Camp Tapawingo

What Camp Tapawingo does

Camp Tapawingo is a private, independent, family-owned overnight summer camp for girls ages 7–17, founded in 1919 and located on a 200-acre property along Keyes Pond in Sweden, Maine. The camp serves approximately 130 campers per season through tiered session-based programs — Full Summer (7 weeks at $16,050), First Session (4 weeks at $10,250), Second Session (3 weeks at $9,100), and a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) leadership program (7 weeks at $10,000) — plus optional add-ons such as English-style horseback riding, Vagabond trips, Mount Washington hikes, and senior lifeguard certification. The program emphasizes a deliberately technology-free, traditional Maine camp experience spanning landsports, tennis, arts and crafts, theater, ropes course, waterfront activities (swimming, sailing, paddleboarding, canoeing, water skiing), backpacking trips to Acadia National Park and the Appalachian Trail, and structured evening programs built around long-standing traditions including the Blue vs. Gray competition and over 100 original campfire songs.

The business is operated as a direct-to-consumer family service with no third-party resellers or B2B channel. Distribution relies on the company's website (camptapawingo.com), YouTube video content, the CampInTouch enrollment platform, and a personalized "Tap Talk" outreach function run by Director of Camper Relations Marianne Guilfoyle. Marketing is driven primarily by word-of-mouth referrals from a multigenerational alumnae network ("Tap Girl for Life" philosophy), supplemented by listings through the American Camp Association (ACA), Maine Camp Experience, and Maine Summer Camps trade directories. Camp Tapawingo is accredited by the ACA (re-accreditation every five years) and operates the Tapawingo Campership Fund, a 501(c)(3) partnership with the ACA (EIN 35-0962419) that awarded $205,000 in financial assistance in 2024 to subsidize tuition, uniforms, and other necessities for need-based families.

Ownership transitioned in 2021 from Jane Lichtman (who directed the camp for 37 years, 1984–2021) to her nephew J.D. Lichtman and his wife Lisa McAllister, making them the fourth set of Owner-Directors in the camp's century-long history. Current families are concentrated in the Northeast US (New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, DC/Maryland), with an additional cohort drawn from Europe. Camp Tapawingo reports no external investors, parent company, subsidiaries, or public funding, and discloses no financial figures.

Name

Camp Tapawingo

Legal name

Camp Tapawingo

Website

https://camptapawingo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Camp Tapawingo is a private, independent overnight summer camp for girls ages 7-17 in Sweden, Maine. Founded in 1919, it serves roughly 130 campers per season with session-based programs spanning outdoor, athletic, and artistic activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Overnight Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Overnight summer camp
• Girls residential camp
• Summer camp programs
• Youth outdoor education
• Campership financial aid

Headquarters

HQ city

New Sweden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Tuition: Camp Tapawingo generates revenue primarily through session-based summer camp tuition fees. Families pay for their daughters to attend either full summer (7 weeks) or partial sessions (first or second half). Additional revenue comes from optional programs such as horseback riding, special trips (Sub Senior Vagabond, Senior Vagabond, Mount Washington Trip), and optional lifeguard training certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp Tapawingo operates an all-girls overnight summer camp on a 200-acre property on Keyes Pond in Sweden, Maine, serving girls ages 7-17 through multi-week session programs (7-week full summer, 4-week first session, 3-week second session) plus a Counselor-in-Training leadership program. The offering encompasses landsports, tennis, arts & crafts, theater, waterfront activities, ropes course, trips, and optional horseback riding, delivered as a technology-free residential experience that builds compassion, courage, and confidence.

