Combining rich in-camp activities with a robust canoeing & hiking program for boys age 8-16.
Founded in 1910, Keewaydin Dunmore is one of the oldest and most respected names in summer camping.
Established in 1910, Keewaydin Dunmore is one of the most venerable camps in the country and has long been at the forefront of the American camping movement. Located on the north end of beautiful Lake Dunmore, in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Keewaydin Dunmore combines a rich in-camp activity program with the adventure of an extensive trip program to provide a summer camp experience unlike any other!
Boys ages 8-16 return year after year for the magic of a Keewaydin summer. Camp truly becomes a home away from home. Our campers come from over two dozen states and various foreign countries. They represent different religions, races, cultural backgrounds, and socio-economic backgrounds. Each camper is valued for who he is and the unique individual contribution he makes to the camp community as a whole.
Nothing is more important to running a successful camp than having an outstanding staff. Keewaydin prides itself on the quality and commitment of its staff! Mature, caring, talented and fun-loving, they are dedicated to providing the best possible summer for our campers.
The camp director is Pete Hare, who has been at the helm since 2001. In addition to his years of leadership on staff at camp before becoming director, he has a strong educational background, having taught, advised and coached at the middle and high school levels for 19 years. Pete grew up at camp, where his father, Waboos, was co-owner from 1946 to 1982 and Director until 2000. He revels in his role as Director and leads with vision and positive energy. Pete’s family is also a very active part of the camp community. His wife, Diane, also a lifelong teacher, heads the tutoring program and directs the camp chorus, while their daughter, Jenn, is the associate director at Songadeewin. Their son, James, was on the Keewaydin staff for nine summers and other daughter, Ali, was on the Songa staff for six summers.
Each of the four “Groves,” or age groups, has its own director. These Grove directors make up the leadership team. Grove directors are especially experienced staff who have this leadership role. They have a combined experience of well over 50 years of working at Keewaydin, and are all teachers during the rest of the year.
Keewaydin is proud of our thorough staff training program which focuses on how to effectively and appropriately work with children and how to make camp safe. Staff training for new staff lasts for two weeks and includes a full week learning how to lead Keewaydin trips and a two-day Wilderness First Aid course. The entire staff attends one week of staff training, which includes leadership training sessions, waterfront safety drills, CPR training, camp policies and procedures, as well as plenty of time spent reviewing information forms submitted by parents about their children.
Guest speakers at staff training are often child psychologists and specialists, including Dr. Michael Thompson, child psychologist and author of Raising Cain and Homesick and Happy.
The inspiration for Keewaydin is the same now as it was when it began: to provide boys with summers filled with fun, friendship, adventure and challenges through our diverse in-camp activity program, our wilderness trips and simple living in the beautiful outdoors.
While we provide boys with new experiences that allow them to develop self-confidence, maturity and character, we never forget that a constant of camping days is to have fun. In addition to the many great activities and trips that we offer, we structure plenty of supervised free-time into each day so kids can relax and pursue individual interests: playing Frisbee on the ball field, swimming in Lake Dunmore, catching frogs in the lagoon, fishing off the dock, or simply reading a book!
We live by our camp motto “Help the Other Fellow.” Out on trips and back at camp, we adhere to the philosophy of “Leave Your Campsite Better Than You Found It.”
Throughout the summer, we emphasize the values of the candles we light at the end-of-season Candlelight Ceremony: honesty, loyalty, responsibility, enthusiasm, kindness, perseverance, courage, friendship, initiative, thoughtfulness, commitment and leadership.
The camp is divided into four age groups, each with their own living areas, called “Groves.” Keewaydin’s campus includes over 1000 yards of shoreline on Lake Dumore, and each Grove has its own waterfront. Activities and trips are done primarily by Grove, however the entire camp eats together in a central dining hall, and there are many events and activities that we do together as a camp.
Annwi is for our youngest campers, 8-10 year-olds. These campers go on two to four-day overnight hiking or canoeing trips.
Waramaug is for 10 to 12-year-olds. These campers go on two to four-day overnight hiking or canoeing trips.
Wiantinaug is for 12 14-year-olds. These campers go on two to four-day overnight hiking or canoeing trips.
Moosalamoo is for 14 to 16-year-olds. Called the “tripping Grove,” these campers get to do 10 to17-day hiking and canoeing trips.
Some 16 to 17 year-olds return to Keewaydin for a special wilderness canoe trip. These campers come to camp for three days of trip preparation and training and then head north to Quebec, Canada for a four-week canoeing adventure.
