Camp Quinebarge was founded on the shores of Lake Kanasatka in 1936 by Tom and Ruth Kenly and a small group of young men who built the first cabins and buildings. Drawing from the New England, New York and New Jersey areas initially, Quinebarge grew with many of the traditions of the time, including singing and developing camping skills, while also creating its own unique environment with Monkeytown, USA, complete with its own Mayor, Olympics and Carnival, which we still have today.

Tom and Barbara Brunelle, affectionately known as Mr. and Mrs. B, took the reins of Camp Quinebarge in 1962, and eventually integrated the all-girls Camp Winnetaska with Quinebarge in 1975, making us a co-ed camp. We still honor Winnetaska today, though all activities are co-ed. The Brunelle’s passed the reins to Tom Hannaford, a former camper, in 1983. Mr. B remained active in camp until his passing in 2010, while Mrs. B was at Quinebarge until 2013 assisting in the wood shop, and comes by each summer for Monkeytown Carnival. Four generations of Brunelle children and relatives have grown up and continue at Quinebarge, keeping together this rich summer family and our traditions.

For 29 years, Tom Hannaford, our third Tom if you are counting, owned Quinebarge, again maintaining the special spirit of Quinebarge, while adding activities including the Wall, ropes course and zip line.

From 1970 to his passing in 2000, Bill Dold served as the Camp Director and many other roles. A guidance counselor in Braintree, Mass. public schools, Bill operated camp for decades and even ran a Winter Ski Week for several years in the 1980’s.

In 2012, Tom passed the torch to the Carbonfund.org Foundation, run by former camper and counselor Eric Carlson, which is maintaining the rich traditions Quinebarge offers while adding environmental activities to the camp experience. Today, Eric and Lesley own and run Camp Quinebarge.

Every camper since 1936 has their name on a cabin plaque in our Dining Hall (Kenly Hall), bridging the generations and it is one of the truly great aspects of Quinebarge that children see every day.