Outside With Your Kids Since 1974

Gloucester Adventure Camp

Outside with your kids since 1976...

GMS Adventure Camp fosters a sense of wonder, environmental stewardship, and critical thinking skills. The open spaces of Essex County serve as a living classroom for campers to learn, appreciate and understand the natural resources of the greater Cape Ann area.

Mud Pit

Contribute for the youth of Cape Ann

The list of items we need to keep our camp up and running every year is virtually endless. We are grateful for everything we receive from our supporters – from big to small. What follows is a wish list of materials, equipment, and supplies that will help us keep giving our campers adventure-filled summer days. And, just for fun, we’ve added a list of Sponsor Levels and Rewards for each level of support.

We are happy to accept gifts of the items themselves, or if you prefer, send us a check or follow the link on the “Donate” button at the right of the page to make a cash contribution to our program. All gifts, contributions and donations are tax deductible and go directly to fund the items you designate. Please email us directly if you have any questions.

Dories – The dories in our small fleet range from 10 to 30 years old. Over the course of the next 5 to 10 years, we will begin rotating 4 newer vessels into service. In keeping with tradition, we are working on an order for a new dory with the oldest boat building school in United States: The Boat School, an affiliate of Husson Univesity in Eastport, Maine. Cost: $5,000 to $7,500 per dory

Oars – Each dory requires 5 sturdy oars that need to be replaced every few years. Cost: $60 – $100 per oar

Life Jackets – We can never have enough of them! We happily accept all Coast Guard approved life jackets – new or used. Cost: $40 per life jacket or simply bring us any life jackets your children have outgrown.

Lumber – Both our Nature Center and the cat walk from the dock to the island need repairs. Cost: approximately $50 per plank

13″ MAC Books – Our island camper/resident, Everest Crawford, recently built an underwater R.O.V. in a program run jointly by M.I.T. and the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center. We’d love to put the unit into service, fully equpped with an underwater camera and 2 MAC books for campers to view the underwater realms of Cape Ann. Cost: $1,100 apiece or recycle your old one with us (OS 10.4 and above only, please).

Field Microscopes – Ideally, we’d love to have 12 or more of them for our Nature Center. Cost: $85 each

Nets, Field Guides, Arts & Crafts supplies, games for rainy day activities, raincoats, boots, life jackets – If you find any of these items in good condition when you are cleaning out your closets, we are always happy to accept them as gifts.