A Summer of Fun: Celebrating Camp Souhegan 2026

Alex Craven
16 hours ago
10 min read

The days are getting shorter, the mornings are getting cooler, and although it is hard to fathom, we are saying bye-for-now to Camp Souhegan! Our 2026 program was chock-full of excitement and activity, sunshine and rain, and creativity and innovation. Camp flew by at an alarming speed this season, largely due to the kids bringing the energy, and our staff bringing the heart to match! As the thoughts of pencils and school buses start to creep into our head, we hope this synopsis of Camp Souhegan 2026 can help you hang on to that last glimmer of summertime!

Week 1: Color Wars!

At 6:57 AM, a swarm of eager campers form a line at the front door like a school of fish. The nerves of week one dominate the morning for many, but our counselors have a way of making these kiddos feel seen, while also providing the perfect distractions. Our first-time campers struggle to let go as they get ushered into the building and to their new locker, while our returners opt for a quick side hug and “see ya later!” as they rush in to search for their favorite counselor. Day one is always a favorite of mine -- it is a day of transition. A long school year culminates in a huge shift from work to play, and the summer camp culture starts to take over. Our members take a break from the notebooks and the desks, and they start to learn in a variety of valuable but completely different ways. Learning through play emphasizes relationship building, parallel participation, conflict resolution and more. We highlight these values by building week one around teamwork. As each age group starts to assimilate into our Camp, they are instructed to rep their team color on Wednesday. What starts as a cookie-cutter way to promote unity and group pride immediately turns into a cutthroat competition promoting culture and pride in the healthiest way imaginable. The same kid that was crying at the check-in table on day one, struggling to leave dad’s side, comes in on Wednesday with a face painted yellow, chanting in harmony with their fellow second graders.

As Thursday approaches, a sea of white shirts make their way out to the big lot at 10:30 am. Some counselors are deviously mixing paint while others are helping with safety goggles. Flags designed by each grade group are flying in the wind. The color run is a long-standing Club tradition -- it acts as our official kickoff ceremony to camp. All groups huddled around their counselors and waiting for their call to the start, the energy around the building is vibrant. On go, 270 campers make their way through the gauntlet of paint and water balloons with huge smiles on their faces as they race to the finish! Some want to finish the run unscathed, while others want to be utterly drenched in paint. A great time is had by all, and powerful bonds start to form. At the end of the week, campers get their first taste of our core value awards ceremony -- a tactic of recognition that ties in our Club values with our campers and their positive behaviors -- and of course, our weekly photo slideshow. At the end of week one, when parents tell us that their kids are sleeping like rocks every night, we know we must be doing something right!

Week 2: The Wide World of Sports!

It’s Week Two at Camp Souhegan and our kids are getting in the swing of it. Dropoffs become easier, the name-games are paying off, and we are ready to hit the ground running. It is a unique year, as we have been gifted a World Cup summer, and we intend to take full advantage! A sports-themed week is always a fan favorite, and it is important in emphasizing healthy habits and lifestyle choices- something we hang our hat on at the Club. This year, we put an international twist on the whole thing! As campers wander into the building, world cup games are playing on the big screen, uniforms are being designed and created in the STEAM lab, battles for bonus points are going down in the gym, and geography trivia is heating up in the theater. As our members continue to develop new friendships and dip their toes in new programming spaces, the table outside the gym is open and available for signups for the annual mile run.

Race day approaches and the energy is high. The block starts with a fun run with Kindergarten, First and Second graders all participating. The Club campus buzzes as our little ones make their way around the loop, gunning for a chance at a medal. When the big kids step up, they are walked through the mile course, and many staff members have graciously offered to lead, pace, and trail the pack. Our kids, equipped with authentic race bibs, make their way through Keyes Park and down Elm Street for a hilly mile loop that tests their endurance and certainly earns them their concession stand treats later on.

Week Two brings lots of water opportunities, including the opening of Keyes Pool and a series of whitewater field trips. We appreciate Milford Recreation for welcoming more than 100 young swimmers each day—and helping create memories of friendship and pruny fingers. New this summer was our partnership with Outdoor New England, offering a series of water-based field trips designed to build confidence in a variety of whitewater experiences for 3rd - 5th graders and 6th - 9th graders.

