Camp Wyonegonic
Encyclopedia
Wyonegonic Camps for Girls, the oldest girls' camp in the United States
, is located in Denmark, Maine
, noted for its non-competitive atmosphere.
in 1896 but wanted to start a retreat in the Maine woods for young women. Starting from those first few summers of wool swim suits and bloomers, Cobb’s Wyonegonic expanded due to his entrepreneur
ial nature with land acquisitions that then supported a "Club Wyonegonic" on Moose Pond in Denmark, remote sites for older girls (the present day location of the camp), a hotel on the summit of Pleasant Mountain, an inn for parents in Denmark village, a working farm for dairy and vegetables, a tea room and a boys camp, Camp Winona, Wyonegonic's brother camp..
The camp ownership transferred to Cobb's son Roland Cobb in 1930 who at age 35 had spent each summer of his life at camp. The camp expanded into three separate camps for girls so that each age group could experience a small sized camp setting rolled into a larger overall administration system. Roland actively owned and directed the camp into the 1960s while also serving as the State Fish & Game Warden for decades.
In 1969, after five years of tutelage from the retiring Cobbs, George and Carol Sudduth purchased Wyonegonic. The Sudduth family has continued to run Wyonegonic since that time. George Sudduth died in August 1991. George and Carol's son, Steve, returned to camp in 1993 on a part-time basis and then in 1995, started to work year round. Today, Wyonegonic is run by the co-Directorship of Carol and Steve Sudduth.
Singing is a large part of camp spirit. Girls sing at night, in the Cobb Dining hall, and with counselors and at all times of day. Unit musicals are also put on during the summer by the campers.
Wyonegonic places emphasis on outdoor living skills and ecology
in an out of camp trip program in which all campers participate. Leave No Trace
principles are taught.
It is a great place for girls to be themselves!
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is located in Denmark, Maine
Denmark, Maine
Denmark is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,004 at the 2000 census. A number of recreationally-used ponds and lakes are located within the town.-History:...
, noted for its non-competitive atmosphere.
History
Wyonegonic was founded by organized camping pioneer Charles E. Cobb in 1902. Cobb had previously started a camp in nearby Parsonsfield, MaineParsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield...
in 1896 but wanted to start a retreat in the Maine woods for young women. Starting from those first few summers of wool swim suits and bloomers, Cobb’s Wyonegonic expanded due to his entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
ial nature with land acquisitions that then supported a "Club Wyonegonic" on Moose Pond in Denmark, remote sites for older girls (the present day location of the camp), a hotel on the summit of Pleasant Mountain, an inn for parents in Denmark village, a working farm for dairy and vegetables, a tea room and a boys camp, Camp Winona, Wyonegonic's brother camp..
The camp ownership transferred to Cobb's son Roland Cobb in 1930 who at age 35 had spent each summer of his life at camp. The camp expanded into three separate camps for girls so that each age group could experience a small sized camp setting rolled into a larger overall administration system. Roland actively owned and directed the camp into the 1960s while also serving as the State Fish & Game Warden for decades.
In 1969, after five years of tutelage from the retiring Cobbs, George and Carol Sudduth purchased Wyonegonic. The Sudduth family has continued to run Wyonegonic since that time. George Sudduth died in August 1991. George and Carol's son, Steve, returned to camp in 1993 on a part-time basis and then in 1995, started to work year round. Today, Wyonegonic is run by the co-Directorship of Carol and Steve Sudduth.
Activities
Wyonegonic offers 3½ and 7 week programs for girls between 8 and 18 years old. Its waterfront offers swimming, diving, canoeing, rowing, sailing, sail boarding, and water skiing. Other activities include horseback riding, tennis, archery, land sports, pottery, arts & crafts, theater, music and dance, wilderness camping on Moose Pond, single and multi-day hiking, backpacking, canoeing and sea kayaking. There are five daily instructional periods, and time for informal play. Wyonegonic is extremely traditional.Singing is a large part of camp spirit. Girls sing at night, in the Cobb Dining hall, and with counselors and at all times of day. Unit musicals are also put on during the summer by the campers.
Wyonegonic places emphasis on outdoor living skills and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
in an out of camp trip program in which all campers participate. Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
principles are taught.
It is a great place for girls to be themselves!