Although Rowe Camp has a long tradition of modeling acceptance and respect for every person, many families do not have the financial resources to send their children to Rowe. The Diversity Fund, which began in 1999, offers kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to camp the opportunity to experience the Rowe Spirit. Each camper participating in this program begins in Young People’s Camp and is invited back to camp each year through high school.
The goal of the Woodside Diversity Program is to create a camp that reflects the richness and diversity of our culture. Our purpose behind this goal is to enrich the experience of the entire camper population by exposing them to cultures that are different from those that they are normally a part of. At the same time, we are providing a meaningful and unique experience to a diverse population of young people who would otherwise not be able to afford to come to camp. In this way, we seek to promote an environment that is based on peace, tolerance, and social justice and to create a camp culture that is more reflective of our society.
Our camps have a radical influence on the young people who come to them. The campers enjoy all the silly and fun antics that are part of every camp experience while also learning to live together in a cooperative value-based community. The skills, awareness, and consciousness that are built here enter the larger society when our campers return home. We believe that peace will come when all people see how at the heart of the matter we are all one, despite our differences. That is the value that remains the core of the Rowe Spirit.
Thanks to your generosity, this program continues to grow. Now in its fifth year, we provided camperships to 18 young people, and five of our original campers have already moved into Senior High Camp.
Rowe has been blessed to have the loving support of Margaret Woodside for many years. Many of you know Margaret and know of her love of Rowe Camp, and Rowe campers. In honor of Margaret, we've created the Woodside Diversity Fund to provide access to the joys and richness of Rowe for children who would otherwise not be able to attend. Campers are referred from the Big Brother/Big Sister program in Greenfield and Amherst, Child and Family Services in Northampton, and UU youth workers in NYC.
Unlike many campership programs, Rowe recognizes that once a child has attended Rowe, they become a vital part of our Rowe community. As such, we're committing not to simply provide a campership for children to have a taste of the Rowe community, but to become full members. To that end, we are committed to providing campership support for a child as long as s/he is able to attend -- a nine year , $15,000 committment per child. This is a big obligation, but we believe that such generousity of spirit is a large part of what makes Rowe so special.
We know we're making a difference in campers' lives. Listen to what Shaw Nielson (a former camper) has to say:
"At Rowe I had to rid myself of all the prejudices I carried with me from home. In doing this, I learned how to accept others for who they are on the interior, regardless of anything else about them. From this acceptance sprung a new sense of self I had never known before. Not only could I learn more about others, but I was learning about myself, my thoughts, my dreams..."
"I know that people do not accept everyone everywhere. I know it's very difficult for people to treat each other with respect. But I know I can make a difference, and I can bring Rowe home with me, and the fact that I am myself makes me unique. We can make a difference in their lives and they can make a difference in ours."
We need your help more than ever this year to continue to serve our mission and values through the Woodside Campership Program. The economic downturn has reduced our attendance by 15-20 %, so we put a freeze on spending and laid off one full and one part-time person. Despite these challenges, we’re committed to continuing our Woodside Campership Program.
Historically, we have given out more money than we receive through the campership fund and we take those funds from donations or operational fees. Last year our income was down, but we had already promised camperships, so we stood by our commitments and went into the red.
Last year we gave out $45,000 in camperships, providing a Rowe Camp experience for 52 campers (24 diversity and 28 partial camperships), but we fell short in donations by almost $19,000.
Providing camperships to young people supports our mission and values. It’s the right thing to do and we are asking your help to continue this program.
This year we will need to raise $68,000 for our Campership Program.
To date we’ve raised $21,870. The board has committed to raising $35,000 through a telephone campaign and we’ll be sending out a mailing next month, but we need your support now.
The Woodside Diversity Program provides full camperships to children from diverse racial and ethnic populations and the General Campership Program provides partial camperships for economic diversity in our camp programs.
The goal is to create a camp that reflects the rich diversity of our culture. This enriches the experience of the entire camper population while providing a unique and meaningful experience for young people who would not be able to afford to come to camp.
How to Help
Can you help us continue to enrich our Rowe community and our world in such a powerful way?
You can donate online by using the form, by calling us at 413-339-4954 or by mail to us at Rowe Camp and Conference Center, Kings Highway Road, PO Box 273, Rowe, MA 01367.