The Importance of an All Girls Summer Camp
- CampArcadia
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
An all-girls camp answers a simple question—why girls only?—with a powerful reality: this kind of community gives girls space to discover who they are, what they can do, and how they want to move through the world. In one place, campers are free from technology and outside expectations, surrounded by strong role models, and held by a sisterhood that celebrates both their courage and their mistakes. The skills they practice—leading, taking risks, speaking up, and supporting others—don’t stay at camp; they become a lifelong foundation for confidence, friendship, and purpose.
We asked current parents and alumnae why they would recommend an all girls experience to others. Alumna Mia Ritter, now an educator herself, wrote, “For me, Arcadia’s all-girls environment created a rare kind of freedom: I learned confidence in a space with so little judgment that my camp self felt like my truest self.” It is clear from the myriad of responses we got that an all girls environment gives girls a place to grow into themselves without the noise of screens, stereotypes, expectations, or comparison.
Space to Grow Freely
In an all-girls setting, campers step away from a world that often tells them how to look, act, or succeed. Free from the pressures of social media, girls have the chance to develop their authentic self. Alumna Katie Monica writes, “In an environment free from societal pressures and stereotypes, girls can grow, learn, and challenge themselves without fear of judgment. At Camp Arcadia, without boys present, girls naturally assume leadership positions where they build fires, chop wood, get dirty, and develop resilience through hands-on challenges. Camp encourages girls to take up space, try new things, and build confidence rooted in authenticity rather than expectation.” Confidence comes from real experiences, not from chasing anyone else’s standards.
Role Models and Sisterhood
One of the most powerful parts of an all girls camp is being surrounded by strong women. Alumna Bella Miller reflects, “Arcadia allowed me to grow up surrounded by female role models and mentors. I learned what kind of woman I wanted to be when I got older by watching all the Arcadian women in my life. They were strong, capable, kind hearted, enthusiastic, loyal, and brave. And as I got older, I tried to emulate those same qualities.” Over time, those relationships turn into mentoring, friendship, and a network of women who remain in one another’s lives for decades. Shared summers, cabins, songs, and face-to-face talks create a sisterhood that lasts long after the final campfire.
Lifelong Friendships and Memories
All-girls camp friendships run deep because they’re built on shared experiences: learning new skills, facing fears, laughing through rainy days, and growing up side by side. Alumna Laurie Gruhn writes, “Girl’s friendships and women’s friendships are crucial to a healthy, happy, meaningful life. They sustain us through the most difficult tragedies and the happiest of celebrations.” Campers return to reunions years later and slip right back into those connections, remembering the moments that shaped who they became. In these relationships, girls learn how to show up for one another in both celebration and heartbreak—and that kind of support becomes a model for the rest of their lives.
Confidence That Carries Home
Parents and campers alike often notice that something shifts after a summer in an all-girls community. A shy camper finds her voice and starts speaking up more at school. A teenager who doubted herself discovers she can lead, advocate, and make decisions with conviction. Trying for a tough level twice, failing a Junior Maine Guide
test, or struggling through a new skill stops feeling like a verdict and starts feeling like a step. Camp teaches that not succeeding the first—or even second—time doesn’t define you; how you respond does. Parent Macy Howarth writes, “Each summer, we see a clear and meaningful increase in our daughter’s confidence and willingness to assert herself - the all girls setting at camp gives her the self-assurance that she notably carries forward into her school year.”
The Impact That Lasts
For many alumnae, those summers under the pines were the foundation of who they are today. Camp influenced the careers they chose, the friendships they cherish, and the way they support the girls and teenagers in their lives now. Whether they return as counselors, send their own daughters, or simply carry the lessons into classrooms and communities, the impact of an all-girls camp doesn’t fade. It lives on every time a girl takes a risk, trusts herself, and knows she belongs.
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