FAQs for All Families

Yes, we are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and undergo formal re-accreditation every five years.

Tapawingo has been building traditions, having fun, and singing songs for over 100 years. We’ve enhanced the camp life with improvements like indoor plumbing and electricity in the bunks while keeping the roots of the original Tap girls’ summer experience. Our magnificent location, dedicated staff, and Trips program make us hard to beat.

Both. Under the guidance of expert staff, Tapawingo encourages campers to expand their interests and develop skills in a wide variety of activities, including, but not limited to athletics, the arts, interpersonal relationships, and wilderness appreciation. We offer a chance for Tap girls to test their skills in friendly competition between the Gray and Blue teams. We also welcome competition with other camps in the area as schedules and COVID allow.

Located on the western side of beautiful Keyes Pond — a 191-acre, natural spring fed body of water. Tapawingo is the sole operator of motorized watercraft. Campers enjoy other lakes, rivers and falls as part of Tap’s terrific Trips program.

Tapawingo’s uniform is quite simple: a name necklace, a white shirt, royal blue shorts and sneakers.

Tap girls bring uniform clothing, pajamas, underwear, shoes and socks, towels and bedding, toiletries, personal items, athletic and camping equipment, books and plenty of stationary and stamps to write letters home. A detailed packing list is provided to all enrolled campers.

We are proud to be an unplugged camp! Cell phones, smart watches, and all devices that connect with the internet/cell phone towers or satellites are not allowed at Tapawingo. Nor are headphones, Kindles or tablets. These devices are a distraction from experiences of camp life. If your daughter brings this kind of device to Camp, she must turn it off to be locked in the office until she goes home.

Eight campers live in each bunk and are accompanied by at least two counselors. The only exception is the Senior age group who all live in the largest bunk at Tap.

Each bunk is equipped with at least two toilets, two sinks and electricity.

Tap girls submit bunk requests prior to arriving at camp and the Bunk Life team makes every effort to accommodate those requests. That said, we discourage campers from requesting friends from home in their bunk so that they can get to know their Tapawingo family as quickly as possible

As you and your daughter embark on this new adventure together for the first time, it’s important prepare her for what’s to come. Talk about her expectations for camp and normalize that it is common to feel excited and nervous at the same time. Include her in preparing to pack for camp. Take note of what extra help she requires with self-grooming and encourage her to practice these skills on her own.

Homesickness is natural among first year (and even some returning) campers and is part of the process of becoming independent and confident. Tapawingo’s Bunk Life and Leadership Teams help campers fully focus on the beauty and excitement of camp life rather than missing home. Our camp Big Sisters tuck in each junior camper every evening. Parents are encouraged to reassure their daughters by focusing on her fun stories and camp experiences rather than reminding her how much they miss her.

Campers are not permitted to text, make phone calls or access social media (how nice!). The best way for you to communicate with your Tap girl is to write letters often.

Family members are invited (and your daughter will expect you!) to spend Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Tapawingo from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. This is a day designed to allow families to see their campers shine in their element of camp life. The day will include:

• Visits to activity areas;
• Games of “knock out” on the basketball court, tennis, or a cool dip in Keyes Pond with your daughter;
• Meeting your daughter’s Tap family, including her bunk counselors;
• A picnic lunch; and,
• Plenty of singing!

Historically, during Session 1, brothers are invited to spend an afternoon at Tapawingo and during Session 2, Tap girls are often invited to spend an afternoon at their brothers’ camps. COVID protocols permitting, these visits will be scheduled for 2022.

Tapawingo is a welcoming community. Your daughter will be greeted by her Camp Big Sister, her bunk counselor, and her bunk mates upon her arrival. She will be placed on a team at her first campfire and will be off and running in no time flat!

Tapawingo is an intimate family of no more than 150 campers. The entire camp gathers together three times a day to share family-style meals in our Main Lodge dining room, dedicating time each day to have meaningful conversations, to laugh, and to sing together. Rotating assigned seating at meals encourages friendships to form quickly, and our traditional Campfires and Services bring our close-knit community together to share our hopes, dreams, fears, challenges, and joys.

All birthdays during the summer are celebrated at Tap! Our birthday celebrations include songs, a special party at lunch or dinner, and fun surprises. Families may also speak with their daughters on their birthdays.

Tapawingo’s Health Center is staffed with nurses and a doctor, holds regular call hours each morning and evening, and is available to campers 24 hours a day for emergencies.

We ensure that dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, as well as food allergies) are thoughtfully accommodated by our Chef and Trips dining staff. Each camper’s medical history and needs are reviewed by the Health Center. 

Many Tap girls travel to Maine from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the DC/Maryland area. We also have several Tap girls from Europe. Tapawingo welcomes geographic diversity. No matter where you are from, Tapawingo can be your place of joy!

There are several ways for your daughter to arrive at and depart from Tapawingo: chaperoned or independent flights, chartered buses, van pick ups or car drop offs. Families can “mix and match” these options to meet their needs. For example, campers may fly one direction and take the bus in the other direction. Tapawingo will partner with families well in advance to ensure that campers’ travel is as smooth and seamless as possible. Many girls enjoy hours of singing on the bus going to camp, and hours of reading “bus notes” on the way home.

Our counselors are typically college students who are natural leaders, have a passion for the outdoors, are skilled in teaching a specific activity, and most of all, are coming to camp with the goal of positively impacting our campers! Our staff come to Tap with experience in working with young people, oftentimes studying education, outdoor recreation or social work. All staff arrive prior to campers to participate in a robust training program specific to their role.