Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manitou Experience?
Manitou Experience: Maine takes place at Camp Manitou, a residential boys camp in Oakland, Maine. It is about a 3 hour drive from Boston and 1 1/2 hours from Portland, ME.
Manitou Experience at Camp Whittle is about 2 hours east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino National Forest, just up the mountain from Big Bear Lake.
What is the relationship between Manitou Experience and Camp Manitou?
Manitou Experience: Maine takes place on the grounds of Camp Manitou after their 7 week summer program is finished and operates as a separate organization funded by Manitou Camps Foundation, a 501©(3). In 2012, Manitou Experience expanded to the west coast with an additional location at Camp Whittle.
Who works at Manitou Experience?
Our camp staff is a combination of seasoned camp professionals, licensed social workers, doctors, nurses, certified life guards, high school guidance counselors, teachers, coaches, college athletes, and many others who have a passion for camp and a desire to provide an amazing experience for our campers.
Do the staff have experience with bereavement counseling?
All of our counselors participate in a grief training program led by our licensed clinical social workers who specialize in grief work. A number of our volunteers have also experienced the loss of a parent or sibling personally and wish to share their journeys with our campers.
How do we get to camp?
On the east coast, we will provide a bus to and from various locations in the NorthEast (Newton, MA; Berlin, NH; Augusta, ME; Brunswick, ME). We will send travel details to enrolled campers in early summer.
West coast travel details have not been finalized, however a bus will be available from central locations in the Los Angeles area.
What activities do you offer at camp?
We’ve put together a selection of the best activities that a summer camp has to offer. We have land sports, (such as basketball, golf, baseball, archery, and rock climbing), water sports (such as sailing, swimming, and waterskiing), team building activities (such as a ropes course), arts & crafts, ice cream outings, and much, much more. We have integrated the camp program with bereavement activities and projects designed to help the boys express feelings, explore memories, build confidence, and find comfort in the presence of their peers.
How many campers will you have?
At Camp Manitou, for the summer of 2012, we will have 80 boys, grades 5-10. The program numbers and age range grow each year to allow the boys to continue coming back through their CIT years.
Manitou Experience at Camp Whittle will start with 30 boys, grades 5-7.
How much does it cost?
Manitou Experience is entirely free to campers, thanks to the generosity of our donors.
How do we apply?
Most of our referrals come from grief agencies, hospices, healthcare facilities and professionals. If you wish to apply or speak to someone about the program, please email us.
What is Jeff’s Place?
Jeff’s Place offers bimonthly open-ended peer support groups for children, ages 3-19, and their caregivers who are coping with the death of a loved one. All groups are facilitated by professionally trained volunteers and monitored by a masters prepared clinician who completes intake evaluations on each family. For more information, visit www.jeffsplacemetrowest.org.