What springs to mind when you hear someone say “Camp K?” Maybe you remember sounds of playful joy from previous years. Or the pageantry of 200 kids gathering around McEvoy Lodge to begin their adventures that allow creativity to run free. Perhaps you believe summer has returned in earnest when you spot the YMCA’s white busses traveling the road, ferrying kids to and from Boothbay and Damariscotta in a reciprocating relationship that helps youth venture beyond their local communities. For most of us when we think of Camp K, we think of local kids having a blast while learning, growing, and building meaningful relationships. But Camp K has a reach far beyond our local community. In fact, Camp K recruits 20 counselors from all over the world each year as a means to enrich and broaden every youth participant’s scope of learning and cultural understanding.  

Through direct exposure to a global community, campers learn about other countries and customs, languages and traditions. Many develop an early love for travel and exploration and more than a few end the summer rooting for international sports teams. “Being able to hire folks domestically and from other countries is something I hold dear to my heart,” said Erin Gray, senior program director. “Providing an opportunity to understand diversity is such an important element in developing our youth, and staff. Together, we learn about other cultures, traditions and ideas with an open mind. Some of my best friends hail from other countries, and we met while working at a summer camp in our early twenties. I hope with my entire being that our staff are forming these friendships with each other, both our US staff and our international counselors,” she added. Gray also noted that the Y depends on locals to host Y-planned Sunday activities and excursions for staff so that they can experience more of Maine. Gray encourages the greater public to welcome international counselors with their signature Maine charm and hospitality.  

This summer, Camp K kids will have the opportunity to be mentored by Annel who hails from the Dominican Republic and will enrich camper experiences grounded in knowledge gleaned from her degree in educational psychology. Youth will meet Daniel from Brazil and gain insights from his expertise in photography, with a particular focus on how a child’s unique lens allows them to see the world with a worthy, insightful perspective. Marce, a former Spanish teacher in Mexico, eagerly anticipates her return to Camp K for a second year, along with Yuri who’ll be the waterfront director in his third year at Camp K after traveling to our peninsula from Brazil. 

And campers? Well, they’ll be teachers, too! Helena and Kann will arrive from Spain and Turkey respectively—both coming to the United States for the first time. They look forward to learning about American culture and traditions directly from Camp K youth. Kimisha is a master crafter and will bring her Jamaican flair to the arts as she helps kids create; they will teach her about American artistry. Camp K participants will help Pris acclimate after her arrival from Ecuador, and roll out the welcome smiles for Sarah who will make the journey to Boothbay from New Zealand. Regional youth counselors will join our global staff to provide strong continuity for local kids who depend on Camp K for a sense of belonging, a place where they can show and feel respect, and give and absorb knowledge.  

“Each year, at the end of staff training,” Gray said, “we host a ‘S’mores & Tours’ event so parents and participants can meet the staff, make a s’more, and explore the property.” This year’s S’mores & Tour will be held on Friday, June 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. where you’ll be able to see first-hand how Camp K gives the world to our kids.