Travel Details

Driving to HVC

Directions are noted on the hard copy of the HVC Parent Handbook or by clicking here. Please plan to arrive between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Good-byes maybe difficult for all, so we suggest that during the late morning you have a tour of camp with your child and his/her counselor, meet the llamas, enjoy a picnic lunch with us (served from 12:30 to 1:30), and then allow your child to spend the afternoon getting acquainted and playing games with campers and staff while we await the arrival of camp buses.

Plane Travel to HVC

Unaccompanied minor: It has been recommended that all campers fly with this status as it will ease transfers between camp and airline personnel. Make sure that we have all the necessary paperwork in this regard. Also note that if a fee is required (you'll need to check this with your airline) you will have to pay for this (round trip if necessary) as soon as possible.

Luggage and Carry-on: Please consult with your airline with regard to weight limits. If your camper's bags are over a weight limit you can pay a fee or ship luggage to or from camp (via the "Camp Trucking" service, US Post Office or UPS...) All overweight charges are the advance responsibility of the parents... Remember, campers cannot carry sharp or heavy objects (pocket knives, tennis rackets, etc.) on board.

Chaperone's ID's: Prior to camper arrival, you will receive and email confirming the name and driver's license number of the HVC staff member meeting your child. NOTE: We will not know exact personnel until 4 days prior to arrival.

Arrival: All children will be met at the gate upon arrival. Portland's airport has only one terminal so our staff- members (wearing HVC T-Shirts) can easily meet all flights. Campers and staff then travel together from the airport to camp in a chartered touring bus or our new vans... Arrangements in Boston are similar and "gate passes" are made available to staff allowing us to meet within the terminal.

Arrival Confirmation: Upon arrival, our office staff will be notified and you'll receive a call. If a call does not come right away, do not be alarmed. Even a short delay- along with the expected runway and unloading time- means that we will not have your child in hand until after the scheduled arrival time.

Arrival at HVC: Upon arrival, our counseling staff helps move luggage. Campers are introduced to their cabin counselors who help settle them in their cabins. Dinner, a counselor show, and good-nights round out the days events, with camp tours and other introductory activities taking place the following day.

Bus Travel To HVC

TEANECK, N.J. - Lowe's Glenpointe Hotel, Exit 70B off I-80, I-95 • Departure time: 7:30 (please arrive 20 min early)

NEW YORK CITY - Lincoln Center, West 62nd Street between Amsterdam & Columbus. • Departure time: 8:00 (please arrive 20 min early)

DARIEN, CT. - I-95, Trip to camp - Betw. exits 12 & 13. • Departure time: 9:00 (please arrive 20 min early)

NEW HAVEN, CT. - Trip to camp -Parking area on other side of I-95 from Long Wharf, I-95 North, Exit 46, Beach Side • Departure time: 10:00 (please arrive 20 min early)

NEWTON, MA. - Parking Lot at the Duck Feeding Pond, Across from the Marriott Hotel, off 128 South, after Mass Pike. • Departure time: 11:15 (please arrive 20 min early) Directions to the Duck Feeding Pond noted at bottom of this page.

Directions to the Duck Feeding Pond (aka Canoe Rental area) across the Charles River from the Newton Marriott Hotel
• Take Mass Pike to Exit 15 or • Take Rt. 128/95 to Exit 24
• Follow signs for Rt. 30, Newton/Weston
• Turn right onto South St. (look for signs to Brandeis Univ.)
• Follow signs for Brandeis University; it's a left just before you cross Rt. 128
• Take first right to go under 128 and turn right into parking lot

Departure - More help:
~Please help with luggage, loading trunks first.
~Say good-byes outside the bus so we can leave on-time.
~Delays are avoided. Please note that if only one or two families are late we may only wait for a few minutes.

About the bus ride itself:
~Counseling... Each bus has 1-2 counselors who get to know each camper individually and orient the entire bus group to their day of travel. They let campers know the name of their cabin and introduce them to cabin-mates.
~Pack lunch; no peanut butter please; staff purchase drinks.
~Ipods, gameboys, etc. are OK, and are kept in our office upon arrival through the last day of camp.
~Buses have DVD's which the camp provides for the ride.

~In the event of significant schedule changes or emergencies, we will call or email families.

