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camp gives back 2019

July 23, 2019 By Camp Camp 2 Comments

It always somehow manages to surprise us when Camp is once more right around the corner, and – surprise! – here we are again with Camp just weeks away. In less than a month, nearly 240 LGBTQ people (and a few amazing allies) from 33 states across the U.S. – as well as Canada, the Czech Republic, the West Indies, New Zealand, and the U.K. – will be having the best time ever in gorgeous southwestern Maine. We still can’t believe that this will be the 23rd consecutive summer that we’ve been privileged to offer such a unique LGBTQ vacation experience, full of fun summer camp activities, fabulous evening social events, and fresh, delicious food – all shared with an amazingly fun & friendly LGBTQ community from around the world.

Fifty-eight of this year’s Campers have been with us for an astounding 10 years or more, including this year’s 15th-Year Campers: Jenn Long of Yonkers, NY; Mary Fran Schnorr of Bronxville, NY; Sandy Wakefield of Ypsilanti, MI; Thom Higgins of Salem, MA; and Tony Julian of Tampa, FL. We will be donating $100 in each of their names to The Trevor Project in honor of their noteworthy Camp anniversary, a Camp tradition that began in 2011, our 15th summer and we had Campers celebrating their 15th year at ‘Camp’ Camp.

In 2012, we established our annual “Camp Gives Back” campaign which, through a combination of donations from our Campers & Staff and a pledge of 10% of our Camp Store sales, recognizes and supports a different organization serving the LGBTQ community. Past beneficiaries of the campaign include Mainers United for Marriage ($1100 raised in 2012), Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund (now True Colors United; $1435 raised in 2013), SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) ($1888 raised in 2014), Camp Aranu’tiq ($1685 raised in 2015), the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) ($1673 raised in 2016), Immigration Equality ($2090 raised in 2017), and, last year’s beneficiary, the Family Equality Council ($1671).

With America’s political climate continuing to feel increasingly hostile towards LGBTQ people and issues, it’s more vital than ever that we have politicians in office who strive towards achieving equality for everyone in the LGBTQ community. And what better way to do that than increasing the number of openly LGBTQ officials elected to all levels of government? In the hope of doing our small part to help make this happen, we have chosen The LGBTQ Victory Fund as the beneficiary of our 2019 Camp Gives Back campaign.

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has worked to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by helping to elect thousands of LGBTQ people to positions at all levels of government. These LGBTQ voices have made significant contributions to advancing equality for LGBTQ Americans – from passing non-discrimination laws to defeating amendments to ban marriage equality.

LGBTQ Victory Fund is the only organization in the space supporting down ballot candidates who are LGBTQ running for public office. Last year was a year of historic firsts – and LGBTQ Victory Fund fueled a rainbow wave increasing the number of out LGBTQ leaders in public office. With more than 700 LGBTQ people running for office, Victory Fund endorsed 274 (they only endorse viable candidates running) and won 174 times! As a result, America now has more than 700 out elected officials serving in public office across the country. (A full list can be found here.)

And we are proud to say that we have first-hand knowledge of Victory Fund’s great work: one of the candidates who received their support is Mayor of Neptune Township in Monmouth County, NJ & 3rd-Year ‘Camp’ Camper Carol Rizzo!

If you are coming to Camp this summer, you can help support the Victory Fund simply by buying an extra Camp t-shirt or souvenir or two (or three) in the Camp Store. You’ll also be able to make additional donations to the Victory Fund via your Cashless ‘Camp’ Camp account.

If you aren’t able to join us this summer, we suggest that you pop over to the Victory Fund’s website and make a donation. This year, LGBTQ Victory Fund has already endorsed more than 100 LGBTQ leaders running for 2019 – and 2020 is gearing up as well. Your support will help these leaders win on election day, so please join us and donate today.

camp gives back 2017

August 7, 2017 By Camp Camp 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again: ‘Camp’ Camp is right around the corner. In less than two weeks, 200 LGBT people from across the U.S. (as well as Canada and the U.K.) will all be converging in southwestern Maine to have the best time ever! ‘Camp’ Camp 2017 will mark our 21st season, a fabulously unique best-time-ever week full of summer camp activities, fun evening social events, and smiles & laughter with new friends.

