FAQs

What kind of camp is Windsor Mountain?
Windsor Mountain is a co-ed, non-competitive overnight camp in New Hampshire for ages 7–16, with more than sixty years of creating meaningful summers for kids from across the United States and around the world. Our camp program is built around directed free-choice, with more than 100 activities kids can choose from, designed to nurture creativity, build independence, and foster personal growth.

What are Windsor Mountain’s core values?
The Three Rs are the foundation of our core values: thoughtful Risk, Respect, and Responsibility, a framework Windsor Mountain has carried for more than 50 years. Risk means taking healthy, calculated, growth-oriented chances, like trying a new activity, making a new friend, or jumping off the rope swing for the first time. Respect is how you treat every person in the community. Responsibility means contributing to something bigger than yourself, from cabin chores to kitchen duty. Kindness and community are the threads running through all three of our values.

Is Windsor Mountain competitive?
No. Windsor Mountain is a non-competitive camp, meaning there are no inter-camp competitions. There are no rankings, but there are plenty of sports and games. Our focus is on allowing your kids to try new things, build skills, make friends and have fun. Kids are encouraged to explore, not perform.

What is directed free-choice?
Directed free-choice is the hallmark of our camp program. Campers select their activities from more than 100 options with one-on-one guidance from their counselor. Our directed free-choice method is designed to build independence and foster personal growth. Your child chooses what excites them, with a counselor’s guidance and support.

What does a day at camp look like?
The day starts with breakfast at 8am, morning meeting at 9:30, and four activity periods chosen by your child every three days from 100+ options. There’s a daily unscheduled “Fun Hour” to explore, relax, or hang out with new friends. Evenings range from campfires and capture the flag to bunk nights with s’mores and night hikes. Lights out is at 9:15 for younger campers and 10:15 for older ones.

How do I know if Windsor Mountain is right for my child?
Windsor Mountain is a good fit for kids who want a real camp experience without the pressure. If your child is curious, open to trying new things, and would do well in a community built around kindness and respect, they’ll find their place here. We welcome all skill levels and all personalities. The goal is exploration, not performance.

How is Windsor Mountain inclusive for LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse campers?
At Windsor Mountain, every camper should feel safe being exactly who they are. Respect is one of our Three Rs, and it shapes how we treat every person in our community, every day. Our camp has been built around kindness and community since 1961, and we welcome campers of all identities, backgrounds, and personalities.

Is Windsor Mountain technology-free?
Yes. Campers do not have access to personal devices, like phones or iPads, during their session. Media activities like our video lab are counselor-led program offerings, and technology is used only as a creative tool. We encourage parents to write letters to their campers.

Where is Windsor Mountain located?
We are located in southwestern New Hampshire, midway between Keene and Concord, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Boston and 4 hours 15 minutes from New York. Windsor Mountain sits on a 365-acre private lakefront campus that is big enough to get lost in, and small enough that everyone knows each other’s names.

How many campers attend Windsor Mountain?
Each of our two sessions enrolls approximately 200 campers from the United States and countries around the globe. With our 3 to 1 staff ratio and one-on-one guidance from their counselor, campers are never lost in the crowd.

How long are the camp sessions?
Our two traditional sessions are 3.5 weeks and run in July and August. We also offer two-week programs at the beginning of each traditional session for campers who cannot attend the full-length session.

What is Windsor Mountain’s camper to staff ratio?
On average, Windsor Mountain has a camper to staff ratio of 3 to 1. Our excellent ratio means your child has a real relationship with their counselors.

Does Windsor Mountain welcome international campers?
Yes. Windsor Mountain has welcomed campers and staff from more than 60 countries since 1961. We have a dedicated international liaison who provides direct support to international campers and their families throughout the summer.

What percentage of campers are international?
Approximately 5 to 15 percent of our campers are international.

Does my child need to speak English to attend?
No. English is not required to attend. International campers seeking language support benefit from our English Language Learning (ELL) classes, which are taught through activities like rock climbing, cooking, and sailing. Campers also practice English naturally throughout the day with their cabinmates and friends.

Do you perform criminal background checks on your staff members?
Yes, we do background checks on all of our staff before the start of the summer. Many of our staff are also CPR/First Aid certified.

