AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Registration for the 2025-26 school year will open June 1st
Why choose an outdoor after-school program?
The average American child spends less than 10 minutes playing outside per day. Experts recommend at least 3 hours. We know that outdoor movement has a positive impact on mental health, improves quality of sleep, boots the immune system and helps build resilient bodies and minds. We know that life can feel busy - it is our goal to provide you with a slice of time during you child's day or week that they regularly get outside.
Being place-based allows us to introduce or reacquaint children and their families with public spaces to enjoy time outside. All of our locations are within walking distance from school. Our team picks up directly from school at dismissal time and we use this walk as a transition time.
All of our programs are entirely outside. Rain or shine, we venture outdoors and help build resilience and confidence being outdoors in all types of weather. We work with caregivers to make sure each child is prepared with proper clothes, footwear and gear. In severe weather, we may opt for an early pickup or cancellation as a last resort.
Our program schedule follows the Portland Public Schools calendar unless otherwise noted in the program description. In the event of snow days or early dismissal, we also cancel programming. During conference days, we offer Conference Day Camps.
Bigger programs aren't the right fit for every child, so we're committed to keeping these groups small to provide the best opportunity to build new connections and confidence. All of our programs are held in intentionally small groups of 10 children with a 1:5 ratio. The age range of our programs varies from Kindergarten to 4th grade.
Using play and fun as the lens for all development, at any age, provides balance and space for growth - emotionally, socially & creatively. It is our goal to provide a safe space to balance out the structure of the school day with enriching exploration, movement, choices and play in a supportive environment.
We are confident children and their families will love our team of experienced instructors who are committed to meet all children where they are on any given day and support them unconditionally. Flexibility and adaptability are key. All of our instructors are avid outdoor lovers who facilitate daily opportunities to learn and connect.
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Where are you located? Where is dropoff and pickup?Being place-based allows us to introduce or reacquaint children and their families with public spaces to enjoy time outside. All of our programs take place at public parks, trail systems and green spaces. Our locations are in Portland or located within 20 minutes of the city. Locations are chosen based on weather and trail conditions and for their unique opportunities to play and learn. One week prior to camp, parents will be provided a detailed itinerary with directions to each day’s location and dropoff/pickup instructions.
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When does registration open? What is the registrations process?Registration for summer camps opens Thursday, January 9th at 8:00am for returning families and Friday, January 10th at 8:00am for all new families. Reminders when registering: For each child, you can add multiple camp weeks to your cart and check out as one transaction. When registering siblings for multiple or different weeks, we recommend separately doing each child's registration to streamline the process. If your camp total cost is $1000+, we can set up a payment plan for you. Please email info@maineoutdoorkids.com with your child's info and we will get them registered - this is tougher to do if you've already registered and paid. Remember that your child may fall into more than one age group - for example, a rising 2nd grader can participate in any Tadpole or Goslings camp. Read through our cancellation policy Every single week of camp is unique in its locations & activities! You can do multiple and they will all be different. Please fill out a Health Form and Waiver, if you haven't already within the past 2yrs.
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Which group is best for my child? Are siblings kept together?Please select a group based on the grade your child will be entering in Fall 2025. If your child is homeschooled, use which grade level is most appropriate for their age, not academic level. For siblings who don’t fall into the same age category, please consider signing up for ‘Same Location’ weeks. In these weeks we will have two camps happening simultaneously at the same locations, giving you one drop-off/pick-up spot. 2025 Same Location Weeks: Week 3: Sprouts & Goslings Week 5: Sprouts & Goslings Week 6: Tadpoles & Ospreys Week 8: Tadpoles & Ospreys
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How large are the groups? How many instructors are with each group?We intentionally hold our summer programs in small groups to provide the best opportunity to build new connections and confidence. All of our camps allow a maximum of 10 participants with two outdoor instructors.
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What is the schedule? Why no camp on Fridays?Our summer camp schedule is Monday through Thursday each week, with a new location each day. Camp runs from 9am-3pm for Sprouts and Tadpoles and 9am-4pm for Goslings and Ospreys. Maine Outdoor Kids camps are high energy and we find that a 4-day camp week works best to prevent burnout for campers and accommodate families busy summer schedules. We are committed to a 4-day work week for staff and the highest quality leadership and instruction for families and their kids. In an industry that has high burnout and low retention, this schedule allows us to bring our very best selves to camp and provide the community with 10 weeks of programming during the summer.
