Building Confidence, Growing Competence, and Strengthening Community—All Summer Long

Every summer, Wicosuta becomes more than a place to swim, sing, or play with our friends. It becomes a living classroom where campers learn what it means to believe in themselves, try new things, support others, and make a meaningful difference in the world around them. Our guiding philosophy—Confidence, Competence, and Community—does more than shape our daily activities. It inspires campers to pay it forward in ways that extend far beyond our cabins and fields.

Confidence: Discovering Their Voice

Wico is a unique environment where children feel safe stepping outside their comfort zones. Whether they’re navigating a ropes course, performing in a talent show, or simply meeting new friends from different places, Wico girls grow more confident in who they are.

We teach them that confidence isn’t just about personal achievement—it’s also about the courage to help others. When girls feel secure in themselves, they naturally begin to look outward, using their voices and their hearts to uplift those around them.

Competence: Developing Skills With Purpose

Competence grows through practice, guidance, and experience. Every new skill learned at camp—from paddleboarding on Newfound Lake to collaborating on a team challenge—helps our campers understand what they can accomplish.

Competence also includes learning how to make a positive impact. Through age-appropriate service initiatives and discussions about leadership, campers discover that the abilities they gain can be used for good. They begin to see themselves as capable contributors—not someday, but right now.

Community: Becoming Part of Something Bigger

Community is at the core of everything we do. Campers learn to support each other, to celebrate differences, and to create shared memories that bind them together.

A strong community doesn’t stop at our property line. Each summer, we encourage campers to think about how they can carry their sense of belonging and responsibility into their home communities. Giving back becomes an extension of what they already practice here every day—kindness, empathy, cooperation, and gratitude.

Paying It Forward: Our Commitment to Service

One of the most meaningful ways we live our values is through our ongoing support of organizations like Project Morry, a youth development program that offers year-round enrichment and summer camp opportunities to students from under-resourced communities. Wicosuta’s year-round fundraising effort helps ensure that more children can experience the transformative power of camp.

Over the summer, lead by our Zunis, campers participate in Project Morry Day. We encourage year-round donations to Project Morry and collect supplies annually at our New York and Boston area reunions. These activities show campers that their actions matter and that even small contributions make a big impact.

By engaging in service, our campers discover that community isn’t just something you belong to—it’s something you build.

The Ripple Effect of a Summer Well Spent 

When campers return home, they bring back far more than photos and stories. They carry with them a deeper understanding of themselves and their potential, an appreciation for people from all walks of life, and a desire to make the world better.

Confidence gives them the belief that they can create change.
Competence gives them the tools to do it.
Community gives them the motivation and support to make it real.

And that’s the true magic of summer camp: it plants seeds of service and compassion that grow long after the season ends.

Together, we’re building confident, capable, and caring young people—one summer at a time.