Camp MOWGLIS

Overnight Summer Camp for Boys on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire

Camp Mowglis is a three, four, or seven-week summer camp for boys ages 7-15 on pristine Newfound Lake, surrounded by the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire, just 2.5 hours north of Boston. Every summer, we welcome around 100 boys to experience the natural beauty, make lifelong friends, learn exciting new skills, and disconnect from everyday life in search of something bigger.

Mowglis School of the Open

Our “School of the Open” program is based on the timeless values of honesty, integrity, compassion, and respect for others (including Mother Earth).

He may look the same when he returns home, but you’ll notice the change in subtle yet powerful ways:

Explore Our Instructional Activities

Pathways to Growth and Adventure

Our diverse range of activities, known as “Industries,” empower campers to explore new interests, develop skills, and build lifelong friendships.

We would love to welcome you to experience The Mowglis Way for yourself.

When you remove the 21st Century stress and strain, true magic has space to grow in the white space that remains.

Camp Mowglis is the world you wish you could create for your son — one where values are instilled, meaningful friendships are created, and life can be simple again.

The Camp Mowglis Mission

The mission of Camp Mowglis is to develop integrity, empathy, resilience, and leadership in young men through the time-tested and fun outdoor experiential program and community we call the “School of The Open.


At the core of the Mowglis mission is a commitment to create youth of sturdy character.


The changes your son experiences here permeate through all areas of life.


And while he’ll be thrilled to reunite after his seven weeks away, he’ll also have a new pack: the Mowglis family. Friendships from Camp Mowglis have deep roots and provide a support network to carry your son throughout his life. Your son will always have a home here.

History

Camp Mowglis founder Elizabeth Ford Holt saw growth opportunities for boys slipping away as the pace and demands of daily life increased.  

 

Young men needed to get back to basics. To learn life’s important lessons. To feed their souls, nourish their minds, and strengthen their bodies.

 

Mrs. Holt wanted to give boys a place to breathe. To build. And to belong.

Every summer, we host a small group of around 100 boys in the natural beauty of the New Hampshire mountains and disconnect from everyday life in search of something bigger.

Plan Your Son's Summer: Sessions and Pricing Details

We offer multiple session lengths and pricing levels, along with limited scholarships, to help families find the right fit for their budget

Timeless Memories: The Mowglis Gallery

Step into a world where over a hundred years of history and action unfold through captivating photos. Discover the legacy of Mowglis preserved in our incredible archives.

A noble vision that is as true today as it was over 100 years ago

For over a century, we’ve been guided by a commitment to integrity, innovation, and community. The values that laid the foundation of our journey remain at the heart of everything we do today. As we look to the future, we honor this legacy by continuing to inspire, empower, and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.

Where life-changing summers leave lasting memories.

Real Stories from Camp Mowglis Families

Discover how our unique approach to adventure, learning, and growth has shaped their lives and created memories that last a lifetime

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FAQs for Parents

You’ve probably got a lot of questions about the experience at Camp Mowglis. Here are the most common questions that we get, and their answers. If your specific question isn’t answered, please call 603-744-8095 or email Director Nick Robbins with ANY questions, and he’ll be happy to answer them!

If you’ve got questions about what life is like at Camp Mowglis, here are some of the most common questions we get asked (and their answers of course). Do you have a question that isn’t answered here? Please shoot us a note on the Contact Us page, and we’ll get right back to you.

Who owns Mowglis?

Mowglis is owned and operated by the non-profit Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, whose trustees hire, advise, guide and support a professional camp director. Mowglis receives hundreds of generous contributions each year from alumni, parents and friends to help close the gap between tuition and expenses.

At Mowglis, boys are immersed in outdoor life. We offer a range of traditional camp activities, and encourage boys to find something at which they can excel and gain enjoyment and confidence from that experience. The program encourages skill development with campers working on requirements in activity areas they choose and earning ribbons for achieving competence.

Through cabin life and daily duties, weekly hiking and camping trips, music and singing, and our unique crew program, our campers develop a strong sense of community. The Mowglis program emphasizes respect for nature, encourages personal growth, fosters life-long friendships, and is a ton of fun!

The Mowglis campus covers 155 acres on the northeast corner of Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. The main camp is situated on 55 acres located directly on the lake with over 1,300 feet of shoreline. There are over 30 rustic buildings.

Before the arrival of the campers the counselors participate in a rigorous two week orientation. All our counselors are American Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid. Key waterfront personnel are WSI (Water Safety Instructor) certified, and Lifeguard-certified through the American Red Cross. All counselors are certified in Wilderness First Aid. Counselors who drive campers are at least 21 years old.

What does this mean? The American Camp Association sets the highest standards in the industry. Being ACA accredited indicates a level of professionalism in camping and means we have voluntarily taken the time to insure our program and site meets the strictest codes of safety and excellence. Learn more about ACA accreditation.

What is it like to live at camp?

At Mowglis you live with other campers your age in open-air dormitories. Each boy is assigned a bunk and a set of shelves for personal belongings. You can pack for camp in a duffle bag or a trunk. However, once you unpack your trunk will be stored until the end of camp. You sleep with sheets and blankets and your sleeping bag will be used for overnight trips. You will have the chance to swim every day. We have a campfire circle every night.

Yes! Mowglis offers 16 different activities and what you do is your own choice. We have a daily schedule where campers sign up for instruction in their chosen activities and there are also open periods when you can try something just for fun. When you find an “industry” you like you can sign up to spend more time practicing that activity, acquiring new skills and maybe earning a ribbon.

