Camp Nawaka

Camp Nawaka

A small camp, "where everybody knows your name."

Camp Nawaka is a summer co-ed overnight camp located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Nawaka is a small camp, serving just 120 campers with 40 staff members. Campers from ages 8 to 15 attend Nawaka, coming from varied racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. All campers become Camp Fire USA members when they register for camp.

Nawaka is located on 130 acres of forested land in East Otis, Massachusetts, approximately two hours from Boston. The property surrounds a 20-acre private spring-fed pond, used exclusively by Camp Nawaka.

Staff and Safety

At Camp Fire USA we take great pride in our diverse, enthusiastic and caring staff. Before becoming a member of our staff, each individual goes through an in-depth interview process, including background checks. Staff members are carefully selected based on their experience working with children, leadership qualities, and their ability to be positive role-models. All staff members participate in an intensive training program and all are certified in first aid and CPR.

Camp swimming facilities are supervised by Red Cross certified lifeguards. All of our camps operate at a low camper-to-staff ratio, ensuring that our campers receive both small group and individual attention.

Sessions at Nawaka are offered in one or two-week lengths, with a four-week Leadership Training session for older campers. Campers choose their own activities, signing up each week from a variety of choices.

We focus on building a sense of community among all our campers in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Our campers don't spend all their time with their cabin mates―instead, campers select their own activities, which mixes up the population, and seating in the dining hall is assigned―with campers of different cabins sitting together. There are also plenty of all- camp activities. This helps us create a true community encompassing the entire camp population.

Camp Nawaka In this community of mutual respect, our campers are free to be themselves and try new things without fear of embarrassment or ridicule. Absent are the cliques and social groups of most schools―Nawaka is one community, where campers and staff support each other and are supported in turn.

We don’t have high-pressure competitive athletic contests with other camps, but there are plenty of opportunities to experience success and progression, so that our campers develop self-confidence and improve self-esteem. Nawaka also encourages campers to take responsibility for themselves through common "kapers" (camp chores) as well as their own bunk and belongings, and many parents report that this self-reliance is still in evidence after returning home.