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Camp Huckins

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Our History, Mission, and Values

At Camp Huckins, we strive to create a community filled with joy, friendship, growth, and belonging. Campers and staff work together to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and encouraged to be their authentic selves.

About Camp Huckins

Since 1928, Camp Huckins has provided an enriching summer experience for children. Situated on the beautiful Lake Ossipee in Freedom, New Hampshire, Camp Huckins is a nonprofit, accredited YMCA overnight camp for 3rd-9th graders who identify as girls. We have about 1,300 campers each summer, and campers can attend two- or four-week sessions, space permitting.

Camp Huckins also offers Family Programs for those who would like to enjoy the camp experience with their children. Camp Huckins is a place with many enduring traditions and enriching activities, a place where people return to year after year, as campers, counselors, program staff, and Family Campers. They come back because they are touched by how, year after year, Huckins remains “Constant and True.”

Our History

Simon O. Huckins donated and named the land where Camp Huckins exists in his wife’s memory, Nellie Harmons Huckins. The camp opened in 1928 as an all-boys camp. In 1929, Camp Huckins expanded to offer four weeks for boys and four weeks for girls before transitioning to an all-girls camp in 1966.

“I present this living document, which give you the custody of an attractive site for a camp ground. No marble slab, however costly, could do justice to her in whose name this grant is made. Nothing but a living, pulsating institution can justly portray her personality.”
– S. O. Huckins

Our Mission

It is the mission of the Carroll County YMCA Camp Huckins, through its many programs, to strengthen the Spirit, Mind, and Body of youth, families, and communities. We strive to provide an honest, respectful, and caring atmosphere where each person can grow to realize their full potential.

Our Vision

At Huckins, our vision is to foster a community where all feel a sense of belonging and can experience camp as their authentic self. We bring our vision to life through intentional and ongoing actions as we strive to be outstanding stewards of the human and natural resources in our care and to expand opportunities for growth, leadership, joy, and friendship.

Putting Our Values Into Practice

Our core values are the building blocks of our Huckins community. We practice these values as we work and play together, allowing us to develop a deeper understanding of each core value and what is required to put them into action.

Caring

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Honesty

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Respect

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Responsibility

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Program Goals

Practicing our core values allows us to build a community where Huckins’ mission and vision can come to life. While aspects of the Huckins experience have changed, many elements of camp have remained constant and true.

As we work to put our mission and vision into action and develop leaders within our community, these are the timeless elements of the Huckins experience that campers will continue to gain:

Growth Mindset and Confidence

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Inclusion and Authenticity

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Developing Lifelong Friends
Living in a community where caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are intentionally practiced builds special connections between people. With these values as the foundation, campers and staff can create true friendships as their true self…and find a true summer home. 
Fun and Play in the Outdoors
Living in a community where caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are intentionally practiced builds special connections between people. With these values as the foundation, campers and staff can create true friendships as their true self…and find a true summer home. 
Leadership and Independence

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Camp Huckins, Constant and True

Deliberately uncomplicated, by nature

Perennial friendships, hearty laughter, singing at the top of your lungs, and waking to the call of the loon are the simple memories that carry through a lifetime Fresh air, open sky, and the time and opportunity for young people to become more confident and self-assured — these are the traditions and values we hold dear.

big laughs

and lasting friendships

CARING

We believe in showing kindness and concern for others, as well as for ourselves. Caring requires an awareness of others, asking questions, taking time to listen, and demonstrating empathy. Caring is an essential piece in the development of new friendships.

HONESTY

We believe honesty is the quality of being truthful and is based on kindness. Honesty allows us to express true feelings and is essential to creating a culture where people feel safe to be their true selves. Honesty often requires courage to be honest with others as well as ourselves. We believe that owning our mistakes is an expression of honesty, and we greet that with appreciation and growth. Honesty in the community builds trust.

RESPECT

We believe respect begins with honoring the feelings, wishes, opinions, and rights of others. Respect requires listening deeply and feeling heard, with a willingness to learn and unlearn. Leading with curiosity helps us to be respectful as we are learning about intentions, understanding impact, and becoming aware of boundaries and potential blind spots. We strive to practice respect for self, others, and the world around us. It is essential that we create a culture of understanding and safety in our community of unique individuals living, playing, working, and sharing together.

RESPONSIBILITY

We believe responsibility is a recognition that each action has an impact — on others, on ourselves, and on this place. Practicing responsibility means that I am accountable for my actions and their impact. Being responsible means I can ask questions when I don’t know what to do and ask for help when I need it. Responsibility means I will trust others to make good decisions, and I can be trusted to do the same.