Stearns Pond in Sweden, Maine is Backdrop of Camp Encore/Coda

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes

Each summer, campers from across the globe bring their instruments to Maine’s two specialty music camps where they continue their education in a fun environment. While youngsters partake in a variety of recreational activities, the joy of developing musical talent is the main focus. The creative and supportive atmosphere encourages campers to grow through participation in daily rehearsals, lessons, private coaching and performance opportunities. Kim Wiggin of New England Music Camp says, “A music camp provides a more focused and intensive opportunity to improve and nurture one’s musical talents, surrounded by a group of similarly-talented and interested students.”
New England Music Camp on Snow Pond (aka Messalonskee Lake) in Sidney, was founded by the Wiggin family in 1937. Seventy-five years later, the third generation continues the tradition. Kim and her husband, John Wiggin, direct the co-ed program for young instrumentalists and vocalists. One of the special features of NEMC is their Bowl in the Pines, an open-air concert stage.
At NEMC, campers design their own music and recreation programs, choosing areas of interest to them. “All of our music faculty are professional musicians drawn from prestigious conservatories, universities and private studios around the country and world,” says Kim. “Campers receive two private lessons each week with these faculty members. And we are a performance-based camp, so campers participate in a public concert at least once weekly, in our Bowl in the Pines.” Campers may also audition for weekly recitals.
Similarly, Camp Encore/Coda, a residential co-ed music camp, is located among the pines on the eastern shore of Stearns Pond in Sweden, Maine. Since 1950, the Saltman family has owned and operated this 80-acre camp. It’s known for its diverse types of music, including classical, jazz, rock, pop and Broadway. Campers participate in orchestras, jazz bands, choirs, chamber music groups, rock bands and many concerts. Twenty-five staff members teach music full time and forty music studios are spread throughout camp, dedicated for rehearsals.
Jamie Saltman, owner and director of Encore/Coda, says, “Many of our campers play more than one instrument/voice and our schedule is designed to encourage them to do so and participate in multiple ensembles of varying styles. It is not at all uncommon for a given young musician to play violin in the orchestra, drums in a rock band, sing in jazz choir and participate in the musical show. We also offer a conservatory program for campers who want a more intensive musical experience, specializing in one instrument, and without many other general camp activities.”
Jamie continues, “All of our campers, ages 9-17, are in camp at the same time, contributing to the feeling of one large ‘musical family.’ Although the younger campers have different scheduling from the older ones, they also share many aspects of camp, such as meals, concerts and some activities. This gives the younger campers a chance to learn from the older ones, and the older campers a chance to provide musical leadership to the younger ones.”
To find out more, visit their Web sites.
New England Music Camp
8 Goldenrod Road
Sidney, ME 04330
TEL: 207-465-3025
www.nemusiccamp.com
info@nemusiccamp.com
Camp Encore/Coda
50 Encore/Coda Lane
Sweden, ME 04040
TEL: (207) 647-3947
FAX: (207) 647-3259
www.encore-coda.com
jamie@encore-coda.com

Traditional Camps with Music Electives
Other camps, with a general focus, may feature music as a part of their offerings. Bob Strauss, owner and director of Camp Wigwam on Bear Lake in Waterford, says, “At Wigwam, as with most camps, the individual is encouraged to enjoy and to learn, whether on an athletic field, in a music or creative arts studio, or simply among the giant pines in the forests of Maine.”
The co-director and owner of Maine Teen Camp, Monique Rafuse-Pines, tell us that “Maine Teen Camp offers a full range of instruction from beginner to advanced levels in drums, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, keys and piano, and works on performance and vocals.” MTC is located between Stanley and Trafton Lakes in Porter.
Camp Wigwam
57 Wigwam Pass
Waterford, ME 04088
TEL: (207) 583-2300
FAX: (207) 583-6242
www.campwigwam.com
wigwam@maine.com
Maine Teen Camp
481 Brownfield Road
Porter, ME 04068
TEL: (800) 752-2267
TEL: (207) 625-8581
FAX: (207) 625-8738
www.teencamp.com
mtc@teencamp.com
Camp Arcadia
PO Box 158
Casco, ME 04015
TEL: (207) 627-4605 (Director)
TEL: (207) 627-7294
camparcadia.com
office@camparcadia.com
Camp Wawenock
33 Wawenock Road
Raymond, ME 04071-6824
TEL: (207) 655-4657
www.campwawenock.com
wawenock@campwawenock.com
Camp Takajo
60 Takajo Road
Naples, ME 04055
TEL: (207) 693-6675
FAX: (207) 693-6654
www.camptakajo.com
info@camptakajo.com
Camp Vega
317 Echo Lake Road
Fayette, ME 04349
TEL: (800) 838-VEGA
FAX: (207) 685-5520
www.campvega.com
info@campvega.com
Hidden Valley Camp
161 Hidden Valley Road
Freedom, ME 04941
TEL: (207) 342-5177
TEL: (800) 922-6737
FAX: (207) 342-5685
www.hiddenvalleycamp.com
summer@hiddenvalleycamp.com
Indian Acres
1712 Main Street
Fryeburg, ME 04037
TEL: (207) 935-2300
FAX: (207) 935-3975
www.indianacres.com
geoff@indianacres.com
Camp O-AT-KA
593 Sebago Rd.
Sebago, ME 04029
TEL: (800) 818-8455
FAX: (207) 787-3930
www.campoatka.com
info@campoatka.com
Camp Micah
156 Moose Cove Lodge Road
Bridgton, ME 04009
TEL: (207) 647-8999
FAX: (207) 647-4145
campmicah.com
michaelc@campmicah.com
Camp Fernwood
48 Camp Fernwood Lane
Poland, ME 04274
TEL: (207) 998-4346
FAX: (484) 441-1306
www.campfernwood.com
fernwood@campfernwood.com
Camp Mechuwana
93 Holmes Rd.
PO Box 277
Winthrop, ME 04364-0277
TEL: (207) 377-2924
FAX: (207) 377-4388
www.mechuwana.org
mechuwana@fairpoint.net
Camp Med-O-Lark
82 MedoLark Road
Washington, ME 04574
TEL: (207) 845-2555
TEL: (800) 292-7757
FAX: (207) 845-2332
www.medolark.com
info@medolark.com
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Stearns Pond, click on the green box above.

To learn more about the Stearns Pond and other summer camps in the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine, click on the blog links below.

Stearns and Keyes Ponds, Sweden, Maine: Off the Beaten Path
Sebago Lake Region Still Providing the Maine Experience to Young Campers