Our Philosophy
About Tohkomeupog – we believe that an overnight summer camp experience should be one of lasting value to every boy.
We strive to create a safe environment in which a boy can express himself with confidence. Positive attitudes, firm friendships, and friendly spirits encourage this confidence and support each camper’s attempt to challenge personal boundaries – physically, mentally and socially. We believe in individual freedom of choice. Therefore, we offer each boy the widest possible range of options – and then allow him to actively customize his program.
We focus on those skills that can best be acquired and enjoyed outside. We believe that a boy needs this outdoor experience for a healthy balance in his life. Experiences at camp are educational, as well as recreational in nature.
A boy may find satisfaction, as well as shelter, in the lean-to he created with his own hands. He may not only enjoy the flavor of a tasty meal, but also the fact that he cooked it for himself in a campfire that he helped to build. Possibilities for learning at camp are endless – and so, therefore, is the potential for enjoyment.
Sending your boy to summer camp isn’t an expense — it’s one of the most meaningful investments you can make in his growth and future. Every activity, challenge, and friendship forged at camp builds the kind of real-world development skills that no classroom can replicate: leadership, resilience, teamwork and self-confidence. These are experiences that last a lifetime, shaping the young man he’s becoming long after the summer ends. You’re not just signing up for a few weeks of fun — you’re giving your son a foundation of memories, skills, and character that will carry him through every stage of life.
About Tohkomeupog
Our Setting
Tohkomeupog sits on 1,000 acres of unspoiled land in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, surrounding the clean, sparkling waters of Purity Lake. Protected from development and bordered by an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Purity Lake reflects both the natural beauty of New Hampshire and the enduring spirit of Tohkomeupog. The camp is fully accredited by the American Camp Association.
About Tohkomeupog
Our History
Along with an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Tohkomeupog surrounds the clean, sparkling waters of Purity Lake. Private and pristine, Purity Lake reflects the purest beauty of New Hampshire, and the purest spirit of Tohkomeupog.
It was in this spirit that the first group of boys splashed in the waters of Purity Lake. The year was 1932 – there came to this little valley a woman by the name of Maud Hersey. A housemother at the Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, Mrs. Hersey had decided to bring a small group of students here on a summer retreat. Established then as the ‘Purity Spring Mountain Inn’, the property was owned and operated by Edward E. Hoyt.
The group lived in a rustic “bungalow” near the shore of the lake. The bungalow had a large open room with a stone fireplace, a kitchen facility, and a wrap-around screened in porch. The boys bunked on the porch – protected from the weather, yet still able to enjoy the summer breeze and sounds of the lake. While here, Mrs. Hersey developed a friendship with Edward’s son, “Milt” – he helped run the outdoor program for her boys that summer.
It was this experience that would change the course of Milt’s life… and, inevitably, send ripples racing across the waters of Purity Lake. A young, ambitious man, E. Milton Hoyt became inspired by the notion that young boys would so greatly benefit from a camp experience in this natural setting. He continued to run the summer program out of the bungalow until 1935. At that point, he decided to expand upon his vision.
Milt envisioned a special blending of sports, outdoor activities, and camping adventures. He relocated the camp up to a large, sturdy farmhouse located on another part of the Hoyt property – the Harmon homestead. Soon after, the name of the camp officially became Tohkomeupog – a modified Native American translation of the English, “Spring Water.” Milt transformed his vision into reality… and his success has spanned generations.
Camp Leadership
Our Leaders
Andrew Mahoney: Managing Partner
Stevo Harding: Camp Director
John Sexton: Waterfront Director
David Turner: Trip Director
Dawn Petersen: Office Manager
John Petersen: Riflery Director
Jason Cicero: Tennis Director
Helen Crowell: Camp Nurse
Bob Burton: Camp Nurse
Mark Conklin: Encampment Director
Ryan Johnson: Encampment Director
Tom Romary: Encampment Director