Week 3: Holiday Hooplah!

Summer is heating up -- what better way to cool down than celebrating Christmas in July? Week Three, as always, brings new campers and a whole lot of excitement. Field trip season is in full swing, with up to six awesome off-site adventures departing each week! Keyes pool staff greet us with a smile every day, and on-site at the Club, we have a smorgasbord of holiday cheer to go around.

This summer, Holiday Hoopla Week is split into four different days- Our BGC Egg Hunt Day, Winter Wonderland, Halloween, and Stars and Stripes! It is a short week with our observed 4th of July holiday, so we are jam packing as much fun as possible into this one. The week starts with the whole crew on a mission to find eggs on the grounds of our outdoor classroom. Amongst all of them, five golden eggs are hidden in the mix- these can be cashed in for prizes as the week progresses. When a golden egg is found, you’d think someone just struck oil and got rich. Next, winter wonderland. It takes a real can-do attitude in order to dress up as Santa Claus when the peak heat reaches 91 degrees, but after all, that is what camp is all about. Christmas cookie decorating, marshmallow snowmen, and holiday karaoke steal the show on this day. Halloween comes with our annual haunted house -- led by coordinators, but really built by teen members, this is always something that the campers look forward to. Dress up day is in full swing, with our winning group earning bonus points on the Camp Souhegan Scoreboard. To round off the week, the red, white and blue takes center stage as we kick off our only long weekend. We’ll be back before you know it!

Popular this summer is our new kitchen program where small groups of youth of all ages sign up each week to decorate their own apron and hat and learn cooking skills. In addition to learning new skills, they are learning how to cook with some of our fresh veggies from the garden, taste new foods, and share what they made with family and Club staff.

Week 4: Gameshow Showdown

At Camp Souhegan, we love big group activities. It is Week Four, the dust is settling, and we start to emphasize collaboration and competition between age groups. When kids can mingle with members in both older and younger groups in a controlled setting, we see their social skills take off! This week is all about friendly competition between groups!

With each day comes a classic game show that we bring to life on stage! This year, we are featuring: Jeopardy, Deal or No Deal, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, and the best of them all…Fear Factor! Every day at 2 PM, our members have the opportunity to join the greater group in the theatre for a game show that is engaging for all -- whether they are participating or not! While learning the rules of these American classics, the kids are also working to earn points for their grade during our epic showdowns. During fear factor, the kids roll over in laughter as the staff get called up to the stage (blindfolded, of course) to consume mystery potions -- what good sports they are! The week ends with a bucket of laughs, and July is in full-swing.

Week 5: BGCSV’s Got Talent!

At last -- arguably the flagship week of Camp Souhegan! It is our fifth week -- the halfway point -- and we’ve crammed a lot into five weeks! This week is all about showcasing our talents and celebrating our accomplishments. Talent week features several ways for our members to boast their skills. Between our science fair, art show, and talent show, nearly every family has a reason to stop by the Club on Friday at 2 pm to see what their kid has been up to! On Friday, we pack the theater for our annual talent show as vibrant science and art projects line the theater lobby as families enter. A judging panel of both former and current Club staff and volunteers enjoy an amazing talent show, although they have the hardest job in the room. For an hour and a half, fantastic musical renditions, singing, dancing, karate, comedy and more dominate the stage. Club kids have been anxiously awaiting the show all week, and they sway in the audience as their friends take center stage.

This week is so valuable because our Club families are invited into the building to get a live look-in at what their campers are up to everyday! It is a great opportunity for parents to connect with staff and with each other, all while supporting their kids. The week is capped off by a family-filled awards ceremony that sends everyone into the weekend with happy hearts.

Week 6: Under the Sea!

We certainly love making a splash at Camp Souhegan. It is the middle of July, and summer doesn’t get much hotter than this! As the dog days begin, this week is all about getting wet, staying cool, and learning all about the ocean world. This week’s multidimensionality is what makes this theme a Club favorite, as we mix marine exploration, discovery, and learning with water play, swimming, and fun! Our big highlight? How about a massive inflatable water slide on Friday for all ages to enjoy! All week, the anticipation builds for the slide as we enjoy activities such as water olympics, swim races at Keyes, fishing with the teens and more! Bathing suits, towels and sunscreen are a must this week, and counselors know they’re being foolish if they think they’ll stay dry throughout the week.