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What are the age groups for summer camp?We break our camps into four different age groups; Sprouts: Rising K - 1st graders ** Tadpoles: 1st - 3rd graders Goslings: 2nd- 4th graders Ospreys: 3rd-5th graders **Please note that while public schools requirments state that students must turn 5 by Oct. 15th 2025, we highly recommend that all campers are 5 by the start of camp.
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What happens if there is stormy weather?This depends on the nature of the storm—whether it's rain or thunderstorms, and how close or distant they are. Our first line of defense is ensuring that campers are equipped with appropriate gear, and we provide guidance to parents on suitable clothing for wet weather. If thunderstorms are anticipated, we choose locations with coverage options, such as Fort Williams or Twin Brook. If it's just rain we may do the same or utilize tarp setups in our wooded locations. We make real-time decisions and communicate directly with parents. We strive to provide at least 24 hours' notice for any changes in location or early pickups and will only cancel as a last resort.
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Camp says full - How do I join the waitlist?There is no way to join the waitlist directly from our website. Please email info@maineoutdoorkids.com with your child's name and the dates that you are looking to join. If a spot opens up, we will reach out to the first person on the waitlist and they will be given 24 hours to sign up.
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What is your cancellation policy?Payment is due at the time of registration. If you need to cancel your participation in a summer program for any reason, we ask for 45 or more days' notice to receive a refund. There is a 3% cancellation fee for refunds processed by credit card. No refunds will be given for cancellations within 45 days of a program's start date. In the event of inclement weather where an earlier pickup is deemed necessary by our Directors, no partial refunds will be given. If you have unforeseen circumstances that limit your participation in any of our programs, please get in touch with info@maineoutdoorkids.com and we will do our very best to find a solution.
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How do I know if my child is ready for a multi-day mountain bike program?Your child can be new to mountain biking on singletrack trails for an all-levels mountain bike program. However, for safety reasons it's really important they are proficient on their bike. This includes: Can independently follow and understand directions, instructions, skill demonstrations taught by others to improve body awareness and minimize risks of the sport. Is a confident rider on pavement, dirt roads and small inclines. Has the stamina to be active outside all day and in a variety of environmental conditions including cold or hot temperatures and precipitation. Be familiar with their bike and able to independently mount and dismount, ride and balance on the bike on uneven terrain. Has experience riding for at least 40 consecutive minutes, Has experience participating in an outdoor sport or activity for 2-4 hours in a single day. If your child is new to mountain biking, we highly suggest signing up for a Fundamental Skills Clinic for a confidence boost before attending a bike camp.
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Do you offer scholarships or financial assistance?We offer scholarships to K-5 students attending public school in Portland and surrounding municipalities whose family is experiencing financial challenges preventing them from participating in Maine Outdoor Kids, including temporary extenuating circumstances. Scholarships accepted on a rolling basis and are awarded based on demonstrated need and available scholarship funds at the time. Please email info@maineoutdoorkids.com to inquire about scholarships.
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What if my child can not attend all four days of camp? Do you do drop-in days?We do not have a drop-in day option for our summer camps. If you are interested in a certain program but your child is unable to attend the entire session for any reason, you will need to register and pay for the full program.
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Do you offer a sibling or multi-week discount?Yes! We offer a $150 credit when you register & attend: 1. Four or more weeks of summer programs 2. Two or more weeks of summer programs with 2 siblings This credit is sent out at the culmination of the summer and can be used towards any future programming.
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I'm looking for a proof of payment or an EIN to submit for a childcare reimbursement system or tax purposes. Where can I find that?We can provide you with receipts for any programs your child attended during a calendar year. Those have all the information in one place that you might need for taxes or FSA reimbursement. Please email info@maineoutdoorkids.com with your child's name and we'll get that information to you as soon as we can.
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My rising 6th grader has attended camp with MOK in the past and wants to continue. Can they come to an Osprey week?There are occasions where we may be able to accommodate a 6th grader. Please check in with us before registering your 6th grader for an Osprey (3rd-5th grade) camp.
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What if my child has allergies or needs to take medication during the day?Please note this when you fill out the Health Form. If your child has allergies, asthma or medications that may be needed during their time with us, we will follow up to create a custom action plan for them.