Forty-four of this year’s Campers have been with us for an astounding 10 years or more, including this year’s 15th-Year Campers: Owner/Director Betsy Orr of Portland, ME; Deb Kayman of New York, NY; Jackie Goss of Malden, MA; James Berglund of Oakland, CA; and Paul Mitchell of Atlanta, GA. We will be donating $100 in each of their names to The Trevor Project in honor of their noteworthy Camp anniversary, a tradition we began back in 2011 when we first had Campers celebrating their 15th year at ‘Camp’ Camp.

The following year we established our annual “Camp Gives Back” campaign which recognizes and supports an organization serving the LGBT community through a combination of donations from our Campers & Staff and a pledge of 10% of our Camp Store sales. Past beneficiaries of the campaign include Mainers United for Marriage ($1100 raised in 2012), Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund ($1435 raised in 2013), SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) ($1888 raised in 2014), Camp Aranu’tiq ($1685 raised in 2015), and, last year’s recipient, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) ($1673).

The current political climate here in the U.S. has felt increasingly hostile to the LGBTQ community since last November. However, in nearly 80 countries around the world it is actually a crime to be LGBTQ and our LGBTQ brothers & sisters in these countries face persecution on a daily basis unlike anything those of us here in the U.S. might encounter. In recognition of this sad reality, we have decided to do our small part to support the global LGBT community by choosing Immigration Equality, the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization, as the beneficiary of our 2017 Camp Gives Back campaign.

Immigration Equality works every day to ensure the safety and well-being of our community from countries where just being LGBTQ is a crime, providing advice and legal services to thousands of LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants annually. Fighting to obtain asylum for these LGBTQ and HIV-positive refugees seeking refuge, fair treatment, and freedom here in the United States, they maintain a remarkable 99% win rate for their clients despite an increasing workload each year.

If you are coming to Camp this summer, you can help support Immigration Equality simply by buying an extra Camp t-shirt or souvenir or two (or three) in the Camp Store. You’ll also be able to make additional donations to Immigration Equality via your Cashless ‘Camp’ Camp account.

If you aren’t able to join us this summer, we suggest that you pop over to Immigration Equality’s website and make a donation. (Be sure to note that you were referred by ‘Camp’ Camp.) Please join us in support of our LGBTQ brothers & sisters from around the globe and donate today.

camp gives back 2016

August 6, 2016 By Camp Camp Leave a Comment

Wow! Can you believe it? ‘Camp’ Camp 2016 is less than two weeks away! Very soon, a near sold-out crowd of approximately 240 people from across the U.S., as well as Canada, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and the U.K., will all be converging in southwestern Maine, each & every one ready to have the best time ever! An LGBT vacation like no other, our 20th anniversary season will be a week full of summer camp activities, fun evening social events, and smiles & laughter with new friends. Fifty-seven of this year’s Campers have been with us for an unbelievable 10 years or more, including this year’s 15th-Year Campers: Susan “Clink” C. of Roslindale, MA, Sue E. of Medford, MA, Jon G. of Washington, DC, Gail G. of Silver Spring, MD, and Karl O. of Amenia, NY. We will be donating $100 in each of their names to the It Gets Better Project in honor of their noteworthy Camp anniversary, a tradition we began back in 2011 when we had our first-ever 15th-Year Campers.

Each summer, our “Camp Gives Back” campaign also recognizes and supports an organization that serves the LGBT community via a combination of donations from our Campers & Staff and a pledge of 10% of our Camp Store sales. Past beneficiaries of the campaign include Mainers United for Marriage ($1100 raised in 2012), Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund ($1435 raised in 2013), SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) ($1888 raised in 2014) and, last year’s recipient, Camp Aranu’tiq ($1685).

In recognition of our commitment to welcome, embrace, and support all members of the LGBT community, we are pleased to announce that the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is the beneficiary of this summer’s Camp Gives Back campaign.

