Winter News

From the Director: The 2009 camping season will officially end October 24, 2009. Camp opened on May 16th with a wedding. Our last event will be wedding held October 24th. This is the latest date camp has been open. Sandwiched in between was one of the busiest summers camp has ever had. We had 24 different groups, organizations or individual wedding groups use our facility this year. The camp program itself served more than 650 different campers including campers from France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, England, Russia, Israel along with a host of States and towns and of course children from Maine. We were very fortunate we were one of the camps in Maine that didn’t have the H1N1 Virus. We did have the effect of the H1N1 Virus as one week before camp opened we had 70 campers cancel their reservations from China because they were afraid to fly to America and would catch the H1N1 Virus. Camp lost 20% of our working capital and we will not recover in the 2009 camping season. Some sessions filled to capacity and we had to turn campers away, so don’t wait reserve your child’s spot by applying on line November 1, 2009. It is exciting to see how the YMCA Camp of Maine can be used by so many different groups for so many different functions. We are doing our best to be a community resource for so many individuals and groups.

New this year the YMCA Camp participated in the state wide Maine Youth Camping Association “Spelling Bee.” We sent five campers and finished fifth out of 15 competing camps. The campers were: Rose Segal, Kaitlynne Morse, Courtney McGorrill, Crystal Archibald, and Alexa Pennavaria We are very proud of the campers who represented the YMCA Camp of Maine. We look forward to send a team in 2010 as well!

There is also more excitement to talk about as the State YMCA Board of Directors has entered into Phase 2 of the capital campaign for renovating all of our camp facilities. The campaign is called the “Director’s Campaign.” The campaign is under the direction of a Capital Steering Committee made up of Board Members, Alumni and Volunteers. Every dollar raised so far has gone to benefit the YMCA Camp. The campaign goal is $ 1 Million Dollars. The campaign has already raised $ 260,000. Several capital improvements have taken place thanks to the generosity of many alumni and friends. I would like to invite each of you to participate in this Phase 2 Campaign. We have plans to build a totally new shower facility on the boy’s side of camp.

There were some exciting debates held this year before one boy and one girl were chosen as camper of the year. Each session one girl and one boy are chosen as camper of the session. At the end of the year staff select one boy and one girl from the ones chosen from each session to be camper of the year. Each camper of the year is recognized with a miniature canoe paddle that is engraved with their name on it. Another paddle with their name and year is mounted on the dining hall wall.

Congratulations to all the nominees and also to the Campers of the Year!

We look forward to their return in 2010.

We would also like to congratulate Audrey Grey and Cameron Frecker for being the early bird winners of a new iTunes music card from the YMCA Camp of Maine. Audrey and Cameron’s names were drawn from all campers who registered and paid in full before March 15, 2009. Hope you enjoy your new iTunes card Audrey & Cameron. Watch the web site for a similar contest in 2010.

Registration for 2009 opens November 1, 2009. Sign up now! We have had many inquiries as to when campers can enroll. This past year enrollment was up and many of our sessions were full.
We would encourage you to register early. It is really easy to register on line. Just go to our web site at www.maineycamp.org and click on the register for camp link. Follow the directions and you will have your place reserved the very day you register.

Give a child a Christmas present that lasts a life time, a camp experience at the YMCA Camp of Maine! Once again, interested staff will be able to apply for a position on line. Sign onto our website and go to the employment icon. The YMCA Camp Job Application will appear. Fill it out and send it electronically to the Y Camp Office.

Our Alumni family continues to grow. Have you registered as alumni on our alumni page yet? What are you waiting for? What a great opportunity to re-connect with a fellow camper or staff. By registering as alumni you also stay connected with camp. Camp alumni are very important to the health and well being of the total camp operation. Each summer the Y Camp has an alumni reunion day. This celebration has gained momentum for the past three years. In 2009 we had alumni attend from 1934 through the present.

The YMCA Camp Annual drive for Camp Scholarships is always in need of your support. The announcement of a capital campaign has significantly affected our annual drive for scholarship funding. Consequently, the Y Camp was unable to provide as much scholarship support in 2009. The Y Camp has always provided scholarship support for families of campers in need and will continue to do so. Scholarship support may be reduced in order to serve all the families in need.

We did have some good news in the scholarship department.

The Y Camp is always in need of items that are still in good condition without missing parts. The Y camp is a 501c3 organization so individuals can receive a tax deduction on items donated. Check out those basements, attics, garages and storage sheds. You may have something you are no longer using anymore and may want to donate it to the camp.

We are in need of the following:

Sunfish or similar type of sail boats ($ 2,800.00 new)
Canoes or Kayaks
Life jackets
Board games
Tables & Chairs for the Auditorium
Pottery Wheels could use 1 or 2 ($ 600.00 new)
Good used furniture – Chairs, Tables, Chester Draws, etc.
Sports Equipment – softball gloves, bats, tennis rackets, street hockey sticks etc.

Hope to see you this summer, “Where It’s Always 72 Degrees & Sunny!”