by Michael Krapovicky | photography provided by Agassiz Village  

On the banks of Thompson Lake in Poland, Maine, an oasis for children of all races, creeds, and economic strata exists—Agassiz Village. Agassiz, (pronounced AG-uh-see), is an institution founded by a former newsboy, Harry E. Burroughs. With the financial assistance of the Agassiz family of Boston, Burroughs bought the property from the YWCA – then called Camp Maqua – in 1935 and named it after the generous benefactors. Agassiz was established to provide a retreat for inner city boys whose lives were – much as Burroughs’ early existence – without much hope. Agassiz Village will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year, and its value to the underprivileged over the years is unquantifiable.

founder

Burroughs was a Russian immigrant who stowed away on a boat, landed in Portland, Maine, and walked to Boston in search of work. He became a newsboy, a brutal, dangerous job, but Burroughs persevered. In time, Burroughs was nominated for a scholarship by his fellow newsboys to Suffolk University, and became an attorney at 23. While attaining wealth and influence for himself, Burroughs always sought to give those on the fringes of society access to the same amenities as the affluent.

In 1927, Harry Burroughs founded the Burroughs Newsboys Foundation on Somerset Street in Boston. The intention was to provide young boys an alternative to a difficult and seemingly hopeless lifestyle in the Boston streets. In 1935, Burroughs, with the financial backing of Maximilian Agassiz, grandson of naturalist Louise Agassiz, purchased 330 acres in Poland, Maine, from the YWCA. Burroughs sought to provide outdoor childhood experiences for boys whose only concern was daily survival.

The camp was similar to a model government, with elections and different responsibilities meted out as a learning experience. As it was in 1935, camp attendees learn basic job skills, practice school subjects, experience outdoor living, and develop many life skills. Campers come from all over the New England area to experience Agassiz’s idyllic setting and programs. The camp serves nearly 500 children a summer, with priority given to children in Maine and Massachusetts from under-resourced communities. Access to summer programs that teach life and leadership skills are mostly unaffordable to a great many of America’s youth.

Other early supporters of Agassiz Village included Boston financier James J. Storrow – by whom Storrow Drive was named; former governor of Massachusetts Curtis Guild; overseer of Harvard University Judge Frederick P. Cabot; and a former newsboy and publisher of the Saturday Evening Post, Cyrus H.K. Curtis. One of Agassiz’s most valued possessions is a personal check from John F. Kennedy.

programs

Agassiz Village offers a wide range of recreational, educational, and social activities. It employs around five year-round staff members and in the summer around 75 counselors.  Counselors mostly are campers who worked their way through the program. In many instances, this is their first job, and Agassiz affords them an opportunity to build their resume, while helping the new campers through their common experience.

“Counselors serve as mentors to the campers – relating the life circumstances that brought them here,” says Executive Director Lisa Carter. “We have a largely international staff here – diversity is huge for us, and the staff is empathetic and understanding from their shared experience with the kids.”

Carter has led Agassiz since 2020 – her work recently recognized by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, which named her a finalist for their prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award.

“I have seen the transformations we have been able to make in kids’ lives in just two weeks,”   says Carter.  “The youth we serve inspire me every day to work hard to make Agassiz Village the most special place in New England for youth from under-served communities.”

Agassiz Village works with state and local organizations, including public school systems, assisting under-served children enroll for camp. Schools in Portland, Poland, and Lewiston are among the districts that partner with Agassiz, helping kids enroll.

“Summer programs at Agassiz Village offer Lewiston students a gateway to embrace Maine’s wilderness, foster critical thinking skills, and forge new friendships in the heart of nature’s classroom,” states Jenny Darigan, the camp’s liaison with the Lewiston school system. “These are experiences that our students seldom encounter, ones that enrich their lives in unique ways.”

At Agassiz’s Teen Overnight Camp, campers ages 8-13 rotate through daily activities including swimming and watercraft instruction, arts and crafts, nature and outdoor living skills, sports and fitness, performing arts, and meditation. Campers can also take advantage of special activities and events like human bingo, gold rush, red carpet dinner, a formal dance, camp Olympics, camp outs, and talent shows.

“By integrating an adapted nationally recognized Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, we can capitalize on its clear language, objectives, and approaches in nurturing happy, healthy, and kind kids,” asserts Carter. “Additionally, we can use the SEL model to provide opportunities for kids to reflect on their growth over the course of their stay at camp.”

t.h.r.i.v.e.

Children ages 14-17 can enroll in the T.H.R.I.V.E. Program, an acronym for Trustworthiness and Teamwork, Heart and Humility, Resilience and Responsibility, Inspiration and Inclusivity, Vision & Values, Emotional Intelligence & Empowerment. Once known as Teen Advancement Program and Leaders in Training Program, teens are given opportunities to develop the necessary skills after high school in both college and the workforce. Teens are encouraged to have fun, explore, collaborate, and thrive in workshops, as mentors, during programming, and to be leaders to the next generation of campers by being counselors-in-training and program staff-in-training.