The Keewaydin Foundation acknowledges that our organization and camp programs are based on the traditional territories of the Western Abenaki and the Teme-Augama Anishinabai. We respect their past, present, and future generations, the land, and their traditions. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather, learn, and travel on these lands and waterways.
You can learn more about the Vermont Abenaki here and more about Temagami First Nation here.
Keewaydin Dunmore staff are among the most engaging, creative, thoughtful, and fun-loving people. The staff are an inspiration, and are one of the key ingredients in the Keewaydin magic that changes lives. There are many roles at camp, and many ways to be involved in a summer at camp. For more information, please visit our employment page.
A summer at Keewaydin Dunmore is a wonderful mixture of engaging in-camp activities and overnight hiking or canoeing trips that provides a well-rounded experience. The staff are creative, smart, engaging, and caring role models whose goal it is to not only give the campers a dynamic and fun summer, but also to foster personal growth, build character and self-confidence, and provide belonging in a community.
Camp is a warm, nurturing and happy place with a balance of structure and free time. Most campers live in groups of four with one staffman (counselor) in canvas tents, while older campers have cabins. Here is what a typical Keewaydin day looks like!
The day begins with the sound of the “gong,” a large piece of railroad serving as the camp alarm clock. Dips in the lake are offered before breakfast at 8:00a.m. After breakfast, it’s off to formation (flag raising) and then back to tents and cabins to straighten up (“inspection”). After inspection, campers get to choose their activity for the morning from among six to ten choices. When activity period is over, we offer an hour of free time before lunch. During this period we always offer “free swim,” a time when boys can frolic in the swim area under the careful supervision of our lifeguards. Most boys swim at every opportunity in the clear waters of Lake Dunmore!
Lunch is served at 12:30 and followed by “rest hour.” After rest hour, campers choose another activity for the afternoon. Once again, at the end of activity period there is an hour of free time before dinner, when campers can join free swim or pursue other interests.
Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m. After dinner we frequently sing camp songs in the dining hall before heading out for evening formation (flag lowering). Boys then enjoy a bit of free time before heading to an organized evening activity for each individual grove or the entire camp. Staffmen wind down the evening by reading to the boys in their tent. The “good night song” and lights out occur at approximately 9:15 to 9:30 p.m.
In addition to the many great activities, we structure plenty of supervised free-time into each day so that kids can relax and “be a boy”: playing “Can Jam,” swimming in Lake Dunmore, practicing juggling, checking up on the terrarium in the Bug House, fishing off the dock, shooting “hoops,” or simply reading a book
On the shores of Lake Dunmore, at the foot of Mt. Moosalamoo, our location is ideal for swimming, boating, hiking, and exploring the natural world. The campus also has fields and courts to support a wonderful variety of activities, taught by a well trained staff. The “coup system” encourages campers to not only choose what activity they would like to do on any given day, but also teaches them to set goals, plan ahead and be responsible. Activities are designed to be just as much about having fun as they are about learning new skills.
Our robust tripping program is integral to the unique Keewaydin summer experience. Every camper at Keewaydin Dunmore gets to take a camping trip each month, either canoeing or hiking, depending on interest and skills. While the entire experience of going away to camp engenders self-confidence, it is on these extended camping trips that boys gain a special sense of strength. Above all, they learn to be more independent and self-reliant, on the one hand, and interdependent or group-oriented, on the other. The camp’s motto of “Help the Other Fellow” is never more evident than on trip.
Campers leave campus for their trips excited by the challenges ahead–canoes to paddle, mountains to climb, tents to pitch, fires to build, meals to cook–and, despite wind, rain, or whatever else nature offers, they learn to meet these challenges with their own bodies and minds. The joy and pride on their faces when they return from their trip is partly from days of fun and adventure, but also from internal growth and maturation gained from the challenges of life on trip. The staff are highly trained and experienced leaders, who help them navigate the land and water, as well as the challenges they provide.
Campers leave campus for their trips excited by the challenges ahead–canoes to paddle, mountains to climb, tents to pitch, fires to build, meals to cook–and, despite wind, rain, or whatever else nature offers, they learn to meet these challenges with their own bodies and minds. The joy and pride on their faces when they return from their trip is partly from days of fun and adventure, but also from internal growth and maturation gained from the challenges of life on trip. The staff are highly trained and experienced leaders, who help them navigate the land and water, as well as the challenges they provide.
The youngest campers go on trips that last two to four days, primarily in Vermont State Parks and the Green Mountain National Forest. The middle age-groups go on trips ranging from three to seven days in the Adirondacks of New York and the lakes and rivers in New Hampshire and Maine.
