Maine Primitive Skills School

98%

· Augusta, Kennebec, Maine · 30 acres

Hosted by Michael D.

2 tent sites

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

The land was purchased by Mike and Karen Douglas in 1996 and has been the site of their residence and that of Maine Primitive Skills School, which teaches Wilderness Awareness, Survival and Self-Reliance Skills to hundreds of students from around the country and the globe each year. The land is split by Church Hill Road. The west side of the road is where the majority of the school's facilities are located and where most of the day-to-day activities take place. The plot east of the road is used for overnight experiences and as a place to observe animal tracks and sign. The forest here is a classroom as much as it is a garden. It has been tended with a caretaker attitude for two decades to increase the bounty of edible foods for animals and humans alike. We hope that all our visitors can enjoy and carry on this tradition by participating conscientiously with our sacred forest. Learn more about this land: Park your car at our parking lot near the road. Cross the boardwalk over the wetland. Walk through the clearing up a slight incline, to the trail-head, through the mixed hardwood forest, to a secluded campsite where you can watch the stars and listen to the sounds of the forest in the privacy of your campsite. Over 1000 acres of quiet State Wildlife Management land sits adjacent to our plot of land and is yours to explore! If you're up for a hike, follow the ATV trail to Spectacle Pond which is a 100-acre lake with an island in the middle. There are two disc golf courses within walking distance down the road from the trail-head if that's more your style. We run Maine Primitive Skills School, and the main facilities are located across the road. We rent out this area of the property to campers when we are not utilizing it for courses. Feel free to come on over and say hi! If you need any tips on making your camping experience more enjoyable we're the people to ask.Park your car at our parking lot near the road. Cross the boardwalk over the wetland. Walk through the clearing up a slight incline, to the trail-head, through the mixed hardwood forest, to a secluded campsite where you can watch the stars and listen to the sounds of the forest in the privacy of your campsite. Over 1000 acres of quiet State Wildlife Management land sits adjacent to our plot of land and is yours to explore! If you're up for a hike, follow the ATV trail to Spectacle Pond which is a 100-acre lake with an island in the middle. There are two disc golf courses within walking distance down the road from the trail-head if that's more your style. We run Maine Primitive Skills School, and the main facilities are located across the road. We rent out this area of the property to campers when we are not utilizing it for courses. Feel free to come on over and say hi! If you need any tips on making your camping experience more enjoyable we're the people to ask.

What to expect

Tent site

Camping area selected or assigned upon arrival.

12 guests max per site

Campfires allowed

Private. Firewood can be purchased for $2 a bushel at the schoolhouse about half a mile from the campsite.

Toilet available

Pit toilet. We have an old fashioned outhouse located next to the campsite.

No pets

No potable water

Bring your own water

No showers

Bathe in lake. An hour hike through the Wildlife Management Area will bring you to Spectacle Pond which is clean and a joy to swim in during the summertime.

Pack it out

Picnic table absent

No wifi

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 2:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Meet with Host

Cancellation policy: Flexible

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 12 months out

Short walk

No wheelchair access

Max 14 vehicles

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

Reviews

98% Recommend20 ratings · 16 reviews

Andrew C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2024

Perfect spot for outta towners!

Tent

This place was absolutely perfect! Mike and crew were great hosts- even stayed up for us in order to show us the property before they turned in for the night. We stayed there during the offseason so we had the whole place to ourselves and it couldn't have been better. Highly recommend.

Jess L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent

Very cute, private camp site. I will say that the pathway to get to the site was pretty overgrown, but otherwise it was perfect for stopping for the night!

Chase B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

Tent

Sure! Here’s a similar review: This campsite was just what I needed—a perfect blend of nature and convenience. Being close enough to Augusta made it easy to explore while still enjoying a peaceful retreat. I’ll definitely be back!

Floortje D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2023

Tent

Michael is very welcoming and nice! The site was great for my hammock and nice composting toilet.

Evan G.

4 reviews

Recommends

· August 2022

Tent

Worked great for us to set up our tent for the night

Sara T.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2022

Great location

Tent

Very easy spot to get to. the campsite was perfect for one quick night in maine to visit some friends.

Location

Augusta, Kennebec, Maine, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), N’dakina (Abenaki / Abénaquis), and Nanrantsouak First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking