News

From the Director

The 2011 camping season will officially end October 15, 2011. Camp opened on April 18, 2011 with a four day camp sponsored by the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed. Our last event will be a wedding held on October 15th. Once again we have been able to stretch out the time camp has stayed open. Y Camp continues to serve a variety of groups and organizations. We served 34 different groups, organizations or individual wedding groups at our facility this year. The camp program itself served more than 600 individual campers including campers from France, Spain, Canada, China, Israel, and Germany along with a host of States and towns and of course children from Maine. 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 December 1, 2011. 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 we participated in the Guinness World Book of Records "Outside Marsh Mellow Roast." Over 90 YMCA Camps across the nation roasted marsh mellows on July 21st. The roast was documented and results were submitted for credit. We welcomed the return of "Jobs for Maine Graduates Program" along with "Onward Bound Program" from the University of Maine, Orono. Monmouth and Freeport Schools have returned for their seventh year at camp learning leadership skills and team building skills. The Friend's of the Cobbossee Watershed held two weeks of Environmental Day Camp. Lisbon H.S. held their Project Graduation. The YMCA Camp was also the catalyst for training staff to work in other camps offering a Certification School covering trainings in Basic Wilderness First Aid, CPR/First Aid and Life Guard Training.

There is also more excitement to talk about as the YMCA Camp was host to the 136th Engineering Company of the Maine Army National Guard Annual Training.
From the Director continued...

The training provided capital improvements to the camp facility which included new roofs on several buildings along with complete restoration of seventeen cabins on the boy's side of camp. These improvements kicked off our 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 $ 332,788 and additional volunteer hours valued at $ 172,000 provided by the 136th Engineering Company of the Maine Army National Guard. This takes our campaign over the 50% mark of our goal. We still have a way to go. Phase two included the construction of a brand new handi-capped accessible bathroom/shower facility in the boy's village. The showers for the bathrooms were donated by Bath Mate Bathroom Supply Company. I would like to invite each of you to participate in this Phase 2 Campaign. There will be mechanical and electrical upgrades to many of the camp buildings. The camp road needs to be completely rebuilt to stop the erosion into the lake. You can view our total capital campaign brochure by going to maineycamp.org and click on the "Director's Campaign" link located in the left side navigation. I would encourage you to donate to this very worth while and needed, campaign, especially when your child can benefit from the upgrades if they are made while he or she is at camp. Please help us to keep the momentum going as we move into our next phase of improvements. Won't you please consider a gift to this very important campaign? Any and all size donations are important as we continue with this very important capital improvement program. The YMCA Camp of Maine has touched so many lives and has truly made an impact on the campers who have attended. This campaign deserves your support as the Y Camp of Maine continues to provide an experience that will truly last a lifetime.

See you this camping season,

Barry Costa

Executive Director

Check Out the New Bathhouse

Another addition to our facilities located between the Middle Village and Senior Village on the boy's side of camp. This new bathroom/shower house features auto flush toilets, handicapped bathrooms & showers. It has a quarry tiled floor with drains and v-pine on the interior. The new bathroom was designed and built with local contractors (Don's Electric, Barry Crowell Plumbing, Danny Web Excavation, and Concrete Craftsmen Inc.) along with volunteers under the supervision of our very capable maintenance director Hartley Palleschi. The new facility features privacy to campers as there are stalls for changing purposes before entering the showers.

2011 Boy & Girl Camper of the Year

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.

Nominees – Camper of the Session:
Session 1a: Isabella Perry (F) & Zachary Bacon (M)

Session 2: Sadrine Marin (F) & Fernando Aquilar Tejero (M)

Session 3: Libby O'Brien (F) & Miguel Aquilar Tejero (M)

Session 4a: Courtney Koffink (F) & Nicholas Mahoney (M)

Session 4b: Jessica Falck (F) & Justin Caiazzo (M)

Campers of the Year: Libby O'Brien (F) & Fernando Aquilar Tejero (M)

2011 Early Bird Contest Winner

We would also like to congratulate Jeanne Sauvé and Joanie Dallaire Hebert for being the early bird winners of a new iPod nano music card from the YMCA Camp of Maine. Jeanne and Joanie's names were drawn from all campers who registered and paid in full before March 15, 2011. Hope you enjoy your new iPod card Jeanne & Joanie. Watch the web site for a similar contest in next year.

