At Camp Esquagama, we believe kids need time to be kids – and that’s what we are best at helping them do! Youth have been creating memories and lasting friendships at Camp Esquagama for over 80 years. Located a few hours north of the Twin Cities and less than an hour from Duluth, our 40 acre summer camp on Lake Esquagama is the perfect place to spend the summer outdoors!
A note from our Camp Director:
Over the last 10 years of being part of the Camp Esquagama leadership team, I have seen thousands of smiling faces come in and out of out gates. Hundreds of new friendships and many many more memories that will last a lifetime. Each year we strive to make camp a little bit better and a little bit more special for our community. These last couple of years have been no different with program redevelopment, a stronger focus on relationship building, and activity skill training.
We truly believe that one week at camp can create an experience that lasts a lifetime. The skills you develop, the memories you make, and the friends you will still be talking too years later about that one time at Summer Camp. We can’t wait for Summer 2023 and to continue our mission in sharing with campers new and old the Camp Esquagama experience. Camp Esquagama is truly a place where a kid can spend time being a kid!
STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS!
- Registration is OPEN!!!
- Weekly Dance Themes & Summer Dates are OUT!!!
- Summer Staff Announcements through Social Media come May!!!
- AND MORE!!!
Check us out on Facebook & Instagram for weekly postings.
Share The Journey,
Robert Johnson
There’s never a dull moment at Camp Esquagama. Youth ages 4-17 can attend camp at any session mid-June through early August. Children and youth will then spend much of their week at camp participating in the same activities as other kids around the same age, so they can make friends fast.
Each camper is encouraged to try new activities, but if there is a particular skill a camper wishes work on, we can help them excel in a specific area. Our well trained and talented staff assists with waterfront, arts and crafts, archery, climbing wall and many other activities under the sun at camp.
Campers are organized into cabin groups by age. We do our best to honor friend requests when made in advance and the campers are in similar age groups. The majority of our campers come alone and make friends quickly.
The dining hall is more than a place for meals, it’s the time of day where all campers are able to gather in a common area and share their experiences with one another. We begin many of our meals with a camp song. Campers eat family style as a cabin group
Our kitchen offers a healthy yet tasty assortment of food options. Hot entrees every meal plus a fully loaded salad bar with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
We provide the nutrition necessary to energize campers for a full day of camp activity. Scheduled mealtimes are 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
If your child has any food allergies or dietary needs, please note these on their medical forms and we will do our best to accommodate. A phone call to the Camp Director well in advance of the camper’s session is also appreciated.
Campers gather around our bonfire by the waterfront amphitheater almost every night of camp. Of course, no camp fire experience would be complete without all of the essential ingredients for the perfect smores – YUM!
Each camper’s swimming ability will be evaluated upon arrival at camp. Swimming is a camp activity but swim lessons are not provided on site. Campers who aren’t able to pass the swim test can still have fun by our sandy waterfront and closed dock area that’s only 3 feet deep. The waterfront is always staffed with a Waterfront Director and several other alert lifeguards during all waterfront activity.
Once a day, the Camp Esquagama Canteen opens where campers can grab a snack to enjoy around the picnic tables with their cabin mates. On Friday the Camp Store will be open after the Closing Ceremony where additional items may be purchased. There is no money needed for the canteen as each camper can pick and choose up to three treats each day.
On the last day, Camp Esquagama has a closing ceremony, which parents and friends are invited. The program begins at 3:00 p.m. Parents will have an opportunity to visit the Canteen and to talk with staff, including the nurse and summer camp director. It’s a great way for all campers to get together for a final farewell – until next year of course!