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is the nation’s leading social justice organization for transgender equality. NCTE was founded in 2003 by transgender activists who recognized the urgent need for policy and cultural change to advance trans equality. With the support of a nationwide community of transgender people, allies, and advocates, NCTE has an extensive record of advancing life-saving change at the local, state and federal levels. NCTE is also compiling the report from its U.S. Trans Survey where 28,000 trans people were asked about the discrimination they’ve faced. Beyond publicizing these results, NCTE is training trans people to share their story with their community and the media, thereby giving a much-needed voice to the trans community.

If you are attending Camp this summer, you can help support the NCTE by just buying an extra Camp t-shirt or souvenir or two (or three) in the Camp Store. You’ll also be able to make additional donations to the NCTE via your Cashless ‘Camp’ Camp account. If you aren’t able to join us this summer, we suggest that you pop over to the NCTE’s website and make a donation. (Be sure to note that you were referred by ‘Camp’ Camp.) Won’t you join us and make a donation today?

With Campers from across the U.S. plus Canada, Geoff’s 2015 Fuchsia Rainbow Group proves that our Campers are not only geographically diverse and multigenerational, but they also represent the entire spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identity. Truly, LGBT! Many of our Campers say it’s one of the things they love the most about ‘Camp’ Camp.

the brittany james memorial campership

May 31, 2016 By Camp Camp 1 Comment

Late last year, we posted about the unexpected and untimely passing of Brittany James, one of our Campers from 2013. Brittany was only able to join us for that one summer, but she loved Camp and her spirit inspired us all as we watched her blossom during her week at ‘Camp’ Camp.

Applications are now being accepted for the special memorial Campership Fund that was established in Brittany’s name soon after she passed. One lucky transgender individual will be granted the 2016 Brittany James Memorial Campership Fund allowing them to experience ‘Camp’ Camp 2016 for themselves at a discounted rate of only $525.

Any transgender individual aged 21 or over who has not previously attended ‘Camp’ Camp is eligible to apply. The Campership covers the first $1200 of your registration fees, but you must be able to cover the remaining $525 as well as your transportation to/from Maine. (We do provide free round-trip transportation from Portland, Maine, so just get yourself to Portland airport – or bus or train station – and we will get you out to Camp.)

To apply, simply email us no later than June 15, 2016 at directors@campcamp.com with your name, age, and hometown, along with a short bio and a few sentences about why you’d like to attend ‘Camp’ Camp. We will review the applications and announce the recipient sometime the week of June 20.

in memoriam

December 14, 2015 By Camp Camp Leave a Comment

It is with a heavy heart that we note the tragic passing of one of our Campers, Brittany James. Brittany passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 9 at the too-young age of 37. Though she was only able to join us for one summer back in 2013, Brittany loved Camp and her spirit inspired us all as we watched her blossom during her week at ‘Camp’ Camp.

This is one of our favorite pictures of Brittany from her week at Camp, taken during “54!”, our disco-inspired evening event from Camp 2013 with her best Camp pal, Darin, our Dining Hall Manager. As Darin posted soon after her untimely passing: “What an honor it was to get to know such a special person. My heart is breaking for her family. I hope she finds the peace that she deserves. My second year at Camp will always be the most meaningful. Brittany was the reason for that!!”

We have established a special memorial fund in Brittany’s honor as part of our Campership Fund. We will earmark all donations made in Brittany’s name for a special Campership Fund only to be awarded to a transgender individual. If enough funds are collected, some lucky first-time transgender Camper will get to experience the spirit & camaraderie of ‘Camp’ Camp that meant so much to Brittany, all for free. Details on applying for this special Campership will be available sometime this spring.

To make a donation in Brittany’s name, you may either send us a check (payable to ‘Camp’ Camp) with “Brittany James Memorial” in the memo line – or you can make a donation online with a credit/debit card by clicking here. If you pay via the website, we just ask that you also email us and let us know where to allocate your payment since our online payment portal doesn’t offer any sort of memo field.

Rest in Peace, sweet Brittany. You will be missed.