Dear Families,
We hope you continue to be healthy and safe during these complex times. Your well-being and the wellness of our campers remains in the forefront of minds.
When we communicated a few weeks ago that we had resolved to cancel overnight programs for the 2020 season, we were optimistic that we would be able to, in some capacity, continue to serve our local community through day camp programs during July and August. Unfortunately, the University of Maine System released the following statement related to summer programming:
The University of Maine System will not be conducting day camps or overnight camps during summer 2020 on campus or at other non-university locations under the University’s auspices.
We have appreciated the support you all have shown us during this uncertain time. Many of you have already shared with us your wishes regarding your 2020 program registration and the associated fees. For those who were holding on for potential day camp programs, we have three options:
1) Receive a full refund for what you have paid,
2) Transfer your registration and payments to 2021, OR
3) Donate your payments to support our 4-H Center mission.
Please respond to this email to let us know what you would like to do.
We will miss seeing you at 4-H Camp this summer. We will be in touch about new opportunities to connect with you as they arise.
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Diversity Tends Toward Stability
We share with you the statement released last Friday by Dr. Hannah Carter, Dean of Maine Cooperative Extension regarding the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. The staff at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove know that stating the truth that Black Lives Matter is not the end of fighting racism or the entirety of being anti-racist but only the beginning.
Throughout our history, the Laws of Ecology, as well as the practice of respect, have been central to everything we model and teach in our programming. And, we have always taught that they do not just apply to the natural world, but to our human communities as well.
Diversity tends toward stability.
The earth has limits.
I am part of the environment.
Everything changes.
Everything goes somewhere.
All actions have a cost (there is no free lunch).
Everything is connected.
We are committed to continuing to discover our own biases and behaviors, learning the best ways of modeling and practicing inclusion, and working to break down barriers to access and equity. We stand in solidarity with our partner organizations as we teach for change. We recognize that we will stumble; and that we will stand back up, dust ourselves off, and get back to work.
Please also see the UMaine president’s statement on racism.
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Try It!
Beach mandalas
Mandalas are often built within the intertidal zone on the sand during low tide. As the tide changes and waves wash our mandalas away and redistribute our found items back into their habitat, we are reminded that everything is always changing, both within ourselves and the surrounding natural spaces.
- Gather items of interest from the beach, like shells, pebbles, seaweed, driftwood, and
 anything else you find.
- Arrange them in a pattern of concentric circles, beginning with the more numerous items in the outside circle. You may choose to place your favorite item in the center of the mandala.
You can try this in any habitat if you are not near a beach; it works well near a stream, in a forest, in your backyard, or with small items you have around the house. Of course, there will be no tide to wash away your mandala in other habitats, but you can redistribute your items on your own once you are finished.
Check out the Educational Resources page on our website for additional activities you can try at home!
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Up Next:
- Watch for updates on staying connected this season
- Blueberry Cove history
- More educational activities
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Alumni Memories:
A preview of some alumni memories is below. To see other alumni memories or submit your own memory, visit the alumni page on our website!
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Support Us!
Visit our website to see ways you can support our programs! |
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Alumni Memories
Judy, from Atlanta, GA, remembers “Muddling” at Blueberry Cove:
You do not know how many people over the years, I have told about this strange but wonderful activity that I participated in Tenants Harbor, Maine. I was lucky enough to have chosen this fun activity one morning, during our daily morning council meetings. I was always open to trying something new. So, one morning I chose the activity "Muddling”, and five or six of us campers and a counselor or two, all headed down to our private beach for all of this fun. I remember that you could only do this activity, “Muddling", during low tide. This was the time when our harbor was at the lowest tide levels. If I remember correctly, the water was almost completely gone out of our part of the harbor. We would find pockets of mud, where we could sink down, it seems maybe even waist deep and spread mud all over us, even our hair and transform into these “little funny-looking mud” monsters. I remember we looked like little “mud aliens,” as we walked back to camp to clean-up before lunch.
To read more of Judy's memories, see other alumni memories, or submit your own memory, visit the alumni page on our website!
We would love to hear from you!
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The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Sarah E. Harebo, Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
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