OTISFIELD — The Otisfield Historical Society’s first program for 2025 will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, at the Otisfield Town House on Bell Hill Road. Anne Henderson Fritts, former camp director and granddaughter of the camp’s founder, will focus on the history of the camp.

The camp founder, Dr. George Meylan, was born in Switzerland and came to the United States when he was 13 years old. His life as a boy had instilled a deep love for nature and introduced him to Rousseau’s philosophy: “Let nature be your teacher.” He first ran the White Mountain Camp for boys on Sebago Lake in Raymond until World War II. While he was running White Mountain Camp, his wife and his daughter began operating Camp Arcadia for girls in 1920. Camp Arcadia, which means in Greek “The place where I will always be happy,” is located on Pleasant Lake in Otisfield.

Upon Meylan’s retirement from Columbia University in 1929, the family settled in Otisfield on Poplar Ridge Road at a 200-acre farm with the idea of producing the camp’s vegetables, fruit, beef, and milk. In 1942, his daughter, Juliette Meylan Henderson, became director, and in 1970, his granddaughters Anne Henderson Fritts and Louise Henderson became the directors. It is presently directed by Meylan’s great-granddaughter, Louise Fritts Johnson.

Arcadia’s program is focused on the campers developing an appreciation of Maine’s natural environment and on helping them to live happily and comfortably in the out-of-doors. Refreshments will be available after the program.