ABOUT CAMP MASSAPOAG

FAQ

Why Massapoag?

Camp Massapoag is a place where kids get the chance to make new friends, challenge themselves, and create lasting memories, all while enjoying the great outdoors. Here at Camp, we do everything we can to make sure your child has a fun, formative experience that will stick with them throughout the year. Massapoag provides a welcoming environment for all, while also providing opportunities for new experiences that will help your child learn and grow.

Our staff are trained to keep each child safe while encouraging them to try new things and explore new activities. The group environment at camp allows for a great balance of fun and safety, and the bonds formed within those groups often lead to long-lasting friendships.

Campers get to experience a variety of activities alongside their peers, including swimming, arts and crafts, sports, adventure, nature hikes, and so much more. Each activity is adjusted to fit each individual age group, meeting the needs of campers from ages 5 to 15. We are constantly working to find new ways to improve Camp and make it an even better experience for our campers and families.

Come join us for Summer 2025 and see why so many kids find their home away from home at Camp Massapoag!

What does a day at Massapoag look like?

The morning starts with the faint sound of singing. As the buses roll in, campers can be heard excitedly singing the Massapoag Song - a sign that the fun is about to begin!

Once campers exit the bus or car that they came in, they walk through the famous Moose Gate and are greeted by one of our Village Leaders. These Village Leaders let each camper know what group they are in that week and direct them to their cabin. At the cabin, campers meet their group, which includes about 19 other children the same age, and their counselors. These counselors will be leading the group to each of their activities throughout the day, spending time with the campers, making sure they are safe and have what they need, and forming connections with each camper.

Once groups have gotten a chance to drop their backpacks off at the cabin and spend some time playing, everyone will make their way to the gym for Morning Assembly. This is where everyone gets to sing their favorite camp songs and see their favorite skits performed. The flag is raised, daily announcements are made, and the groups are sent off to have fun!

Each group will follow their own schedule, which will include activities like swimming, sports, arts & crafts, archery, and more. For campers in grades 3 and up, this list of activities may include electives, which allow individual campers to choose their own activity for a period. Groups will be led through three activity periods in the morning, after which the whole camp will return to their Villages for lunch.

After lunch, we have what is called “free choice.” During free choice, all of Main Camp is open and campers get the chance to play games like gaga and boxball, visit the camp store, make friendship bracelets, spend time in the basketball gym, or just relax with their friends. This period gives campers a great deal of freedom, while still being supervised by counselors.

Free choice is followed by some more activity periods, one of which is a Village Activity, where all the groups in a Village get to interact and play a game together. As the afternoon ends, groups return to their cabins to collect their belongings, take final water/bathroom breaks, and debrief the day. The entire camp then makes their way to the gym for afternoon assembly. The flag is lowered, end-of-day announcements are made, and campers are dismissed to the bus, to the car pick-up line, or to extended care. Campers are sent home with a smile, ready for the next day of fun and adventure!

How are campers grouped?

Campers are placed into groups of 20 by their grade, then age. We do accept Buddy Requests but they are not guaranteed. Instructions on how to make a Buddy Request can be found here.

Scampers (Rising Kindergartners)

Rising Kindergartners are placed in our co-ed Scamper group. This group is limited to 20 campers to provide smaller staff to camper ratios. Scampers must be age 5 by their 1st day of camp to be eligible to attend. They have an earlier lunch time, their own changing space, enrichment activities in the cabin, and a schedule built custom to their needs.

Peewee Village (1st - 2nd)

Our 1st and 2nd graders are some of our most energetic campers. You can’t enter this village without smiling. They stay with their group throughout the day and participate in different activities each day that are geared towards their age/grade.

Pathfinder Village (3rd - 4th)

Our 3rd and 4th graders have the best stories to share. This village plays hard and camps hard. This group is where electives are introduced and they get to pick 1 elective of their choice for the week!

Poagtown Village (5th - 6th)

Our 5th and 6th graders are nestled below the other villages, allowing a sense of privacy. Preteens need a creative outlet and this program is here for them. Instead of 1 elective, they get to pick 2 choice electives for the week.

Pioneer Village (7th-10th)

Teens are often the hardest to build programs for. Pio village gives them freedom in helping decide what their schedule is, opportunities to be a leader, and their village has its own GaGa ball pit and Boxball court. There is no one way to be a Pio, you make the Pio experience your own.

LITs (15yo or 11th grade)

Our Leader-in-Training program includes leadership development, hands-on experience, and programming planning. LITs learn vital leadership skills as a role model for younger campers. Each day they will have small-group instruction on leadership and community engagement in addition to the Camp Massapoag activities they know and love.

*LITs must be 15 by the first day of their session and submit an LIT application in order to register.

What will we do this summer?

Adventure

Climbing*
Low Ropes
Zap Line

*Designates age restrictions.

Creative Arts

Bracelet Making
Candle Making
Dance
Drama
General Crafts
Music
String Art
Tie Dye
and more!

Nature & Recreation

Basketball
Boxball (Foursquare)
Campfire Cooking
Card & Board Games
Field Games
Fishing
Hiking
Gaga Ball
Magic the Gathering
Pickleball
Soccer
Volleyball
and more!

Target Sports

Archery
Hatchet Throwing*
Slingshot Range

*Designates age restrictions.

Waterfront

Canoeing
Free Swim
Kayaking*
Lake Swim*
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Swim Lessons
and more!

*Designates age or swim level restrictions.

MISSON STATMENT

Our camp is a diverse community united by a shared commitment to nurture human potential, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility in an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive (OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, FORGING FRIENDSHIPS, MAKING MEMORIES).

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

Randle Cassady

Senior Program Director

Originally from the south (LA stands for Lower Alabama) Randle and his family have lived in New England since 2015. Randle has worked with children since 1994 and his first summer as a Day Camp Director was 2001. Randle’s oldest daughter, is a teacher, his younger daughter, is a student at UNH. His wife Katrina works in a pre-K classroom at LC in Lowell and his best friend Mila walks around with him at camp most of the day.

P: (978) 454-7825 ext.831

P: (978) 649-7521 (May-September)

E: rcassady@lowellymca.org

Ashley Goroski

Asst. Camp & Families Director

Ashley will be entering her 3rd summer as Director at Camp Massapoag this summer. Originally from North Carolina, she relocated to Lowell after graduating from Appalachian State University. A self-proclaimed YMCA kid, she has spent her entire life involved in various YMCA’s and their programs that gives her a unique outlook on programming and she strives to create the best experience for all participants. When she’s not working, you can find her catching up on all things pop culture, visiting family, and going to concerts with her friends.

P: (978) 454-7825 ext.815

P: (978) 649-7521 ext.842 (May-September)

E: agoroski@lowellymca.org

David Dunne

Asst. Camp & Families Director

This will be David’s 2nd year as a Director at Camp Massapoag, but he has been in the camping world for several years now. Originally from central Massachusetts, David began working as a counselor at a day camp near his home in 2018. Over the summers, he worked his way up to a supervisor position, and then to a Program Director position, before joining the Camp Massapoag team in late 2023. When he’s not at Camp or running programs at the Lowell Y, David can be found playing music with his band and going on hiking trips with his wife, Amy.

P: (978) 454-7825 ext.818

P: (978) 649-7521 ext.841 (May-September)

E: ddunne@lowellymca.org

Return to Y Page