Once the 16–17 year-old age group finish their 3-week summer camp program, they will attend workshops and meetings once a month. These workshops will cover career and college readiness, financial literacy, conversations with established working professionals, as well as leadership and SEL focused work.

“We encourage our teens to dream big and foster their creativity,” states Carter.  “We make sure to create a safe and welcoming environment for all teens by teaching respect, kindness, and positive relationship building.”

Among Agassiz’s valued activities are a Peer-Mentor Program, college visits, job internships, and a “Dream Project” – where teens work hard to help support younger campers’ dreams.

“It is important to us that our teens develop a growth mindset,” says Carter. “Our teens learn to ACT: Achieve Goals, Connect with Others, and Thrive as Individuals.”

Also, a hiking trip across three states is planned for 2024, as has been done in the past at Agassiz Village.

“Campers have breakfast in Maine, lunch in New Hampshire, dinner in Vermont,” avows Carter.  “Leaving camp to drive to Mt. Agassiz, have lunch, travel a few miles to Vermont for dinner – for folks who’ve never left Boston proper, it’s a real amazing experience.”

The American Camp Association accredits Agassiz Village and the camp has been designated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator.

goals

Agassiz has always existed to improve the lives of those with little access to summer programs.  In 2023, 23% of Agassiz campers were either homeless or in the foster care system. In many cases, the campers have expressed that Agassiz was the first place they’d felt safe, as many are escaping potentially dangerous, abusive situations.

“Our goal for the campers is success in life, and an experience that they normally would never have,” Carter comments. “Our slogan is ‘preparing kids for life’s journey.’”

Camp attendees learn vital skills they can utilize throughout their lives.

“Children can be reflective of their experiences and how they can apply their new knowledge and skills,” says Theresa O’Bryant, President of Agassiz Village Board of Directors.  “We try to teach them social awareness and decision-making skills.”

Carter reiterates the importance of learning ways to make appropriate life choices.

“We want to teach conflict resolution,” says Carter, “We want them to be best prepared to handle the negative temptations they might face.”

The staff are working towards increased awareness and access to Agassiz Village for Maine residents.

“We served about 50 kids from Maine in 2023,” Carter recounts. “We want to double that to 100, from Portland, Lewiston, and other towns here.”

enrollment

The recruitment process to Agassiz Village is mostly due to the great experiences the campers share to their families, with campers discovering Agassiz through word-of-mouth.

However, the program staff partners with community-based organizations from New York and Boston’s surrounding communities to recruit campers.

“We do have a waiting list because we keep the cost very reasonable,” says O’Bryant. “The individual cost of a camper to go is much less than what it actually costs per camper because of the infrastructure – a scale based on a family’s ability to pay, camperships, social service agencies.”

Campers pay on a sliding scale with regards to income.

“We do have some who are happy to pay the full cost of the experience,” maintains O’Bryant. “Some legacies who found the camp experience beneficial sent their children there.”

assistance

As with all philanthropic organizations, Agassiz Village is always in need of assistance from outside parties interested in supporting this meritable Maine resource.

“The best thing people can do is tell people about the camp and come visit, especially the people of Maine, our lake neighbors.” Smith contends. “We ask people to contribute financially if they can, and to send a child to camp, so they can learn to do things they may not have known they had the capacity to do.”

One challenge the nearly 90-year-old camp faces is its significantly aging facilities. As a result, and with the community’s support, the camp’s Board of Directors recently approved plans to embark on a much-needed $8 million capital campaign.

“We are confident this is the right time to ensure the future of Agassiz Village,” said O’Bryant.

The staff at Agassiz attempts to engage community partners to visit and help. Support of Maine campers can also come from folks who are up for a day of volunteerism. On Season 4 of the TV show Maine Cabin Masters, Chase Morrill, and his team repaired the camp’s gazebo and cabins and replaced a totem pole.

“Rebuild Together LA is a group of contractors who work with students at Bates College—they do volunteer projects here with us,” explains Smith. “Because so much time is spent on the program and funding being limited, we are hyper-focused on saving the buildings we have and adding new structures.”

When it comes to helping Agassiz Village, although their overall need is great, any small assistance is valuable individually.

“It doesn’t take a lot to make an impact; a donation or some time spent goes a long way,” notes Smith. “Also, we need to get the word out about who we are and what makes this place so special.”

Agassiz Village will host three sessions during the summer of 2024, and the dates of operation are June 30-July 11, July 14-July 25, and July 28-August 8. Agassiz Village wishes to share their appreciation for those taking part in their attempt to reach out to more families and sharing the great work they have been accomplishing for nearly 90 years. A quote from Agassiz’s founder, Harry E. Burroughs, sums up the overarching philosophy of this storied New England institution.

“Throughout the ages, love has been the preserver of mankind. Blessed is the nation whose wealth is in the hands of those who use it for the less fortunate.”

Agassiz Village

Poland | agassizvillage.org