Frequently Asked Questions
How strenuous are the hikes?
Each weekly hike leader offers a hike each day except Wednesday and Saturday. Echo Lake Camp uses the AMC the rating scale for Youth (14 and under) and Family Hiking activities shown in the following table when rating the hikes:
Youth and Family Hiking Activity Level | Moving Time: Up to __ hours | Distance Up to __ miles | Elevation gain/loss Up to __ feet |
Relaxed | 2 | 2 | 250' |
Easy | 3 | 3 | 500' |
Moderate | 4 | 5 | 1000' |
Vigorous | 6 | 8 | 2000' |
Strenuous | 6+ | 10+ | 2000'+ |
Each week leaders gauge the interest of the week's campers in selecting which hikes to offer. Hikes could range from Relaxed to Strenuous, however, they typically are in the Relaxed to Moderate rating range, with hikers returning to Camp for lunch in the dining hall on most days. In addition, on each hiking day, the week's naturalist offers a nature walk. These are slow-paced and are characterized by frequent stops to discuss the flora and fauna. The nature walks are most suitable for campers who desire shorter, flatter, more leisurely walks.
Can I bring my young children to Echo Lake Camp?
Echo Lake Camp's location on the lake makes it unsuitable for children less than four years old. Children that are at least four years old are welcome at camp. Note that the lake borders the camp, and the waterfront does not have lifeguards. Families are solely responsible for the supervision of their children.Are there programs specifically for children?
There is lots for children to do at Echo Lake Camp. In addition to the hikes and nature walks offered most days, swimming, paddling, and sailing are available. Echo Lake Camp also offers the National Park Service's Junior Naturalist Program which encourages children up to age twelve to learn more about Acadia and its natural environment. Children may partake in all aspects of camp life, enjoying games and activities in the rec hall, participating in the many tournaments organized by the Evening Leader, and performing in the talent show on Friday night. In addition, Acadia National Park sponsors numerous child-oriented programs (see https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/forkids.htm).What do we do on rainy days?
Rainy days move at a slower pace and can be a welcome respite from more vigorous camp days. There are usually hikes offered on rainy days on one or more of the island's many carriage roads or on trails through beautiful dense forests. On rainy days, the Dining Room may be made available for games and informal gatherings between meals. The rec hall and library are always available for games and quiet reading. There are often fires going in all three of these buildings' fireplaces. Mt. Desert Island has many attractions perfect for rainy weather. Camp staff can help campers find excellent activities to occupy them on the occasional rainy day.What is the cell phone coverage and internet access at camp?
Echo Lake Camp provides a wonderful opportunity to unwind, disconnect from your electronics, and relax. Camp has limited Wi-Fi near the camp office. Feel free to check your email and the weather, but the service is not sufficient for gaming or streaming movies. For more demanding internet needs the Southwest Harbor Library (2.6 miles from camp) has free Wi-Fi. It is left on 24/7 so it can be accessed from the library parking lot even when the library is closed. The camp has a USB charging station in the foyer or the dining hall.
Cell phone coverage at camp is spotty. Camp is in a ravine between two mountains which limits cell phone coverage. Access up the driveway is often better than around camp.
If you do use your cell phone or internet at camp, please be considerate of those campers who have come to be disconnected from the electronic world.
Describe the shower and bathroom facilities
The camp has a large bathroom and bathing facility, "The Ritz", near the parking lot. "The Hilton" has men's and women's restrooms along Main Street. The Ritz is accessible and offers women's and men's restrooms, four private showers with changing areas, plus an accessible gender-neutral bathroom with an accessible bathtub. There is plenty of hot water available, but guests are encouraged to avoid late afternoon to minimize wait times.Describe the sleeping arrangements
Sleeping arrangements consist of platform tents equipped with cots, mattresses, and pillows. The tents can house from two to five people depending on size. Each tent also contains a bedside table, wooden chairs, and a wastebasket for campers' convenience. For those in need of them, bed boards are available to increase the firmness of the mattresses. Linens and blankets are provided although some campers choose to bring their own sleeping bag or comforter for extra warmth on cool nights, especially early and late in the season.Can I bring alcohol to camp?
Alcohol is allowed in the camp, but guests are asked to confine "happy hours" to the vicinity of their tents unless otherwise announced.Can Echo Lake's kitchen accommodate special diets?
Echo Lake Camp meals consist of wholesome, abundant family-style food. Vegetarian alternatives are available at each meal, as is fresh fruit. Salads are included with lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, because of kitchen limitations, the camp is not able to accommodate special diets.What are some of Echo Lake's traditions?
Echo Lake Camp has traditions that have been included in the camp experience year after year. One of these is the Banathlon, a multi-activity relay race in which a banana baton is passed between fast-walking, canoeing, and swimming team members and then eaten. Another tradition is the Friday night talent show- a chance for children and adults to strut their stuff and show the world their talents. On Tuesday evenings there is a Maine lobster bake and on Thursday evenings a mussels picnic. Each year presents the opportunity to continue past traditions and to establish new ones. Campers are encouraged to share their traditions with the camp.What should I bring to camp?
A list of items to bring is included in your acceptance letter in the spring. The following few items may help to make your stay a little more comfortable.- Extra pillows if desired (the camp supplies one per person)
- Items for talent night depending on your talent (recorded music, instruments, skit scripts)
- Presentations of interesting trips or experiences to share with other campers
- Metal containers to store food and snacks in (the chipmunks and red squirrels can be very persistent and have eaten through many a backpack)
- Binoculars, cameras, personal hiking equipment, etc.
- Folding chairs for outside your tent
- Towels (both bath and beach) and washcloths
- First aid supplies including insect repellant and sun block
- All those books you have not had time to read during the winter
How accessible is Echo Lake Camp?
The camp is built on natural terrain that includes hills and many areas can be difficult to access. However, the camp has worked to provide some accessibility options. "The Point", which is downhill of the parking lot, is relatively flat and there are two tents with ramps to them. "The Ritz", the bathroom and shower facility on The Point, includes an accessible gender-neutral bathroom with an accessible bathtub, and both the women's and men's bathrooms have an accessible stall in them. And the dining hall, which is nearly level with the parking lot, has an accessible entrance off a stone-paved path.How are Tents Assigned?
In general, the limiting factor for camp attendance is space in the dining hall. Getting a reservation at camp is on a first come first served basis. But tent assignment is done just before each week of camp starts and is based on many criteria. For example, families of 5 with young children get priority for the 3 five-person tents at camp. There are a few tents with electricity for people who need to run night-time electronic equipment such as CPAPs. Some tents provide level ground access to the bath house and dining hall. A couple tents are handicapped accessible. Many people travel with friends and request placement near their friends. Some people want to be near the bathrooms, while others want to be far from them. The tent assignment process is a giant puzzle where we try to meet as many of our guests desires as possible.
Tents assignments are made just a few days prior to camp to accommodate any last-minute registration changes. You will learn about your assignments when you arrive at camp.
All of the tent locations are very nice. However, the tents along "the bluffs" are most popular. If you ask for one of these and do not get one, please be understanding.
We strive to give solo campers their own 2-person tent. It can become a problem if a week has a large number of solo campers. In this case we may have to ask if any solo camper would be willing to share with another solo camper, or with other friends or family already at camp. If this situation occurs, we will contact you before finalizing your tent assignment.
Contact Us
Camp ManagersAMC Echo Lake Camp
PO Box 219
Mt. Desert, ME 04660
207-244-3747
ELCManagers@outdoors.org