Do you have around the clock medical care at camp?
Yes, we have at least one Registered Nurse on duty at all times and a nurse’s assistant. Also, many of our staff are certified in CPR and First Aid.

Are there lifeguards on duty during all waterfront activities?
Yes, trained lifeguards are on duty to supervise every Windsor Mountain sponsored waterfront activity.

What is the food like? Do you accommodate campers with food allergies?
Windsor Mountain meals are served in our beautiful dining hall, with healthy, creative and delicious “home cooking” as the focus. We aim to be farm-to-table, relying on locally-grown ingredients as often as possible, some of which the campers harvest from our garden. We bake our own bread and supply fresh fruit and snacks. A vegetarian option is available at every meal. We are sensitive to and experienced with campers who have dietary restrictions and food allergies and work closely with them and their families to provide suitable alternatives and accommodations. Please feel free to call us with specific questions about food allergies at (603) 478-3166

Do you accept bunking requests?
Campers who wish to bunk together should inform us of their bunking requests. While we usually honor these requests, sometimes extenuating circumstances will necessitate other living arrangements. Windsor Mountain encourages new friendships, and the community is small enough that friends who come to camp already knowing each other can spend ample time together even if not placed in the same bunk.

What happens if my child becomes homesick?
Homesickness is not unusual, especially among new campers feeling nervous during the first week. Our 3:1 staff ratio means counselors notice homesickness early, and we proactively contact parents if we have any concerns. You won’t be left wondering. Our experienced and caring staff will do everything possible to help campers adjust and see them through a successful and rewarding session. In almost all cases, homesickness is gone by the second week. Please contact us for more details on our policy and experience in helping campers and their parents through this adjustment period.

How will I communicate with my child during the summer?
Windsor Mountain is intentionally phone-free for campers. We’ve found that kids who aren’t checking in every day discover something surprising: living in the moment. To help campers develop a healthy sense of independence, we strongly encourage parents, family members and friends to communicate through the old-fashioned art of letter writing. Except in cases of emergency, parents are not permitted to speak with their campers on the phone. Campers, in turn, are encouraged to write home at least once a week. If it is urgent for a parent to speak with their child, they can call the office and arrange a time to do so. International campers can send and receive letters through email.

Do you offer transportation to/from camp?
Yes. For families interested, Windsor Mountain arranges buses and vans from New York City (including Brooklyn and Manhattan), Westchester, Hartford, and Boston. We offer airport pick-up at Logan Airport (Boston) for international flights, and Manchester Airport in New Hampshire for domestic flights. Driving directions and reservation forms for buses and vans are included in the enrollment packet mailed to campers in the spring after the application and deposit are received.

What happens on the last day of each session?
We host a Folk Music Festival on the last day of the July session and a Theatre Festival on the last day of the August session. Each day begins with a morning meeting, followed by a delicious and plentiful brunch to sustain you through the performances, after which parents are free to take their children home.

Does Windsor Mountain offer financial aid?
Financial aid ensures that the Windsor Mountain circle will continue to be one of cultural and socio-economic diversity, one of our core values. Having a diverse group requires that those of us who can, help others join the Windsor Mountain family. Every summer, deserving youth are able to gain immeasurably in terms of personal growth, skills and a fresh, new perspective on themselves, their own home and the world beyond. Windsor Mountain encourages students who require financial assistance to apply for support. If you are applying for financial aid, please click this link:
Financial Aid Application and Information

What is family camp?
Family camp is a unique offering at Windsor Mountain for the whole family. We’re all young enough to go to camp! For more than a decade we’ve invited both new and returning Windsor Mountain families to join us at the end of each summer for five days of roasting marshmallows, hiking, swimming, and counting the stars. It’s a great way to unplug and spend time with your loved ones away from the bustle of everyday life. You’ll stay in our dorms and cabins, our cooks will fill your bellies with fresh greens and tasty food, and our talented staff will keep up the energy level with games, hikes, boating expeditions and more. Or you can skip the organized program and create your own adventures. Childcare is available during the day and evening so parents can head out on a hike alone or enjoy a quiet meal.

How can I learn more about Windsor Mountain?
To schedule a home visit or learn about when we will be visiting your area, please call us at (603) 478-3166. You may also call at any time to arrange a tour of camp.