West Gardiner, Maine

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Camping, glamping, retreats, and outdoor adventures across Maine — where everyone belongs outside.

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Est. 1893

Rooted in History

Cambridge Gun & Rod Club — historic photograph

Founded 1893

The Cambridge Gun & Rod Club — one of the oldest continuously operating Black outdoor clubs in America.

The Cambridge Gun & Rod Club was founded in 1893 as a coalition of the excluded — Black and Jewish men and their families who were turned away from white hunting and fishing clubs across New England. They built their own. On land they owned. In Maine.

For over 130 years, this land has been a place of refuge, recreation, and community for people who were told the outdoors wasn't for them. Camp Monroe is the next chapter of that legacy.

We're not a nostalgia project. We're a living community — using this historic land to create new memories, new traditions, and new reasons for people to fall in love with the outdoors.

The history is real. The land is real. And the invitation is open.

130+

Years of history

1893

Founded, West Gardiner ME

∞

Acres of wild

Why We Exist

The Mission

Maine is stunning — its forests, lakes, coastlines, and mountains deserve a wider audience. Camp Monroe exists to make sure that invitation reaches everyone, while honoring 130 years of Black outdoor culture on this land.

The Outdoors Is for Everyone

Always has been. We exist to make camp accessible for all communities who've been made to feel otherwise. The woods and our doors are open.

Come for the Weekend. Stay for Life.

We’re building a deeper relationship between people and place in Maine — one rooted in access, shared experience, and belonging. This is just the beginning.

The Legacy Is Real

The Cambridge Gun & Rod Club has stood on this land since 1893. W.E.B. Du Bois found respite in these woods. Major Taylor proved what's possible and we're the next chapter.

Community First

Something shifts when people come together out here. It stays with you— in how you think, connect, and show up.

“If you weren't welcome at their table, we built a better one. That's been true since 1893. It's still true now.”

— Camp Monroe

What We Offer

The Experiences

From day hikes to multi-night retreats, every Camp Monroe experience is curated, guided, and built around community.

Coming 2026

Bike Ride

Tour Du Bois

Brunswick → Camp Monroe, West Gardiner ME·2 Days / 1 Night·from $0

Two days of riding, community, and Maine at its best. Tour Du Bois follows the East Coast Greenway from Brunswick to Camp Monroe. A premier event, this will be a celebration of cycling produced in partnership with the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce and the Black Cycling Coalition.

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Partner-Hosted Retreat

Host Your Retreat at Camp Monroe

West Gardiner, Maine·Weekend or Multi-Day·from $0

Elevate your programming with a venue built for your community. A full-property buyout provides access to the entire Camp Monroe site for your retreat — lodging, shared spaces, kitchen, and the surrounding woods and lakeshore.

Get Early Access to All Trips

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Waitlist

We're building something intentional—and limited capacity means we fill fast. Get on the list to be first to know when trips drop, retreats open, and Camp Monroe is ready to welcome you to Maine.

Join hundreds of Black & brown outdoor enthusiasts

ComeOutside.