Moosalamoo is the grove for the oldest campers, is known as the “tripping grove.” Moos trips, typically ten days in length, travel through rugged territories of northern New England and remote rivers of Quebec, Canada. The most experienced campers go on a seventeen-day canoe trip in the Verendrye Wildlife Preserve in Quebec.
Campers aged sixteen and seventeen are eligible for Keewaydin’s Wilderness Trip Program. In this program, boys come to camp for three days of trip preparation and training and then head north to Quebec, Canada for a four-week canoeing adventure in native Cree territory. Most of the trip takes place on rivers where campers have the opportunity to expand upon their whitewater skills. On these trips boys experience a unique expedition lifestyle and often visit First Nation settlements. The Wilderness Trip includes a leadership development component. Upon their return, Wilderness trippers may stay at camp for two days to work with the younger campers under the direction of a grove director. Combining this leadership training component with their canoe tripping experience leads many wilderness trippers to become future valued staff, steeped in the ways of Keewaydin camping which they pass down to the next generation of campers.
Our food service works with us to ensure mealtimes always include fresh, healthy, and nutritious food. Good food nurtures both the body and the spirit, and mealtimes are a highlight of the day.
Breakfast always includes hot cereal, cold cereal, and a fruit and yogurt bar, and main dish such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, or French toast. There are lots of options to ensure everyone starts out the day with a hearty breakfast.
Lunchtime favorites include chicken patties, tacos, deli sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches. Vegetarian options are always available, and lunch includes an extensive salad bar with fresh local vegetables and fruit.
Dinners feature dishes such as roast chicken, chili, roast beef, spaghetti, pizza and pulled pork, always with a vegetarian option available. A robust salad bar accompanies dinner, with vegetables from an organic farm 15 minutes from camp. Fresh local produce is incorporated into as many of the meals as possible.
Every Thursday night we have a cookout with hamburgers, hotdogs, and many other delicious options. It is a highlight of each week! There are also special meals throughout the summer, such as the Fourth of July cookout and the end-of-summer Banquet which are highly anticipated by all.
At the heart of Keewaydin’s philosophy towards activities is the “coup system” and the idea of “planned freedom.” It is possible to earn several coups in any activity. If a camper earns a certain number of coups in a variety of different activities, he wins a “Coup K,” a special felt “K” with the Keewaydin moose emblem on it.
The purpose of the coup system is two-fold. First, it encourages campers to plan their summer so they have a well-rounded experience. Second, it provides challenge to campers: Earning a coup represents commitment and mastery of skills and knowledge. We believe that the coup system and the philosophy of planned freedom not only provide a healthy challenge for boys, but also help them become more responsible, self-confident and independent.
There are many special events and ceremonies throughout the summer which offer a change from the typical camp routine and add to the depth of the Keewaydin experience. Returning campers, in particular, look forward to traditions such as the Fourth of July Cookout, the Carnival, Old-Timer’s Day, the end-of-summer Banquet and the Candlelight Ceremony. These events and ceremonies ground us in our sense of place, build solidarity and belonging throughout the camp community, reinforce the positive values and ethos of the camp, and connect us to honored traditions and history.
Throughout the summer, we talk emphasize 12 important character traits that we value at Keewaydin. At The Candlelight Ceremony on the last night of camp, we light 12 candles to represent each of these character traits. We include this in our closing ceremony to remind us of the importance of values we live by which connect us as a community while at camp and during the rest of the year—’til we meet again. The candles represent the following values:
Current parents can log in for access to current photos from camp as they become available! Photos of past seasons are also available without a login here.
Enroll your camper now to reserve a spot for next summer. Join Keewaydin’s legacy of tradition and excellence in camping and youth development, now in its second century.
Keewaydin Dunmore is a summer camp for boys. In order to attend, boys must be physically and emotionally prepared to fully participate in the program. Keewaydin Dunmore serves boys who meet the criteria for admission regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or transgender or non-binary status.
Camp sessions are four weeks and eight weeks, with a limited two-week option for new campers age 8-10. The fee structure encourages the full eight-week program, as we believe that campers get the best experience through a full summer season at camp.
June 22-August 16: $11,800
June 22-July 20: $9,125
July 20-August 16: $9,125
For new 8-10 year-olds only – limited availability
June 22-July 5 – $5,575
July 20-August 2 – $5,575
Wilderness campers only, 5 weeks for ages 16-18. Contact the camp director for more information at pete@keewaydin.org or (802) 352-4770
June 22-July 30 – $10,250
Camp sessions are four weeks and eight weeks, with a limited two-week option for new campers age 8-10. The fee structure encourages the full eight-week program, as we believe that campers get the best experience through a full summer season at camp.