While the Club campus is buzzing, the offsite opportunities are equally as enticing -- as groups enjoy a Fishercats day game @ Delta Dental Stadium, a trip to Clough State Park, and a matinee at the Palace! Everyone is in rhythm, our new campers are excited, our staff are in their groove, and we are ready to tackle the second half of the season.

Week 7: Multiverse Madness!

In our seventh week, we journey into alternate universes! Our coordinators stay late on the Friday before to get the building dec’d out for Multiverse Madness! As our campers enter the building on Monday, each room is plastered with their favorite characters -- from video games, stories, movies, books and more! We are celebrating fantasy and mystery with our members, and games and activities are curated toward our theme. Lightsaber battles and quidditch matches take over the gym, creative costumes are everywhere in sight, and we focus on moving kids away from screens as we play these stories and adventures out in real life!

Our best dressed group -- the second graders -- are thrilled to earn a group-wide ice cream party as their costumes blew away the competition. Offsite, our campers are star struck as they see New England Patriots Players work out at training camp @ Patriot Place! A good time is had by all, and the summer is starting to feel shorter and shorter. Onward we go!

Week 8: Survivor Week!

Survivor Week! A competition of creativity, savvyness, athleticism, brains and more! In other words, our campers get to huck water balloons at their favorite counselors as they make their way through the grueling Survivor obstacle course! From a huge pit full of mud containing an idol to a commando-crawl through a pile of rainbow sludge, our counselors are put to the test while our campers cheer for their chance to win the day! Our program coordinators work all week long to see this project through, and it is a huge hit for the kids!

Leading up to our event, we have a jam-packed week! Our friends from Morphs and Milestones stop in with a thrilling reptile show for our campers in the theater! Kids conquer their fear of snakes, come up on stage and interact with the animals, and learn in depth about sustainable ways to help with the rehabilitation of species. We even get Stacie to come in and peek at the snakes!

Kona Ice makes their weekly visit as kids eagerly await their turn in line. Away from the Club, the kiddos enjoy a day at the ball park, the splash pad, the aquarium and more! A good time is had by all, and we head into the weekend ready to recharge.

Week 9: Time Travelers!

Buckle up, because this week, we are trekking across time and space. We explore different eras, time periods, and historical landscapes. We’ll learn and we’ll play as we connect the dots from the past to the future, with each day bringing a mini theme: Monday we explore prehistoric times, Tuesday we trek into the medieval ages, Wednesday brings us Wild Wild West, Thursday is the groovy 60’s and 70’s, all leading up to the futuristic space age on Friday! Each day brings fun costumes and great energy, as we explore trends and activities from each point in time. Our kindergarteners win the dress-up competition, and earn ice cream to celebrate!

On Friday, our staff enjoy pizza on the house for all of their hard work this year. Offsite, our teens enjoy an interactive STEM-oriented trip to Amherst Country Club. Here, they learn about everything that goes into running a successful and innovative golf course. Nine weeks in the books! The end is near, but we are still living in the moment!

Week 10: Summer Send Off!

The finale has arrived! Camp Souhegan has almost completed another rotation around the sun. As counselors start to head back to college, teachers start their classroom prep, and kids make their back-to-school shopping trips with their families, we still have an obligation at the Club: To end things with a BANG! Our summer send-off carnival draws all of the attention this week, as we plan a big old parking lot party to close the year out strong. Music, grillables, Kona Ice and a dunk tank headline the event.

This week is an ode to all of our campers and their favorite activities -- we make sure to run back some of their highlights as camo dwindles down. Field trips include a three-bus adventure to Greenfield State Park, and one final Palace Theater visit. As we say goodbye for now to our campers and wish our seasonal staff luck in their next endeavors, we are filled with gratitude for everyone who comes together to make our camp both a possibility and a success. Thank you for joining us this summer! In the blink of an eye, our 2027 program will be here. We are counting down the days!