“I have lasting memories of the many experiences I have had at Camp Susan Curtis. Camp helped me develop into a productive member of society.”
"Your program is terrific! Thank you for having my son there.”
“When I come to camp, all the stress, all the tension…everything from the outside world leaves my body. Its just about the woods and being at Camp Susan Curtis.”
"Thank you so much for offering this to kids who might not otherwise be able to have this experience.”
“Camp Susan Curtis gave me a resource deep within myself that I will draw on for the rest of my life.”
"I am grateful for the last five years. Because of your camp, my daughter’s outlook on life has broadened. Thank you so much for giving her the things I couldn’t have given her on my own.”
“ When I was a camper, there were counselors that helped me out, and I looked up to them. Today, I try to be that person for another kid.”
"At camp I found out that my life mattered and that I was important.”
“ I am grateful for the last five years. Because of your camp, my daughter’s outlook on life has broadened. Thank you so much for giving her the things I couldn’t have given her on my own.”
"I love camp at lot! I love playing soccer, hiking, swimming and fishing!”
Susan Curtis Camp to Campus Leadership Tour
Press Release: Susan L. Curtis Foundation, August 4, 2009
Contact: Alan F. Cartwright, President & CEO, Susan L. Curtis Foundation
(207)774-1552; acartwright@susancurtisfoundation.org
www.susancurtisfoundation.org
Second Annual Camp to Campus Leadership Tour: an Initiative of The Susan L. Curtis Foundation and Unum. Two Campus Visits: Wednesday, August 19 (schedule below)
Leadership students, 14 to 17 years old, from Camp Susan Curtis Tour UMF (August 6th) and UMO (August 19th) Campuses. Follow the kids on the college tour as they learn about college and dorm life, admissions and financial aid, as well as academic programs and career options.
Raising College aspirations, reducing fear of going to college, and helping lift kids out of the cycle of poverty through education -- these are the goals of Camp Susan Curtis President Alan Cartwright.
"A recent ten-year tracking study shows that 9 out of 10 of those who have attended Camp Susan Curtis at least four years and completed leadership training graduate high school, and 8 out of 10 go on to college" says Cartwright.
"Although this is far beyond the state average (of just over 50%) for kids in the general population attending college, this Camp to Campus event should help us maintain our numbers, and possibly even increase the percentage of underprivileged children going on to college by attending camp." adds Cartwright. To qualify for tuition-free outdoor experiential education at Camp Susan Curtis, students must be on the free school lunch program.
Students who visit college campuses, according to research, are able to have reduced concerns, to visualize themselves in the campus culture and become more likely to choose higher education after high school. Early exposure to college is one of the "Eight Ways to Make a Difference", according the Mitchell Institute's Update to Barriers report.
Since 1974, Camp Susan Curtis has been providing tuition-free outdoor experiential education for economically underprivileged children of Maine. More than 550 children, ages eight to eighteen attended Susan Curtis programs last year in one of four 2-week sessions. Camp Susan Curtis is accredited by the American Camping Association and strives to offer the positive experiences and environment that many economically disadvantaged children need to gain self-esteem, a sense of belonging, and achievement.
We teach social skills in a strength-based environment, that complements the social skills curriculum in Maine's public schools. Each student camper is referred by professionals from his/her school or from a social service agency. This team approach creates a helpful support system for each child. This "Camp to Campus" program is a positive effort to raise aspirations of economically disadvantaged children.
Earlier this summer, our student-campers also visited Bates College. A visit to Colby College is planned for mid-August.
University of Maine Farmington
15 student-campers/staff from Camp Susan Curtis
Itinerary
August 6th
10:00 a.m. Arrival, welcome and campus tour.
11:00 a.m. Information session: overview of admissions process, academic programs and residential life, followed by question and answer period.
12:00 p.m. - Lunch on campus and debriefing
University of Maine Orono
35 student-campers from Camp Susan Curtis and 10 Susan Curtis Arts Education Center students
Tentative Itinerary
August 19th
9:30 a.m. - Arrival, welcome, video and admissions presentation
10:00 a.m. - Campus Tour with 5 different groups for each college interest area: Business, Arts, Education, Sciences, Engineering
11:30 a.m. - Lunch at the Bears Den with guest speaker
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Mainely Physics Road Show; Jordan Planetarium; Witter Teaching and Research Farm
Overnight stay in campus dorms as introduction to residential life.
August 20th - Student choice (optional activities from other UMO departments)
Engineering Wood Composites Center
Agriculture and Horticulture (Roger Clapp Greenhouses)
Robotics Lab