A Brief History of Camp Bishopswood


Camp Bishopswood has been owned and operated as an arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since the early 1960’s. Located on the shores of Lake Megunticook near Camden, Maine, Bishopswood is a beautiful, picture-perfect slice of God’s creation – ideal for a children’s summer camp!

For thousands of years before it was Camp Merestead, the Penobscot Nation were the original stewards of the land. They called it “Megunticook,” meaning “great swells of the sea.” This is a reference to the silhouette of the Camden Hills, a sight most visible on a bright night.

First built for sports and recreation in the mid-30s as Camp Merestead, the facility was a private camp for girls with an emphasis on athletics, water sports, and the performing arts. In the 30s, Merestead boasted the first regulation field hockey field in the state of Maine. In the early 60s, the Merestead facility was purchased by the Episcopal Camp Foundation and began operation as Bishopswood, a traditional church camp. For a number of years there were separate sessions for girls and boys. Since the early 70s, Bishopswood has been co-ed.

Land Acknowledgment

We recognize this land and the surrounding water for their significance to the Penobscot people who came before us and those who still inhabitant the land today. We graciously honor the land itself and the original stewards of this special place.