Merrimack Valley YMCA Camps (Camp Otter, Camp Lawrence, Camp Nokomis)
Andover/North Andover YMCA, 165 Haverhill St, Andover, NH 1810
About
Merrimack Valley YMCA Camps (Camp Otter, Camp Lawrence, Camp Nokomis) offer activities that include swimming, boating, sports, arts, ropes courses, and an improv class. Camp Otter is a day camp, while Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis are overnight camps. Camp Lawrence serves boys and Camp Nokomis serves girls.
• Ages: 6–16 years old
Staff members are carefully chosen for their leadership skills, compassion, creativity, and enthusiasm for working with children, and the staff includes teachers, college and high school students, as well as previous campers who have completed a two-year Counselor-in-Training program. Every staff member undergoes an extensive background check, including a CORI/SORI check and appropriate reference checks, and all camp staff attend a one-week training and orientation program that includes CPR, First Aid and AED certification, conflict resolution, leadership development and team building, behavior management, emergency procedures, program development, and character development. Anne Whalen provides leadership and oversight for Camp Lawrence, Camp Nokomis, and Camp Otter as Senior Executive Director of Camping Services, and she is a member and past President of the Exchange Club of Salem, NH. Camp Otter serves children ages 6–13, offers fun weekly themes, provides a welcoming, non-competitive environment, and has convenient daily transportation. Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis provide spaces where campers can be themselves, build confidence, and form lasting friendships, and Bear Island camping programs, including Family Camp (Aug 23–31, 2026) and Women’s Wellness Weekend (Aug 28–30, 2026), are available for adults and families. One camper described Camp Otter as “the best experience ever” and remembered “getting into the cold refreshing lake every morning,” while another camper shared that at Camp Lawrence they “got to play, swim and have fun” and “made lots of friends.” A parent reported that their 12-year-old daughter Abby “had such an amazing experience at Camp Nokomis,” especially enjoying her improv class and meeting new friends, and stated that their family chose Nokomis based on recommendations from friends and a camp alumna.
Last updated January 27, 2026.
• Ages: 6–16 years old
Staff members are carefully chosen for their leadership skills, compassion, creativity, and enthusiasm for working with children, and the staff includes teachers, college and high school students, as well as previous campers who have completed a two-year Counselor-in-Training program. Every staff member undergoes an extensive background check, including a CORI/SORI check and appropriate reference checks, and all camp staff attend a one-week training and orientation program that includes CPR, First Aid and AED certification, conflict resolution, leadership development and team building, behavior management, emergency procedures, program development, and character development. Anne Whalen provides leadership and oversight for Camp Lawrence, Camp Nokomis, and Camp Otter as Senior Executive Director of Camping Services, and she is a member and past President of the Exchange Club of Salem, NH. Camp Otter serves children ages 6–13, offers fun weekly themes, provides a welcoming, non-competitive environment, and has convenient daily transportation. Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis provide spaces where campers can be themselves, build confidence, and form lasting friendships, and Bear Island camping programs, including Family Camp (Aug 23–31, 2026) and Women’s Wellness Weekend (Aug 28–30, 2026), are available for adults and families. One camper described Camp Otter as “the best experience ever” and remembered “getting into the cold refreshing lake every morning,” while another camper shared that at Camp Lawrence they “got to play, swim and have fun” and “made lots of friends.” A parent reported that their 12-year-old daughter Abby “had such an amazing experience at Camp Nokomis,” especially enjoying her improv class and meeting new friends, and stated that their family chose Nokomis based on recommendations from friends and a camp alumna.
Last updated January 27, 2026.
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