Winter News

The 2007 camping season has ended. Camp opened with a local birthday party on May 12th. Our last event was held October 14th with a retreat. Sandwiched in between was one of the busiest summers camp has ever had. We had 22 different groups, organizations or individual wedding groups use our facility this year. The camp program itself served more than 700 different campers including campers from Spain, Canada, Mexico, Morocco, Italy, along with a host of States and towns and of course Maine. For the first time in several years our camp operated at capacity for two weeks serving 220 campers all at one time. I am pleasantly surprised 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.

There is also more excitement to talk about as the State YMCA Board of Directors has kicked off a 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 will go to benefit the YMCA Camp. The campaign goal is $ 1 Million Dollars. The campaign has already raised $ 250,000 and we are just finishing our first year. Several capital improvements have taken place thanks to the generosity of many alumni and friends. We have the new “Fuller Multi Sports Complex” which features three new tennis and two new basketball courts. We have refurbished the “Chapel in the Pines” and dedicated it to our recently deceased and long time board member Norm Temple and his wife Barbara.

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 2008.

We would also like to congratulate Timothy Jewell and Jennifer Shield for being the early bird winners of a new iPod nano music card from the YMCA Camp of Maine. Timothy and Jennifer’s name was drawn from all campers who registered and paid in full before March 15, 2007. Hope you enjoy your new iPod card Timothy & Jenn. Watch the web site for a similar contest in 2008.

Check out our new web site. It is truly new and improved! Registration for 2008 opens November 1, 2007. This is new!

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 online. Just go to our Registration Page and 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!

Our Alumni family continues to grow. New alumni registrations have been coming in weekly. 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 2007 we had alumni attend from 1928 through the present. What a great opportunity to return to camp and get reacquainted with campers and staff from years past.

The YMCA Camp Annual drive for Camp Scholarships has fallen well short of our goal this year. 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 2007. 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.

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.

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