Bus safety rules: These support an enjoyable ride to Maine... No loud music or voices... Stand up only when necessary... No opening windows... Only enter/ exit with a counselor.

Arrival at HVC: Upon arrival, our counseling staff helps move luggage. Campers are introduced to their cabin counselors who help settle them in their cabins. Dinner, a counselor show, and good-nights round out the day's activities, with camp tours and other introductory activities the following day.

Travel Home Details

Driving from HVC

Car pickup at the end of the session is Thursday morning between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Please arrive on time as children are waiting to join you and hopeful about their next adventure. Click here for directions.

Regarding Wednesday...Parent classes (ropes, crafts, etc.) are offered on Wednesday; details sent via snail mail in the spring...

• Departure Weds. night is discouraged as we hope that cabin groups can spend a last night together.

Plane Travel from HVC

Unaccompanied minor: It has been recommended that all campers fly with this status as it will ease transfers between camp and airline personnel. Please make sure that we have all the necessary paperwork in this regard. Also note that if a fee is required (you'll need to check with your airline) you will have to pay for this (round trip necessary) as soon as possible. If camp pays this fee, a bill will be sent to you.

Luggage and carry-on: Please consult with your airline with regard to weight limits. If your camper's bags are over a weight limit you can pay a fee or ship luggage to/ from camp (via the "Camp Trucking" service, US Post Office or UPS...) All overweight charges are the advance responsibility of parents, and we will bill you... Remember campers cannot carry sharp or heavy objects (knives, tennis rackets, etc.) on board.

General Info (Departure from Maine): Note that staff remain in the airport until all flights have departed. Upon takeoff, our office staff are notified and you will receive a call from HVC. Do not be alarmed if this takes a while, as calls take time and actual departure rarely takes place at the exact time predicted.

Bus Travel from HVC

 TEANECK, N.J. - Lowe's Glenpointe Hotel, Exit 70B off I-80, I-95. • Arrival time: 4:00 (times may vary as noted on this page)

NEW YORK CITY - Lincoln Center, West 62nd Street between Amsterdam & Columbus. • Arrival time: 3:30 (times may vary as noted on this page)

DARIEN, CT. - I-95, Trip from camp - Betw. exits 10 & 9. • Arrival time: 2:30 (times may vary as noted on this page)

NEW HAVEN, CT. - Trip from camp - Parking Area in front of Long Wharf Theater, I-95, Exit 46, Southbound. • Arrival time: 1:30 (times may vary as noted on this page)

NEWTON, MA. - Parking Lot at the Duck Feeding Pond, Across from the Marriott Hotel, off 128 South, after Mass Pike. • Arrival time: 11:30 (times may vary as noted on this page)

Directions to the Duck Feeding Pond (aka Canoe Rental area) across the Charles River from the Newton Marriott Hotel
• Take Mass Pike to Exit 15 or • Take Rt. 128/95 to Exit 24
• Follow signs for Rt. 30, Newton/Weston
• Turn right onto South St. (look for signs to Brandeis Univ.)
• Follow signs for Brandeis University; it's a left just before you cross Rt. 128
• Take first right to go under 128 and turn right into parking lot


Delays: IF your bus is delayed for a short time, do not be alarmed. For longer delays (from time to time, incoming New York buses are delayed in traffic), please call our office; we contact the bus or dispatcher. Thanks for your understanding.

Early arrival is possible. We attempt to call families to alert you, and wait until scheduled arrival times for all families.

In the event of an emergency, we will alert families via cell or email as quickly as possible.

Arrival: Please greet your camper and take responsibility for their supervision. Then help with luggage as noted below.

Luggage: Please help us unload the buses and check all of your child's possessions are with you before bus departs stop.

Late Parents: Often the bus is required to move on to another stop or back to Maine and cannot wait for late parents. If this is the case, your child will be left to wait with another family.

About the bus ride itself:
~Counseling: Each bus has one or two counselors on it.
~Meals: We prepare lunches and snacks for campers.
~Entertainment: Most buses allow for DVD's which camp provides for the ride... Ipods, gameboys, etc. are OK, and stored in our office prior to departure.

Bus safety rules: These are basic and will be shared with campers prior to departure from HVC... No loud music or voices... Stand up only when necessary... No opening windows... Only enter/ exit with a counselor.