At William Lawrence Camp, our commitment to camper care revolves around fostering a sense of community and family that transcends the typical summer camp experience. With an impressive 3-to-1 camper-to-staff ratio, we pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and creating a supportive environment where every camper feels valued and included. Our experienced leaders serve as mentors and role models, ensuring that the campers not only engage in exciting activities but also thrive in a nurturing family-like setting. This intentional approach to community living enables us to build strong connections, instill a sense of belonging, and create lasting memories that extend far beyond the boundaries of our picturesque Camp grounds.
At William Lawrence Camp, we are more than just a summer destination – we are a close-knit family dedicated to the well-being and growth of each and every camper.
William Lawrence observes the health and safety standards of the American Camping Association and the State of New Hampshire. All campers and staff are required to provide an updated medical history form at the beginning of each season, which is kept on file in the Infirmary by our Registered Camp Nurse.
Our camp doctor is always on call, Huggins Hospital is only fifteen minutes away, and 9-1-1 services are at camp within minutes of a call, should such a need arise. If a camper requires medical attention, his parents will be notified immediately.
The safety and health care of the campers is the highest priority at William Lawrence Camp. The staff carefully supervise campers throughout the day, and cabin leaders monitor the personal health and hygiene of their campers.
Overlooking the beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, the William Lawrence Camp dining hall, also known as Pratt Hall, is where campers and staff come together three times a day to indulge in the incredible, nut-free food provided by our camp chef. All meals are served buffet style with multiple options available, and the boys are able to eat their fill!
Our amazing chef can accommodate all dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and any cultural restrictions. Along with our main courses for each meal, there is also the beloved breakfast bar and salad bar.
In the afternoons, the boys enjoy a snack of fruits and surplus delights from lunch.
As an all-boys camp our mealtimes are energetic, peppered with songs, chants, a healthy boisterous attitude, and maybe even a rafter cake!
We have a fully equipped infirmary on-site. Our nurse lives in the infirmary and is on call 24 hours per day. The infirmary has two single-use rooms, one bunk room and a screened-in porch that can be used for resting or overnight stays if needed. The infirmary is also equipped with a separate bathroom with a bathtub as well as a receiving room for minor injuries.
All medications, both prescription and vitamins, are logged into our CampDoc system prior to the campers’ arrival. Meds are distributed by our nurse to the campers during meal times, or the campers visit the infirmary before taps at the end of the night. If there are medications that need to be distributed at other times, campers come to the infirmary to retrieve their medications from the nurse.
Each staff member at William Lawrence camp has first aid training. Depending upon the activity area, the safety training may be more in-depth. For example, everyone at the challenge course has had advanced safety training to use the challenge elements. There is also a first aid kit and a radio at each activity area.
Parents complete a food and allergy form prior to campers arriving at camp. With this information, our chef designs a special menu that meets the dietary needs of each camper. If needed, our chef will work with an individual family to ensure the proper food is provided prior to the camper’s arrival.
Campers must write letters home once per week while they are at camp. They are encouraged to write much more often but once per week is mandatory. We do not allow phone calls between campers and parents, but parents are encouraged to call the camp administrators with any questions they may have.
Each camper experiences camp differently, and we work with each camper on an individual basis. Depending on what the camper needs, we will work with them to ensure that their experience is fulfilling and fun. Sometimes campers need a calendar to check off the days they have been at camp, sometimes a simple schedule change will help, sometimes getting an update about home from a camp administrator eases any fears; once we can deduce the root of the sadness, we can work with the camper to change the experience.
Depending on the nature of the emergency or illness, our nurse and administrators will make a determination on the best next steps. Parents and guardians are always informed as to what the plan is going to be. We are able to accommodate campers overnight in our infirmary and the closest hospital is only about 15 minutes away, so we are very capable of ensuring the safety of the campers.
We believe that camp is a place to learn and grow. We first and foremost consider the safety of each camper and staff member when handling behavior issues; then we determine consequences that best allow the camper to learn from their mistake and thrive in the camp environment.
We weave personal development into every aspect of what we do at William Lawrence Camp. Our camp community is based around our four cornerstones: Willingness, Loyalty, Comradeship and Sportsmanship. From morning chores, to program activities, to out-camping trips we ensure that our campers are challenging themselves to become the best version of themselves possible.
Although we do not offer a visiting day for our 2-week option or full-session campers, we encourage parents to write letters and send packages to their campers often. Please remember that packages cannot contain any food or candy, and only camp-appropriate toys and reading materials.