Register online today for a similar contest next year.

Website Update

Registration for 2012 opens December 1, 2011.

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 on line. Visit our online registration page and follow the simple directions. 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.

Individuals who have questions or need additional information can e-mail the camp at: info@maineycamp.org

Calling All Alumni

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. What a great opportunity to return to camp and get reacquainted with campers and staff from years past. We hear time after time how much Y Camp was such an important part of many campers and staff lives. Why not get re-connected?

Visit our Alumni section of the website or like us on facebook!

Scholarships

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 2011. 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 YMCA Camp has been the recipient of the Candace Beesley Jamison Scholarship fund since 2006. Two campers are selected annually to receive a full one week camp experience in Candace Beesley's memory.

The Y Camp is always appreciative and willing to accept donations for our scholarship program. Campers who need support should contact the YMCA Camp office for a scholarship application. You can contact the office by e-mail or call direct at (207) 395-4200.

Grant from West Marine

The YMCA Camp of Maine received a grant from West Marine "Youth Boating Program." This grant enabled the camp to receive up to $ 1,000 dollars worth of equipment for youth in a residential camp setting. The camp received 16 new type three US Coast Guard approved adult sized life jackets and 16 children sized life jackets in addition to seventy five feet of quality sailing line. This new equipment was placed into service as soon as it arrived. We are very grateful to the West Marine Company for this generous grant.

Sierra Club Military Scholarships & Matching Gifts

The 2011 camping season had a helping hand from the Sierra Club along with matching dollars from a group of VFW Posts, Ladies Auxiliaries from VFW Posts, American Legion Posts and the Ladies Elk Club throughout the state of Maine. The Y-Camp received a $ 7,000 grant from the Sierra Club through the Armed Forces YMCA. We provided 39 campers from military families with full scholarships.

We are very grateful to the following list of Posts for their contributions:

VFW Posts:
Shirley B Carter Post # 4298, Dexter
Pitman-Morrison Post # 4298, Bath
Soule Shuman Memorial Post # 452, Waldoboro

American Legion Contributions:
Bourque Post # 5, Waterville
William-Simpson Post # 201, Dixmont
American Legion Post # 86, Gray
American Legion Post # 80 Millinocket
Decker-Simmons Post # 51 Oakland

Elks Club:
Elks Ladies # 905, Waterville

Ladies Auxiliaries to the VFW Posts:
Shirley B Carter Post # 4298, Dexter
Frank L Mitchell Post # 3335 Livermore Falls
Forest J Pare Post # 1285, Waterville
MacCillis-Rousseau Post # 8835, Winslow
Lovell Memorial Post # 6783, Fryeburg
William B Doughty Post # 5723, Jackman
Boyd-Smith Post # 9779, Calais
Gauvin Fowler Post # 3381, Old Town
Leveille Shorey Post # 9429 West Enfield
LAVF Post # 6187, Fort Fairfield

New "Adopt A Cabin"

In an effort to provide a perpetual care fund for some newly remodeled cabins, the YMCA Camp Board of Directors has introduced a new program called "Adopt A Cabin." For an annual donation, you can help support the camp by providing the necessary maintenance materials, and interior furnishings to keep the cabins in tip top shape along with receiving recognition by having a canoe paddle with you or your family's name on it secured to your favorite cabin. We have already had several cabins adopted. Please contact our administration office for additional information. Don't wait too long as there are only a limited number of cabins left to be adopted!

Hurricane Irene - Library Building

Hurricane Irene was not very kind to the YMCA Camp as it caused one of our large trees to spit and crash into the most historic building on camp. We have filed a claim with the insurance company and expect to have the Library repaired before spring. The YMCA camp has a $ 2,000 deductible which we have to cover. Anyone wishing to help cover our deductible can send in a donation to our office. We would be very grateful for the help!

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YMCA Camp Wish List

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 received some great donations for camp this summer. We received a canoe and a sailboat.

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)
Sports Equipment – softball gloves, bats, tennis rackets, street hockey sticks etc.
Good used furniture – Chairs, Tables, Chester Draws, etc.

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