GivingTuesday 20 orgs Maine Camps Support

On GivingTuesday, we celebrate the spirit of giving and the ways Maine Camps engage campers and inspire them to help others. From filling local food pantries and caring for animals to creating cards, performing dances, and spending time with seniors, campers learn firsthand the power of service, compassion, and community. This day reminds us that small acts of kindness - whether at camp or at home - can ripple out to make a lasting difference.

GivingTuesday was created in 2012 with a simple mission: to encourage people to do good. Over the past decade, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Learn more about GivingTuesday here. All donations are appreciated tremendously and some organizations even double donations made on GivingTuesday. Read more about 20+ incredible organizations …

Maine Camp Experience (MCE) is proud to support this spirit of giving. Our member camps not only foster summer fun but also teach campers about social responsibility and community engagement.

I. Two organizations MCE actively supports are Camp Sunshine and World of Change:

Camp Sunshine provides hope, joy, and community for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Located on Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine, Camp Sunshine has welcomed more than 60,000 children, siblings, parents, and caregivers from all 50 states and 27 countries for fun-filled, year-round programming — all completely free thanks to donors and volunteers. Camp Sunshine offers families a safe, medically supported space to recharge, connect, and find a community that truly understands their journey. Donate or learn more: https://www.campsunshine.org

World of Change empowers kids to become changemakers. Since 2017, its volunteers have collected millions of coins for nearly 350 nonprofit programs worldwide, supporting causes like education, housing, food, health, animals and nature, and play. Maine Camps have partnered with World of Change over the past eight years. More than 20 MCE Camps now collaborate with World of Change, teaching campers that making a difference isn’t limited to camp — it extends into everyday life - and many campers have even brought the program to their hometowns and schools after the summer. At World of Change, participants choose which focus areas to support, and 100% of collected funds go directly to nonprofits serving children and families in need. https://www.worldofchange.world

II. Several MCE Camps have their own affiliated non-profit foundation that enables campers to attend camp sessions at low or no cost. Some are offered as part of the traditional camp sessions; others are special programs that run before or after the traditional camp sessions such as Dennen Week at Camp O-AT-KA, and The Maine Idea at Camp Walden and Camp Agawam. Interested donors can contact camp directors at their specific camp of interest to find out more.

III. Additional Organizations MCE Camps Support:

Many MCE member camps also partner with or support nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships, programs, and vital services for children and families. Here are some examples:

• Agassiz Village – Offers free or low-cost overnight summer camp and year-round programs to children from under-resourced communities to build life skills, self-confidence, and leadership. https://www.agassizvillage.org
• Bridgton Hospital – A community hospital in Bridgton, Maine, providing healthcare services to local residents. https://www.cmhc.org/bridgton-hospital/
• Experience Camps – Provides free week-long summer camps and year-round support for children and teens grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, or caregiver. https://experiencecamps.org
• Hardy Girls – Supports girls’ and women’s healthy development through education, mentorship, and empowerment programs. https://hardygirls.org
• Jordan River Village – A medically supported camp in Israel for children living with serious illnesses, offering year-round programs and care. https://www.afjrv.org
• Gift of Life – Matches volunteer donors with patients needing transplants for leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. https://www.giftoflife.org
• Good Shepherd Food Bank – Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, distributing nutritious food through a statewide network of partner agencies. https://www.gsfb.org
• Maine Audubon – Dedicated to wildlife conservation, environmental education, and advocacy for Maine’s natural habitats and birdlife. https://maineaudubon.org
• Naples Food Pantry – Provides food assistance to residents of Naples, Maine, facing hunger. https://www.townofnaples.org/pantries
• Project Morry – Offers year-round youth development programs and residential summer camp experiences for children from under-resourced communities, including mentoring and academic support. https://projectmorry.org/morrys-camp
• Room to Read – Promotes children’s literacy and girls’ education in Asia and Africa by building libraries, publishing books in local languages, and supporting schooling. https://www.roomtoread.org
• SCOPE – Awards summer camp scholarships to children from low-income families to attend nonprofit, ACA-accredited overnight camps. https://scopeusa.org
• STRIVE – Supports tweens, teens, and young adults with intellectual disabilities in South Portland, Maine, through socialization, education, vocational training, and recreational programs. https://pslstrive.org
• Sweetser – A behavioral health nonprofit providing evidence-based treatment, recovery services, and educational programs statewide. https://www.sweetser.org
• U‑GO University – Provides higher-education scholarships for talented young women in low-income countries.https://ugouniversity.org
• Wabanaki Reach – Supports Indigenous communities through restorative justice, truth-telling, healing, education, and youth camp programs. https://www.wabanakireach.org
• Wildflower Foundation – Offers summer camp scholarships, enrichment programs, and long-term support to children and families grieving the loss of a parent. https://www.wildflowerforkids.org

IV. For a more comprehensive list of organizations supported by MCE Camps, visit: Maine Camp Experience Social Responsibility - https://mainecampexperience.com/why-camp-in-maine/social-responsibility

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools: Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth. Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.