Camp POSTCARD -- Making Dreams Come True for Deserving Maine Youth
STONEHAM, ME. — On June 18, 2010, Camp POSTCARD will launch its 18th season—on the beautiful grounds of Camp Susan Curtis, in Stoneham, Maine.
The camp—POSTCARD stands for “Police Officers Striving to Create and Reinforce Dreams”—gives approximately 150 deserving at-risk 5th- and 6th-graders per year from all over Maine a free week of summer camp. This helps them build relationships and learn life skills. Created and run by Volunteers of America, the Maine Sheriffs’ Association and Maine D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association, the camp is staffed by law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.
“Camp POSTCARD aims to help reduce crime and decrease drug and alcohol abuse, reduce high school dropout rates, and improve literacy and college acceptance rates,” added Michael Coon, Vice President of Information Technology and Administrative Services for Volunteers of America. “In addition, the law enforcement and Criminal Justice professionals who serve as staff members receive valuable insight into what is important to youth that they can use in the field. The camp has served more than 2,500 kids since its inception. Some people talk about changing lives. At Camp POSTCARD, we do it!”
Want to help? And enjoy a truly special week in the countryside? Camp POSTCARD is funded entirely by donations from people like you. If you would like to be involved, a donation of any size will make a difference. You can also “adopt” a camper for $250 which will allow them to attend camp for the week.
In addition, we need a wide variety of volunteers who are willing to donate a couple of hours to spending the week with us. Skills that are help include arts and crafts, land sports, fishing and any other outdoor or indoor activity that would be beneficial for a 5th or 6th grader. To learn more, please contact Glenn Michaels at 207-373-1140 ext. 216 or by email at joinus@voanne.org. More information is available at our website at www.voanne.org. Camp is a time of fun and lasting memories and we invite you to get involved today! It will provide you with lasting memories as well.
A Special Thank You to Our Major Sponsors For Making Dreams Come True
Our Generous Sponsors Include: Participants in our "Adopt-a-Camper" Program, Dot Baillargeon, Bangor Savings Bank, Barber Foods, Bisson Moving and Storage, Therese Blais, Boothbay Rotary Club, Christine Brennan and Stacey Haines, City of Bangor/Bangor State Fair, East End Kids Katering, Ethel Erlick, Holly Fitzmaurice, Cheryl Gallant, Frito-Lay, Laurent Gillbert, Violette Giroux, Glenda Fletcher, Gordon Gray, Sr., Donald Hunter, Irving Oil, Kittery Police D.A.R.E. Program, Kittery Rotary Club, Lincoln County, Constance Locke, Ana Ives, R. F. Jordan and Sons, Maine Police Chiefs of Police Women's Auxillary, Maine Police Emerald Society, Maine Sheriffs' Association, Maine State Council Knights of Columbus, State of Maine Summer Food Program, Maine State Troopers Association, Elizabeth M. Moore and Mary Anne Wallace, Susan Morris, New England Mobile Health Services, County of Oxford, Penobscot County Sheriff's Officers Association, Sabattus Elementary PTA, Scholastic Book Grants Program, Maureen Smith, Mary Toderico and Clara Valente, Ana Vives, Portland Computer Copy, Inc., Anne Lee Verville, Waldo County Sheriff’s' Department, Wal-Mart, Cora Waterman, and the Wiscasset Lions Club. If you would like to help, please contact us at help@voanne.org or 207-373-1140.
Our Dedication to Maine Youth
For the 18th consecutive year, the Maine Sheriffs’ Association, the Maine D.A.R.E.® Officers Association, and Volunteers of America Northern New England are partnering with Maine communities to provide an innovative and successful substance abuse and crime prevention program for youth from every county in Maine. However, this will be a very special year for our camp program (stay tuned for more details in early 2010). Camp POSTCARD (Police Officers Striving To Create And Reinforce Dreams) is designed to benefit some of Maine’s most deserving fifth and sixth graders through direct involvement and mentoring with a variety of law enforcement and Criminal Justice professionals. There is no charge for any child to attend this week-long summer camp program, and for most of them, it is a dream come true.
For many of our campers, this represented his/her first camp experience. Learn how you can make a dream come true by adopting a camper this summer. This popular and successful program has proven to be an important opportunity to build strong relationships and valuable life skills that serve our campers, their families, and their communities. The weeklong program will be held June 19th through the 25th.
The main goals of Camp POSTCARD are to establish positive bonds between the children and law enforcement and criminal justice professionals and to use that relationship to help reduce crime and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. In addition, this interaction helps to address any stereotypes that the children may have formed. The experience provides a safe environment that stresses appropriate role models, ideals and values. Campers are allowed and expected to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas and learn the importance of self-respect and respect for others, teamwork, self-control and dignity.
Local D.A.R.E. officers, law enforcement officers, school resource officers, school personnel and community members identify children who would benefit from the camp experience. The overall program is designed to coordinate and share information with the schools and community-based services that children will use when they finish camp. An important goal is to help empower children to take more control of and responsibility for their own decisions, actions and, ultimately, their future. The program also increases awareness for schools, parents and communities about the issues that are important to children.
There is no cost for any child to attend Camp POSTCARD As a result, the program depends on private and public donations of money, food and supplies. Thank you to all of our donors listed at the beginning of this page! In addition, most of the staff are volunteers or are on loan from their department or business for the week. In 2009, approximately 150 children attended the program and more than 50 law enforcement professionals served as leaders. To date, more than 2,500 children from all 16 counties in Maine have benefited from the Camp POSTCARD experience.
Throughout the week, a variety of planned activities help children build self-esteem and leadership and decision-making skills. These include summer camp favorites such as sports, arts and crafts, swimming, boating, fishing, games and skits. We also offer a number of specialized team-building activities and events. For many of our campers, this is the first time they have experienced these kinds of activities that many of us take for granted. The dedicated staff and volunteers (many who return year after year) focus on helping the children be successful. Through this safe and positive environment, memories are created that last a lifetime.
Success stories are probably our favorite and most rewarding measurement tool. See the right column for an example. We hear from teachers, family members, clergy and other individuals associated with the children about their progress and success in school and the community. Several of our previous campers have also returned as camp leaders in training. These individuals bring a unique perspective to the program and prove to be wonderful role models for the children. In addition, law enforcement personnel have commented on how they learn many valuable lessons from the children. This is especially true in helping to more effectively identify and handle domestic situations. The overall result is a win-win-win situation for the campers, the officers and the community.
Donate online NOW, learn about other ways you can help, or receive more information about Camp POSTCARD by contacting us at 207-373-1140 or help@voanne.org.
Thank you to the Summer Food Service Program
Volunteers of America, Camp POSTCARD, participates in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals are provided free of charge to all campers regardless of their eligibility for assistance. Children who are part of households that receive food stamps, or benefits under the Food distribution Program on Indian Reservations or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families are automatically eligible to receive free meals. Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal services. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner were provided for accepted campers from lunchtime on 6/19/09 to lunch time on 6/25/09.
We are grateful for this service because it has been instrumental in allowing us to provide camp free of charge to all campers, regardless of their ability to pay.
