  Dear Friends Camp Community,Another summer at Friends Camp is complete! We are still reflecting on all the fun and remarkable moments from the last 3 months. This summer saw lots of picturesque days on China Lake, many new friendships made, delicious camp meals, opportunities for growth, and nearly endless laughter. There were 435 campers, and each one of them brought something unique to our community. Though some things about camp remain the same from year to year, the campers and staff present during each unique session are what truly make it special. As always, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helps make camp possible. We are lucky to have a wonderful network of support coming from families, volunteers, Friends, donors, and more. Thank you especially to everyone who has donated to our campership fund — your contributions continue to provide the opportunity for us to bring as many kids to camp as possible. We hope you enjoy this newsletter! Warmly,Anna HopkinsCamp Director(207) 877-4302director@friendscamp.org2025 Session DatesSee below for the session dates for summer 2025. Registration for a single session per camper will open on Saturday, November 2nd at noon. We anticipate spots being available for some campers who would like to attend multiple sessions, and there will be the opportunity to register for a second session from any remaining spaces on Saturday, November 16th. Information about tuition rates will be finalized in October; we expect a modest increase in tuition.  Common Ground Fair Friends Camp is available for cabin and tenting space on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the Common Ground Fair, Sept 19-21. Space is filling up quickly on Saturday evening, but there is still plenty of space on Thursday and Friday. Learn more about details and rates on our website, and click here to register for your stay.2024 Family Feedback Thank you to all the campers and families who filled out evaluations about their time at camp this summer!Your feedback is valued because it helps inform our understanding of this summer at camp and what to keep or improve on for future summers. Most notable from our 2024 surveys so far is that 100% of respondents made a friend at camp! 2024 Family SurveyCamp Committee Interest FormAre you interested in playing a larger role in the Friends Camp community? Friends Camp is always looking for people who have valuable skills to lend to our committee or sub-committees, soon or in the future. The Friends Camp Committee is part of the governing structure for Friends Camp with specific duties and responsibilities delegated to it by New England Yearly Meeting. The sub-committees include Finance, Health & Safety, Development, Personnel, Buildings & Grounds, and Nominating. The Friends Camp Committee is made up of 10- 15 members, including both Friends and non-Friends who care deeply about Friends Camp. Please fill out the form below if you are interested in becoming a member of the committee or a sub-committee.  Fill out the interest form hereCamp Activities for Back to SchoolAt our end of session fire circle, many campers often talk about wanting to bring the camp spirit home with them. Here are a few activities that we do at camp that you can share with friends, family, peers, or coworkers that can help it feel like Friends Camp is with you year-round! Young Friends October RetreatThe Young Friends fall retreat is happening October 18 – 20, 2024 at the Portland Friends Meeting. The theme for this retreat is the costumes we wear. Read more below and click the link to register.Each year on the last day of 10th month (October), people across the country don costumes and assume new identities in celebration of Halloween. Though early Friends did not observe this tradition, many Friends today do. But what about the costumes that we try on, both intentionally and unintentionally, during other times of the year? How do the costumes that we wear affirm and how do they obscure our identities? How do the early Friends customs of plain dress and “clothing ourselves in righteousness” resonate with our spiritual practices and traditions today? Join Young Friends for a weekend of silliness, deep conversation, and reflection at Portland Friends Meeting. You can register for the retreat here.Friends Camp Brochures  Do you know of a local place where some Friends Camp brochures might shine? We have informational brochures that can be placed around New England to spread the word about camp to new families. Libraries, community centers, cafés, Meetinghouses, and churches are all great spots for these brochures to live. (Or another place near you that you think would be good!) Fill out this form if you have a local spot where you could post some fliers! Make a Gift to Friends Camp |
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