June 28-August 22: $12,200
June 28-July 26: $9,400
July 26-August 22: $9,400
For new 8-10 year-olds only – limited availability
June 28-July 11 – $5,750
July 26-August 8 – $5,750
Wilderness campers only, 5 weeks for ages 16-18. Contact the camp director for more information at pete@keewaydin.org or (802) 352-4770
June 28-August 6 – $10,575
The Keewaydin Foundation is committed to making the life changing experience of our camps possible and accessible for campers from all backgrounds and partnering with families into the future so their child can attend camp for summers to come. Once we award scholarships, campers are eligible to return with scholarship aid for the duration of their camp career. Financial aid is available to families of a range of income levels.
In 2024, 141 campers enrolled in our three camps — Keewaydin Dunmore, Songadeewin, and Keewaydin Temagami — received over $987,000 in financial aid, which represented over 20% of our total camper population. Scholarship awards range from $1000 to full financial support. We aim to make it possible for children to enjoy the wonders of summer camp, canoe trips, and meet kids from all over the U.S. and world.
Our ability to provide aid to new campers depends on the needs of the family and the available funding after we have provided for our returning scholarship campers. Let’s begin this process; we are eager to welcome you into our camp communities!
How to apply
Timeline & Scholarship decisions
Please contact the Keewaydin Dunmore director, Pete Hare (pete@keewaydin.org) if you have any questions about scholarship opportunities at Keewaydin Dunmore.
Join the directors and other families for an information session about the Keewaydin Dunmore summer experience. It is a great chance to learn more about the camp, ask questions, and meet other Keewaydin families.
TBD
Please check back in the fall when dates are posted!
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Please check back in the fall when dates are posted!
TBD
Please check back in the fall when dates are posted!
TBD
Please check back in the fall when dates are posted!
Please email Director Pete Hare (pete@keewaydin.org) for more information, to attend, or to inquire about hosting an event in your area!
Parents’ Mid-Season visiting weekend takes place on July 19 and 20. Parents are welcome on campus Saturday, July 19 from 9:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 20 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. There will be an outdoor picnic lunch and outdoor BBQ dinner on Saturday that parents are welcome to attend. More details will be sent to parents prior to camp!
The well-being and safety of campers is our highest priority. Keewaydin has mature, responsible and well-trained staff. Staff hold current Wilderness First Aid, CPR and Small Craft Safety certifications; we also have over 20 lifeguards on the staff. Each year we also invite an expert on camping and children, often a psychologist, to conduct sessions with our staff. Our consulting psychologist, Michael Thompson, works with the staff each summer.
Campers’ health is monitored and maintained by a consulting physician and resident camp nurses. We have two nurses in residence all summer and our consulting physician’s office is 15 minutes from camp. All campers are checked in at the Health Center on the first day of camp.
The McPhee Dispensary (our health center) is fully equipped for basic first aid and is a quiet, comfortable space for campers who need to spend a day or night there. Camper medication, whether prescribed by a doctor at home or by the camp physician, is kept in the McPhee Dispensary and is administered by the nurses. Access to emergency medical care is 15 minutes away at Porter Hospital in Middlebury.
Staff supervise campers’ personal hygiene, including basic hand-washing before meals, teeth-brushing, and showers several times a week. Shower facilities for campers have hot water and private shower stalls. Camp water comes from a well on campus and is state tested each year.
Here are some of the common questions parents and campers have. If you have any other questions, or would like more information pertaining to any of the questions below, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Yes, Keewaydin Dunmore is accredited by the American Camping Association. The camp must comply with extensive standards in program, personnel, administration and facilities to be accredited.
Keewaydin Dunmore accepts all children who can participate in and benefit from the full program offered by the camps, regardless of race, color, religion or national origin or transgender or non-binary status.
No, the camp is totally non-sectarian and unaffiliated, though we do have an all-camp gathering, called Sunday Circle, held outdoors by Lake Dunmore. At Sunday Circle, campers and staff prepare readings, reflections and songs related to a theme, often about values such as friendship, sharing, teamwork, courage and appreciation of nature. We have a camp choir, consisting of campers and staff, which always performs at Sunday Circle. Frequently, campers play instruments at this gathering.
Yes, financial aid is provided to campers and families who would not otherwise be able to afford the full tuition. Most aid is partial. For further information about financial aid please contact pete@keewaydin.org.
