Camp DREAM

Imagine…

• A camp built by DREAMERs, for DREAMers.
• Parents, children, alumni, staff, and community members excited and working together for a common goal.
• A place every DREAMer can call their own, and return to year after year.
• A special place to go to build memories, stargaze, learn new skills, to play, to sled, to canoe, to listen to coyotes howl, and to let unknown adventures unfold.
• Camp DREAM...!

Why a Summer Camp?

A couple of years ago, we decided to take stock of our summer programming. Parents were concerned that there was too much down-time for their children over the summer, and that the down-time was leading to unhealthy choices -- more so than during any other time of the year (click here for research on Summer, the forgotten period).

We had a good start. The Dartmouth programs continue throughout the summer, High Adventure trips bring the oldest kids on out-of-state treks, and paid Summer Interns ran program onsite at each of the housing communities (including excursions like Tripscape).

We decided that our partners needed the extended, overnight opportunities available through a summer camp. The benefits of such an experience are well proven ( see camp benefits). We found five convincing reasons to pursue the construction of a DREAM summer camp given our unique position within Vermont:

• Summer time is disconnected from the rest of the year, and, as related by the parents, leaves the children stranded in an often unhealthy environment. Our Camp will provide programmatic continuity from the school year. Because of the relationships established and the open communication formed between the families and the mentors, we will be able to reach 100% of children who want to attend camp.
• There is a high dropout rate among current camp referrals and being referred to different camps every year results in a lack of continuity and familiarity. Our Camp will fill staff roles with DREAM mentors who are well known and trusted by the children and families and have experience working with DREAM’s children. The Camp will add consistency to DREAM’s year-round programming and be a source of stability from one summer to the next.
• Transportation for summer programs is a limiting factor for many of DREAM’s families, especially when referral agencies place children from one community in many different camps. Our Camp targets specific housing communities and we are therefore able to streamline the transportation process.
• The cost of camp and other summer programs is the most prohibitive factor for our partners. With a small commitment fee on behalf of the parents, our Camp is a free camping experience for all children in the DREAM program.

Our Progress

A lot has happened recently!

• With the help of a grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, we purchased a beautiful 50-acre property in Fletcher, Vermont.
• AmeriCorps NCCC provided 2 awesome crews who got a ton of work done!
• In August 2004, Dave Anderson came on board as our new Camp director. We are thrilled to have him!
• In the summer of 2004, DREAM kids came to camp. And they loved it! (see the Camp DREAM photo gallery for details...)
• The Winter of 2004/2005 brought kids for Winter Adventure Camp, playing broomball, sledding, and staying toasty.
• The warmer months of 2005 saw vast improvements on the land with additions of hiking and mountain biking trails, a frisbee golf course, construction of a new waterfront and sheds, and a full camp season hosting 71 kids over six weeks!
• Doug and Ann from Guillot Vivian Viehmann Architects in Burlington have drawn up a beautiful concept of what our camp could look like, and pro-bono at that!
• And last, but not least, a very important shout-out: we had a phenomenally successful first year. Our first full-time Camp Director, Jesse Foote, brought his amazing energy, enthusiasm, and knack for getting things done (as well as an uncanny knot-tying ability) to the task of making this dream a reality. He busted a serious move on the 1,001 details that precede the opening of a camp (understanding permits, meeting camp accreditation standards, developing age appropriate programming, composing budgets, developing a long term strategic site plan, and much more). A HUGE thank you goes to Jesse as he moves on to his next project. We’ll miss you!

Thanks to the many people who believe in the potential of Camp DREAM,
we continue to build momentum!

We still have a long way to reach our vision. As DREAMers (mentors, alumni, parents, friends, and children), we will need to come together over the coming months and years to make it happen! So hang tight, call us with ideas (802-655-9015), and dream about sunny summer days of boating, campfires, swimming, dining hall songs, and trail hikes... And in the meantime, check out the Camp DREAM photo gallery so you can see why we are so psyched about this! You can also help support the camp, especially if you have anything on our camp wishlist.

To view .PDF documents (files with a icon) you need Adobe Acrobat Reader software. If you don't have it installed, please click and download it here » » »