At Mowglis you will get to try new sports and activities that might not be available at home like archery, riflery, rock climbing, rowing crew, windsurfing and woodworking. Our boys play a lot of pick-up basketball and soccer…and tether-ball at Mowglis is legendary! Many of our boys enjoy a break from the sports they practice and play at home during the fall, winter and spring.

You will eat with other campers your age and staff “family style” for all meals. Meals are delicious, home-made, and kid-friendly. Some favorites are spaghetti, fajitas, pizza, stir-fry, and BBQ. Dessert is served every night and many lunches. Campers take turns as dining room helpers.

Yes! You will go on different types of trips depending on your age and ability. We go hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking. It doesn’t matter if you have never done these things before, you will have the opportunity to participate and we will not ask you to do more than you can handle

Wall of love

Hear first-hand from our incredible community of customers.

Camp Mowglis is like heaven on Earth with the most spectacular lake on site; it is a very close-knit, fun and loving community that we are glad to be a part of. The entire staff is amazing and very professional, the counselors are great, giving special attention to every camper. Camp Mowglis is not only a fantastic place for our boys to spend their summer but an amazing and caring place that teaches them how to be independent, learn about companionship, to love and respect nature. Camp Mowglis helped my boys understand their strengths and overcome their weaknesses, taught them to make the best out of every possible situation, encouraged them to learn new things and to have a positive attitude, all through activities that are fun, unique and well rounded. Next summer my youngest boy will join his two brothers at camp, that is how much Mowglis has become a part of our family since 2011.

I am really interested but this year not possible . Camp Mowglis is wonderful Camp and its Director .

I have fond memories of summers at camp Mowglis in the early 80’s, and I sincerely believe the Mowglis “School of the Open” experience helped to shape the man I have become. It seems to me that while in the midst of just being a kid, this growth and maturity is difficult to see as you are simply having a great time and do not realize the life skills you are learning. However, looking back as an adult I cannot fail to notice the skills, behaviors, values and “can-do” attitude I can attribute directly to that formative experience. This last year my 12-year-old son attended Mowglis for the first time, and my wife and I were pleasantly surprised by the newly found growth and maturity he displayed after only a few short weeks. As one minor example, we were walking through the Boston airport after picking him up from camp and he was rather loaded with his camp gear. I picked up one of his bags offering to help and he said to me, “No Dad, I got it. They are (referring to the bags) my responsibility.” My wife and I just looked at each other surprised and rather proud of the changes we were already seeing in him as he heaved all his bags onto his back and headed to our gate.

I have had a long and enriching relationship with Mowglis, starting in the summer of 2002 when I was nine years old. It was my first time away from home for longer than a few nights at a time, and certainly the first time I had been in an environment such as this. The initial experience was more than enough to cause me to keep coming back for the last 12 years, first as an older camper, then as a junior staff member, and now on into more senior counselor and coaching positions. Easily the most consistently formative experience of my life, being at Mowglis has taught me to grow both as a strong individual, while also allowing me to gain respect for the people around me, and friendships I developed there remain as strong as they were back when I was a camper. With a strong background in experiential education and a well established integration with the natural world, the camp continues to teach boys of all ages to disconnect from our technology-driven society, take a step back, and absorb all of the wonderful things one might find on a beautiful summer day in the mountains, or by the side of the lake. Numerous activities, or industries, based on both individual and group-based growth equip the campers with skills they will take with them years and years after they graduate. Whether or not they choose to join the staff, or even remain in close contact with the camp, individuals that have been touched by Camp Mowglis carry their experiences forward to become well versed, capable people. I know I would be nothing like I am now if not for the lessons learned and relationships sown as a result of growing in a wonderful place like this, and can safely say I regard Mowglis as a second home. We could all use a bit more time outside, and I can't think of a better place to do it.

We were concerned about our son going away to camp because he hadn't even slept over a friend's house. He as a tendency to rely on his parents for everything so we were also concerned about his ability to take care of himself. The staff and philosophy of Mowglis grew our son up! Even after his first year as a cub (3 week program), he came back confident, assertive, helpful and self assured. It was wonderful to watch. He will be going into his 3rd year at Mowglis and neither he, nor we, can wait!

Best camp ever. My son attended the first time three years ago and he couldn't think of skipping camp next year. He obtained soo many abilities, knowledge about nature, survival, riflery, axemanship, swimming, camping among many more. It has been a real positive influence in his life and I'm sure he treasures those experiences and will keep them forever. Camp staff is the best!! If you are looking for more than just any camp and searching for a real lifetime experience, Mowglis is the place to go. Money worth paying..

Meet the people who make camp magic happen.

Our Team

Dedicated to guiding boys toward growth and self-discovery.

Nick Robbins
Executive Director & Camp Director 
Former co-founder of Opendoor. Early staff at Spotify and Clearbit.
Diana Robbins
Assistant Director, Scheduler & Food Service Manager
Lead engineering teams at Figma, Pitch, and Protocol Labs.
Tommy Greenwell
Associate Director & Property Manager
Former PM for Linear, Lambda School, and On Deck.
Jay Gulitti
Assistant Director & Director of Development
Former frontend dev for Linear, Coinbase, and Postscript.
Bartolo Governanti
Director of Alumni Relations & Summer Head of Maintenance
Holly Taylor
Registrar

Be Part of Something Extraordinary

Lead. Inspire. Grow.

We’re hiring for the upcoming camp season! Join a team dedicated to shaping young lives through adventure, leadership, and tradition. Whether you’re returning or starting fresh, become a vital part of the Mowglis story.

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Camp Mowglis for Boys

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