Laundry is done weekly at Dunmore and is included in the overall fee. Campers can either bring their own sheets, towels and blankets or lease camp bedding for the summer at a nominal charge.
Academic tutoring is available in reading, writing, Spanish, math and other subjects based on available staff at camp. Tutoring is provided for required summer work, or as remedial help. Families must supply any materials needed for tutoring sessions. To discuss availability and fee structure contact pete@keewaydin.org.
Parents may visit campus for Parents’ Weekend during Mid-Season. Learn more about Parents’ Weekend.
Yes, there are canoe trips and hiking trips for all ages of varying length. The youngest campers take a three-night trip and the oldest spend 17 days in the Canadian Provincial Parks.
Personal equipment such as sleeping bags, sleeping pads, waterproof bags and personal water bottles must be brought by each camper. Tents, backpacks, ground cloths, and cooking equipment are provided by the camp. You will find a list of equipment needed here.
Keewaydin works with CampMeds which provides pre-packaged medication for campers. Please refer to CampMeds’ FAQ for questions concerning medication.
Tent and cabin assignments are made just prior to the opening of camp. Summer camp is an opportunity to forge new friendships and hence we discourage housing hometown friends together. Camp needs the discretion to pair campers of like age and physical development with appropriate staff.
We strongly encourage communication by regular, “old fashioned” letters and postcards. Campers love getting mail delivered and it helps them develop the habit of writing to parents and friends. To write your camper, please use the following address: Keewaydin Dunmore, Attn: Camper Name, 10 Keewaydin Rd, Salisbury, VT 05769. Campers do not have access to computers to correspond by email. You may email your child at camp using daria@keewaydin.org and putting your child’s name and Grove in the subject line. We will print your email and deliver it to your camper when mail is delivered each day. Phone calls are discouraged in general. However, we do allow brief parent phone calls after the first two weeks. We ask that you limit the conversation to five minutes, and no more often than once a week. The times when a camper is near a phone are mealtimes – see the parent manual for more details. It is important to note our no phone call policy during the first two weeks of a camper’s stay.
Current, registered parents can access their Keewaydin CampMinder account by clicking the link below. Update your family information, fill out camp forms, and have access to important camp resources.
Keewaydin does not require a camp uniform. Here are a few tips, but be sure to consult the full Dunmore Clothing Checklist before packing for camp!
Rugged outdoor clothes are the general rule. Typically boys like to wear t-shirts and shorts. But you’ll want some comfortable and durable long pants and long sleeve shirts as well for exploring.
Living in the outdoors, a camper needs to have clothing appropriate for temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to 90 degrees. It is important to have a good raincoat and good, warm jacket (e.g. fleece or wool).
It is also important to have enough shoes and proper footwear: a good pair of sneakers, an old pair of sneakers (for “wet loaders”), a second pair of sturdy sneakers or trail shoes, and a water shoe such as Crocs (not flip-flops!).
Each camper needs to have personal camping gear such as a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, waterproof dry bag and personal water bottles. Keewaydin provides equipment such as tents, backpacks, ground cloths, and cooking equipment.
It has long been a tradition to maintain a place for the campers that is simple, rustic and close to nature. One of the aspects of camp that campers, staff and parents most appreciate about Keewaydin is the opportunity to “unplug” from technology! Keewaydin is a tech free environment: no cell phones, mobile devices, computers, etc.!
Cameras (as long as they are not part of a phone or other wifi or cellular device) are permitted.
The camp store offers a variety of Keewaydin t-shirts, fleeces, vests and sweats during the camp sessions. A limited selection of items may be purchased from the online store in advance of camp.
Go to the CampMinder website to fill out important information about your child. In addition to asking for health-related information, the CampMinder form now asks for information previously collected on the General Form and Parent Information Sheet. Please submit the CampMinder form as soon as possible, but no later than May 15. Thank you!
Keewaydin Dunmore is located on the north end of Lake Dunmore in Salisbury, VT, 10 miles south of Middlebury, 200 miles northwest of Boston and 275 miles north of New York City. There is Amtrak train service to Rutland, 45 minutes to the south, and Middlebury, 15 minutes to the north.
Campers generally get to camp three ways:
Drop Off: Many campers are dropped off at camp, you can drive directly to the campus.
Bus: Camp provides chartered bus transportation from New York City, chaperoned by staff, at the beginning and end of the camp season.
Fly: Burlington is an hour from camp and offers direct and connecting flights anywhere. The camp will provide transportation to and from the Burlington airport for those campers who fly.
