‘I Won It.’ Three simple words with big meaning if you’ve been lucky enough to camp at Point Sebago Resort in Casco, Maine. Put the beloved motto on a T-shirt, and it becomes a New England icon for generations of campers.
The ‘I Won It’ shirt is a family tradition in Maine. It’s a must-have.
“Three generations of our family have chased those ‘I Won It’ T-shirts.
Julie Rondeau
One cotton shirt, three words, and it’s the ultimate prize for Point Sebago guests who book a summer cabin. For Julie Rondeau, it’s the best part of her summer vacation at the family-friendly campground each year.
“It’s always, always the ‘I Won It’ shirt,” explained Julie, who began traveling from Massachusetts in 1989.
The Tradition of the Point Sebago ‘I Won It’ Shirt
It’s more than a summer vacation souvenir.
You can’t buy a Point Sebago ‘I Won It’ T-shirt. As the name suggests – you have to win it.
So how did a simple, cotton t-shirt become the ultimate must-have for families vacationing in Maine?
Point Sebago opened on the shores of Sebago Lake in Maine in 1970. The original campground offered entertainment, crafts, classic summer camp competitions, and eventually the ‘I Won It’ T-shirt.
Win the pickleball tournament, earn a shirt. Dominate everyone in the canoe races, win a shirt.
“There was always an activity to do. My family is competitive, my kids, and now my grandchildren,” explains Julie, who calls the shirt “the ultimate prize.”
Tap the photos above to see the Point Sebago shirts through the years.
Nowadays, summer brings the best chance to win the Point Sebago ‘I Won It’ shirt. There are more than 250 activities each week during the height of summer. Many offer guests a shot at winning the coveted shirts.
Each year the shirt design and color change.
The 2026 shirt featured a cartoon moose and the iconic words ‘I Won It.’ Point Sebago Resort orders 4,500 of the prized shirts, including a special prize shirt for Halloween season guests.
Win the pumpkin carving contest, get a shirt. Wow everyone in the group costume contest, win a shirt. It’s about bragging rights.
But for longtime campers, the shirt is about so much more.
Sebago Lake Family Traditions with the Grandkids
“For our family, the Point Sebago competitions aren’t just activities. They’re some of our favorite vacation memories.”
The importance of the shirts live on beyond the Point Sebago season. They become family lore and a symbol of tradition. Guests turn these cherished heirlooms into flags, quilts, and collections to be shown off.
“Point Sebago isn’t just where we vacation. It’s where our family traditions come to life,” reflects Julie, who turned a 1980s Labor Day Weekend camping trip into 30 years and three generations of tradition.
Julie and Roger Rondeau raised their kids camping on Sebago Lake. Now her grandkids clamor for the chance to win an ‘I Won It’ shirt each summer.
“My grandchildren don’t want to leave. Point Sebago really is their happy place.”
There’s never a dull moment at Point Sebago for the Rondeau clan. Ten grandkids (ranging from 5 to 12 years old) keep Julie and Roger busy. They compete in everything from shuffleboard to washer toss to trivia.
The busy campground calendar is posted online so guests can make a plan. There’s also a Point Sebago Resort magazine that shows what is available for the upcoming season from opening day in May to the Halloween costume contests in October.
Tap above for the Rondeau family’s Point Sebago Halloween costumes through the years.
However, not every moment is dominated by the hunt for the “I Won It” shirt.
The Rondeau grandkids maximize their time at Point Sebago. There’s fishing with Ranger Rick and line dancing classes with Point Sebago legends Flamin’ Raymin’ and Sizzlin’ Suzzin’.
“The grandkids like to learn the dances. We have videos of the Point Sebago classes. Now my daughter puts on the dances and the kids practice at home.”
The grandkids come and go throughout the summer. Julie and her husband take two grandkids at a time.
“They don’t want to leave. It’s their special time with grandma and grandpa.”
Staying Longer at Point Sebago Resort
The whole family, all 18 of them, return to vacation together in August.
But Julie and Roger stay all season. The couple keeps their fifth wheel on a seasonal camping site. It means they can store their camper year-round at the family resort.
Julie’s watched the campground evolve since the early ’90s.
Point Sebago expanded and added a golf course in the mid-90s. There are cabin rentals, glamping tents, tiny homes, a lodge that sleeps 22, and RV sites. Guests can stay for a weekend, the week, or all season. You can even buy a Point Sebago cabin, giving you access to the pet-friendly resort from May to October.
Julie started by renting a cabin.
Then in 2005, the Rondeaus bought a camper and joined the Gas Saver Program. It allows guests to rent one site for the season (now available in spring and fall). Guests can come and go, but leave their RV or fifth wheel. It’s a home base without the hassle of picking up and hauling out every weekend.
“It was a great deal. We enjoyed it.”
But the actual campsite is secondary. It’s not really about the ‘I Won It’ shirt either. Point Sebago is more than a family summer vacation destination.
A Maine Summer Vacation Legacy
“Being at Sebago Lake is always a treasure. The lake, the activities, the people. Those are the reasons we keep coming back year after year.”
For longtime Point Sebago guests like Julie, the people are the essence of this great summer vacation destination. It’s a big family once you come through the front gates.
Julie knows that feeling better than most. She’s considered a “seasonal camper.”
In Point Sebago lingo, “seasonal campers” are the guests who return year after year. The seasonals know the ins and outs of Sebago Lake and the best live bands. It’s a bond that extends beyond the Point Sebago season.
“A lot of us have a long history at Point Sebago. We have a very special connection.”
That bond keeps families like the Rondeaus coming back to their favorite vacation spot. It’s a Maine tradition rooted in competition and camaraderie. And perhaps the ultimate win isn’t the shirt after all. It’s everything the shirt symbolizes – time, family, and summers of unforgettable memories.