studio. I check in with Nancy Martin and Mike Amato who work as a team to teach the many periods of Photography which are offered at Camp O-AT-KA. I usually walk in as they are mixing chemicals for use in the true art of photo developing. During the camp season, I try to sneak into the darkroom to watch Mike or Nancy in action where I get to watch true magic happen. Watching a camper’s face light up when their photo starts to appear on the paper is a memory I carry with me all year long.

One would figure that with all this talk about walking through these beautiful studios, I would be finished with my walk through; I am not. I then take a walk to Cabin Winchester where I would meet up with Peter Van Siclen or Carter Milliken. I would check in with them regarding their plans for Music and Steel Drums. During the summer sessions, I love walking by Cabin Winchester listening to some really great jam sessions with drums, guitar, saxophone, flute and violin. If that isn’t enough, if I wasn’t sure with the fantastic vistas that O-AT-KA provides that was in Maine, walking by during steel drums brings
me right to the Islands in the Caribbean.

Once finished at Cabin Winchester I make my way to the Great Hall to chat with Chase Armstrong. He has great plans for drama and plans on working on an original work that the kids create with his help.  He uses his knowledge of drama skills and his ability to make a great production come out of the minds of children to provide camp with a fantastic drama program.

I can’t leave behind the four activities that I instruct within the Goff Center. I usually start my planning in early spring so that I can take more time during staff week to work with the staff of the Goff Center for Arts.

In Arts and Crafts, I enjoy doing projects that will show kids that they can transform any object into art. For example, a cereal box can be a piñata or a simple drinking glass can become a candle. With papier mache and decoupage we make our own festive piñatas and candles followed by bracelet making and puzzle making.

New this past summer was Studio Art and Drawing which focused more on older campers who wanted to learn the basic skills of sketching and drawing. The campers in this craft started by learning perspective and shading by drawing a simple set up of boxes followed by doing a street scene which virtually disappeared right in front of your very eyes. A highlight of this particular craft was taking time to free draw out and about in camp. Campers would return with phenomenal drawings of chimneys, buildings and benches.

Also new this past summer was Printing and Graphic Arts which provided campers with a chance to learn more about value and saturation. Campers used three different methods of printing: torn-paper collage, linoleum block printing, and, their favorite, screen printing. First campers created a logo which would be used for all three projects. They then recreated the logo using each method, finishing with a screen printed t-shirt.

Across the decking, I teach Pottery. This past summer was first for O-AT-KA. I invited a local potter, Celia, to come and do a demonstration for a period of pottery. She answered questions and even showed some of her trade secrets. During the summer, I spend time in the pottery studio teaching campers how to make pinch pots, coil pots, slab pots, wheel thrown bowls and vases. The campers really look forward to using the 5 electric wheels that our studio boasts, they look forward even more to showing of their work during the Goff Open House at the end of each session.

As I sit watching the last of the leaves fall from the trees here in Maine, I look forward to getting back to O-AT-KA and working in the studios with the fantastic staff and campers of Camp. See you in 2012!

Camp O-AT-KA Maine Arts Programs Photos and Activities

Camp O-AT-KA provides boys from all over Maine, New England and even the world for a summer of fun and a lifetime of memories including a wide selection of activities and programs for all interests and skills levels.

Programs like swimming, sailing, outdoor sports and training clinics, wilderness trips, arts and music activities and much more!

See why over 100 hundred years of tradition and excellence have made Camp O-AT-KA the perfect place for any boy to spend his summer by reading more about our history.