Lake Fairlee Association
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Picture
Background photo: Early summer campers arrived by train and completed the trip to camp via horse and carriage. (Photo: Frank.J. Barrett, Jr.)

Camping Begins on Lake Fairlee

During the early part of the twentieth century, summer camps for children began to be established to meet the needs of parents and children who recognized the desirability and benefits of extended periods in regions of mountains, hills and lakes during the long summer vacations from school. At camp, children could leave the crowded cities and towns behind for a more healthy environment of pure, cooler air and greater freedom from contagious diseases such as polio, diphtheria, etc. prevalent at a time before most preventive inoculations had been developed. Many summer camps began to spring up in the area around and near Lake Fairlee from 1905 to 1921 the surrounding countryside was occupied mostly by farmers with large open fields and pastures. Sheep raising had declined with the increase of wool production in the west and in Australia late in the 19th century. So there was considerable Vermont farm property for sale at low prices.
excerpts from “Early Days of Camping on Lake Fairlee” by Katharine Newcomer Schlichting

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Chronological History of Lake Fairlee Camps

1906    Camp Billings
1908    Big Pine/Beenadeewin
1910    Shanty Shane/Lake Fairlee Camp/Ohana Family Camp
1911    Camp Quinibeck
1914    Camp Passumpsic
1915    Lochearn Camp for Girls
1915    Camp Aloha Hive
1916    Camp Wyoda/Horizons Day Camp
1921    Camp Neshobe/Norway
1921    Idle Pine

Currently Active Camps on Lake Fairlee

The Aloha Foundation

The Aloha Foundation is a Vermont-based nonprofit that provides summer camps, family camps, and education programs.
Three of their six main programs are located on Lake Fairlee: Aloha Hive Camp , Horizons Day Camp, and Ohana Family Camp.

Aloha Hive 

Founded 1915. Aloha Hive provides a sleep-away camping experience for girls grades 3-7. The camp facilities were listed on the ​National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Horizons Day Camp 

Founded 1997. Horizons is a co-ed day camp for ages pre-k through 7th grade. Horizon's is located on the grounds of the former Camp Wyoda. (Camp Wyoda originally opened in 1916 on Passumpsic Point and moved to what is now the Camp Horizon's location in 1921.) The property was acquired by the Aloha Foundation in 1997 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 for its well-kept collection of surviving early camp architecture.

Ohana Family Camp 

Founded 2008. Ohana offers a family camp and location for special events.

Camp Billings

Founded in 1906. Camp Billings provides a sleep-away camping experience for boys and girls ages eight to sixteen. Billings is located on the northern end of Lake Fairlee on the border between the towns of West Fairlee and Thetford. Camp Billings started as a Y.M.C.A. Camp but it is now owned by a private non-profit organization. In 2006, it was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lochearn Camp for Girls

Founded in 1916. Lochearn provides a sleep-away camping experience for girls. 

The Lake Fairlee Association, Inc.
PO Box 102
Fairlee, VT 05045
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  • Home
  • Membership
    • Become a Member Donate
    • Being a Good Lake Neighbor
    • LFA Archives 2007-17
  • Governance
    • Board Members
    • Board Meetings & Minutes
    • Finances
    • Endowment & Reserve Funds
    • LFA Bylaws
  • LAKE HEALTH
    • Water Quality Action Committee
    • Greeter Program
    • Milfoil Control Program >
      • What is Eurasian Milfoil?
      • Milfoil Observation Form
      • Stop the Spread
      • Milfoil Survey Reports
      • Milfoil Treatment
      • Facts About Milfoil
    • Active Lake Monitoring >
      • Lay Monitoring Program
      • LaRosa Partnership Program
      • Cyanobacteria Monitoring
      • Spring Phosphorus
      • Sidenote: Lake Fairlee phosphate - too much of a good thing
    • At Home by the Water - Caring for Lake Fairlee and Its Watershed >
      • Renter Guidelines
      • Contractor Tips
      • Permits
      • Additional Resources
    • Report Environmental Concerns
    • Lake Wise Program >
      • Lisa Niccolai Interview
    • Lake & Watershed Action Plan
    • Wastewater Workshop
  • NATURE & HISTORY
    • Loons & LoonCam
    • Ice Out Dates
    • Nature of Lake Fairlee
    • Nature Associates
    • Community History
    • Camps & Camp History
    • Treasure Island History
  • TOWNS & Orgs
    • Thetford, Fairlee, West Fairelee
    • Treasure Island Committee
    • Tri-town Commission
    • Complimentary Organizations
  • Photo Gallery