The values that make up our philosophy date back to our founder, Joe Kruger’s child-centered approach to camp. The Mah-Kee-Nac Way centers around both individual development and building community and is embodied in three words: Community, Action, and Power.
The spirit of Camp Mah-Kee-Nac lies in the commitment to our community. Campers and staff feel supported, challenged and encouraged to participate in an action-packed day of sports, outdoor adventure, waterfront, media and the arts. Through these activities and our elective-based program, campers build confidence by experiencing success. Our boys discover the power of their true selves and the individual role they play as part of the greater community. To us, community over everything is what makes Mah-Kee-Nac extraordinary. Different then our philosophy are our core values. Our core values embody our culture and helps guide our commitment to community. Read more about our core values here.
Many of our boys who attend Camp Mah-Kee-Nac take full advantage of the variety of activities that we have to offer. While they might be very busy with athletics or extracurriculars at home, they recognize that camp is a place where they can ALSO comfortably explore many other interests such as our waterfront sports, our MAK Adventure program, and our Media and Arts programs.
During the days at Mah-Kee-Nac, campers enjoy our Elective-Based Program. The program is built around age-appropriate options and provides each camper with a unique opportunity to explore his own interests throughout the summer.
Campers choose six activities for their GREEN schedule (3 days) and another six activities for their WHITE schedule (3 days) with the last two activities each day being a daily elective. Green and White schedules last for three days in a row giving campers an opportunity to try, practice, and succeed at an activity. Each week, our boys change their schedules to include new activities as well as keep ones that they loved for the following week.

Our Junior Campers, going into 5th grade and younger, follow a “guided-choice” schedule. We offer them a hand-picked menu of activities to choose from when they create their schedules and build in swim instruction in our pool as well as waterfront instruction in our lake. This allows us to emphasize exposure and create a balance of individual and group activities for our younger campers while still allowing them to choose what they’d like to do.
Under the guidance of our exceptional staff, Mah-Kee-Nac campers can take full advantage of our Elective-Based Program. It allows boys to both try new things and focus on familiar interests. They gain confidence from exploration and from mastery of skills. Every child is different and we pride ourselves on being able to support each camper’s individual growth.
The Mah-Kee-Nac athletic program is based on inclusiveness and Healthy Competition. Boys come to Mah-Kee-Nac with three basic ranges of athletic experience. Some boys have little or no experience with certain sports, while others have a moderate level of experience and tend to play in “rec” programs. The third group of athletes at Mah-Kee-Nac is those that are more avid competitors that tend to play on travel teams at home. Our individualized instruction is designed to support the development of all our young athletes. Additionally, with our intracamp, intercamp and tournament games, all Mah-Kee-Nac boys have an opportunity to compete at a level appropriate to their experience and ability.
Camp doesn’t stop in the evenings! Each evening our campers and staff participate in exciting evening activities. Some grouped by bunk or division, and many all-camp as well, including some of our coveted special events (Tough Mudder, Lip Sync Battle, Fox Hunt, Avengers Infinity Wars, The Tobias Maher Film Festival, and MANY, MANY more). These activities allow boys to build friendships with fellow campers of all age groups and contribute to the sense of family and community that is an important characteristic of Camp Mah-Kee-Nac.
Archery
Aerial Ropes Course
Arts & Crafts
Athletic Leagues
Baseball
Basketball
Biking
Canoeing
Campouts
Color War
Culinary
Digital Photography
Fencing
Fishing
Flag Football
Futsal
GaGa
Gardening
Golf
Hiking
Journalism/Blogging & Web Design
Kayaking
Kneeboarding
Lacrosse
Legos/STEM
Martial Arts
Model Rocketry
Musical Instruments
Nature/Survival Skills
Olympics
Quickball
Rock Climbing
Roller Hockey
Ropes Course (Low and High)
Sailing
Soccer
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Street Hockey
Strength & Conditioning
Stockbridge Series
Swim Instruction
Tennis
Tournaments/Intercamp Games
Trampball
Tubing
Wakeboarding
Water Polo
Waterskiing
Woodshop
Videography
Volleyball
Zip-Lining
Rates include camp tuition, laundry and transportation*. Sibling and Camp Danbee Sister discounts are available, please call us directly at 800-753-9118 to learn more. A required trip fee is additional, which varies by age.
*Bus Transportation for campers to camp (Friday 6/26 or Friday 7/24) and/or home from camp (Friday 7/24 or Saturday 8/14) departs from and drops off at the following locations:
Mini Mak Rookie Camp
boys entering 1st through 5th grade
5 NIGHTS: SUNDAY, JULY 19 – FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020
Tuition: $1,350 ($500 credited towards tuition upon registration) Enroll Here
Our Mini Mak Rookie Camp takes place while camp is in session and is offered only to new boys entering 1st through 5th grade. Our Mini Mak’ers are supervised by experienced Mah-Kee-Nac staff and will be bunked together in separate cabins on Junior Camp. Mini Mak’ers will participate in all camp activities and special events.
I can't say enough good things about this camp. My son started going there 3 years ago. We had a plan of sending him for 3 weeks and he ended up staying for the whole summer. When you get letters home saying "Thank you for sending me here" and "This is the most amazing place" you know you are in good hands. [...]
Robyn FieldsAn amazing camp. It is exactly what summer camp should be. My son just finished his 2nd year there and can't wait to go back next year. He is building such amazing friends, the kids and the staff such good people. The regular activities and special events they put on are incredible. Even the food gets rave reviews. They take such good care of the kids. [...]
Andrew GoldbergOur 14 year old son will be entering his 5th year at MKN after attending another camp for 2 years where things didn't work out. There are not enough words to describe how fantastic MKN is. Our son is by far his best self during the 7 weeks at MKN each summer. They teach him life lessons and skills that I know will carry him into manhood. I LOVE THIS PLACE! It truly is EXTRAORDINARY!! [...]
Jodi SilversteinFrequently asked questions about cabin life
Chaperoned Flights to and from:
Ft. Lauderdale Intl Airport, Washington, DC
Individual Flights:
Please book arrivals and departures for unaccompanied minors to and from:
Albany, NY
Hartford, CT
Boston-Logan, MA
*we will pick up and drop off from these airports only
We offer ground transportation to and from:
Manhattan, NY
Jericho, NY
White Plains, NY
Livingston, NJ
Montvale, NJ
Plymouth Meeting, PA
Framingham, MA
You may choose to drop off and pick up your camper from camp, however, we do recommend the bus as we feel it is a better way to help your camper make the transition to camp.
Use 6 West Hawthorne Road, Stockbridge, MA. If you use Hawthorne Rd, Lenox, many GPS units will default to 6 Hawthorne Street rather than Hawthorne Rd. Please continue along Hawthorne Street until the “t” junction. Turn Left and Camp’s entrance is on the right about 100 yrds from the intersection.