Product overview

Camp Tapawingo is a private, independent overnight summer camp for girls ages 7-17 located in Sweden, Maine. Founded in 1919, the camp operates on a 200-acre property on Keyes Pond and offers a comprehensive summer experience through multiple program sessions (Full Summer at seven weeks, First Session at four weeks, Second Session at three weeks) plus a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program. The camp provides diverse activity programs including Arts & Crafts, Landsports, Racket Sports, Waterfront, Trips & Ropes, Performing Arts, Evening Programs, Horseback Riding (as an add-on), and Special Programs. Financial assistance is available through the Tapawingo Campership Fund, a 501(c)(3) program in partnership with the American Camp Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Summer Session Seven-week comprehensive overnight summer camp program for girls ages 7-17 at Sweden, Maine, offering full access to all camp activities, dining, and bunk living on Keyes Pond.
• First Session (4 weeks) Four-week overnight camp session running Sunday, June 27 to Sunday, July 25, 2027, offering a condensed full-activity camp experience for girls ages 7-17.
• Second Session (3 weeks) Three-week overnight camp session running Monday, July 26 to Saturday, August 14, 2027, offering a shorter-duration camp experience with full access to camp activities.
• Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program Seven-week Counselor-in-Training leadership program running Saturday, June 26 to Saturday, August 14, 2027, for older campers developing leadership skills for future camp employment.
• Horseback Riding Program Optional English-style horseback riding program offered every other day for an additional fee ($850 full summer, $600 partial summer), with instruction in the outdoor arena and on onsite and surrounding trails.
• Rookie Experience One-day daytime prospective-camper preview experience on Saturday July 18, 2026 to Sunday July 19, 2026, allowing girls to sample camp life before full enrollment.
• Arts & Crafts Program Creative arts program offering clay sculpture, photography, pottery wheel, printmaking, woodworking, stained glass, and sewing for enrolled campers.
• Landsports Program Athletic program featuring team sports (basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball) and individual sports (archery, gymnastics, conditioning) with instruction for all skill levels.
• Waterfront Program Aquatic activity program on Keyes Pond including swimming, Sunfish sailing, paddleboarding, canoeing, water skiing, tubing, and the Grandma Shirley Lake Swim, with Red Cross Lifeguard certification available for senior campers.
• Trips & Ropes Program Outdoor adventure program featuring hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and ropes course elements, including overnight trips to Acadia National Park, the Appalachian Trail, and Mount Washington.
• Performing Arts Program Theater program in which each age group produces short plays on Saturday nights, with instruction in acting, dance, voice, costume, and technical production.
• Evening Programs Nightly community activities including campfire songs, special programs, Blue vs. Gray athletic competitions, bunk activities, and theatrical productions that build leadership skills.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Camp Association (ACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Tapawingo partners with the American Camp Association for accreditation and operates its Campership Fund through the ACA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. The ACA handles donation processing, receipting, and fund distribution for the campership program. EIN/Tax ID: 35-0962419.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Towanda: Private, independent, co-ed overnight summer camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania serving a similar affluent Northeast family demographic with comparable session lengths, broad activity mix (sports, arts, waterfront, trips), and traditional camp culture—Camp Tapawingo's closest direct competitor in the premium Northeast overnight camp market.
• Camp Wah-Nee: Private girls' overnight summer camp in Hinsdale, Massachusetts serving the same Northeast affluent family demographic with similar traditional programming and session-based enrollment model.
• Camp Lindenmere: Private girls' overnight summer camp in Brant Lake, New York with comparable traditional activity programming, bunk structure, and family-owned heritage—a direct competitor for the same Northeast family demographic.
• Camp Wekeela: Premium co-ed overnight summer camp in Hartford, Maine operating in the same Maine lakes-region market with comparable session structure, traditional activity mix, and ACA accreditation—a direct geographic peer.
• Camp Robindel: Long-established private girls' overnight summer camp in Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire with similar traditional all-girls programming, multi-session structure, and Northeast family base—directly comparable operating model.
• Camp Pinecliffe: Private girls' overnight summer camp in Harrison, Maine—one of Camp Tapawingo's closest geographic and demographic peers, with similar multi-generational heritage, traditional all-girls programming, and ACA accreditation in the same Maine lakes region.

Regional players

• Camp Skylemar: Premium co-ed overnight summer camp in Naples, Maine operating in the same Maine lakes-region market with similar traditional programming, sports specialization, and affluent Northeast family demographic—geographic peer with overlapping customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Camp Laurel: Large, well-known co-ed overnight summer camp in Readfield, Maine operating in the same Maine premium overnight camp market with traditional activity programming and a comparable family demographic—a broad market incumbent.
• Camp Androscoggin: Long-established, privately owned boys' overnight summer camp in Wayne, Maine—same Maine lakes-region market and traditional overnight camp model, with comparable scale, multi-generational ownership history, and premium positioning, though not directly competing on gender.

Others

• American Camp Association: National industry body that accredits Camp Tapawingo and operates its Campership Fund (501(c)(3))—a key ecosystem partner providing accreditation standards, safety oversight, scholarship fund administration, and industry directory inclusion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-tapawingo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Tapawingo