By: Caraline Squires | Staff Writer
The state of Maine is dependent on a tourist economy. Many small towns in Maine more than double in size during the summer months. When this influx of people occurs, Maine summers often shift focus toward tourists– even summer camps. When tourists come to summer in Maine, they’re also looking for a place to drop off their offspring to enjoy a peaceful vacation. This increase in population is good for the economy but less than ideal for Maine’s youth because it increases the prices and limits the availability of summer camps for full-time residents.
Camp Susan Curtis (CSC), however, is a dedicated space for Maine’s youth experiencing economic hardship. Maine is the most rural state when comparing population size to the size of the state. Economic hardship is no stranger to many Maine families, especially in more rural areas outside of the greater Portland area. Camp Susan Curtis provides the classic camp experience that allows young Maine residents the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful nature the state has to offer. Located on Trout Pond in Stoneham, CSC has a unique perspective on training its staff members.
Camp Susan Curtis is named after Susan Curtis, the daughter of Maine Gov. Kenneth M. Curtis and Pauline B. Curtis. Susan was just eleven when she passed from Cystic Fibrosis in 1971. Every session, there are bonfires in Susan’s honor where campers make a goal for their time at camp; goals are personal and unique to each camper; some just want to make a friend, and others want to learn to paddleboard. The possibilities at camp are endless because of the support of their dedicated and caring staff.
Understanding that economic constraints often intertwine with trauma, the camp staff members are trained to operate a trauma-informed program. The camp’s Support Team Director, Dakota Brichetto, grew up at Camp Susan Curtis and just completed her fourteenth year as a staff member; before being a staff member, Brichetto spent seven years as a camper. To Brichetto, creating a space where campers can thrive is important, and keeping staff informed is where it starts.
“Informing staff on how to talk to and approach our kids, and also how we respond to different scenarios that are happening and kind of giving them the background of the why we might be seeing these things,” Brichetto said. “It’s important that we use a certain tone of voice or be careful about the words we’re using, such as parents. Instead of saying Mom and Dad or Grandma– we just say, your supportive adults. It’s all of those kinds of things.”
Brichetto graduated from USM with a bachelor’s in athletic training in 2017 and a master’s in occupational therapy in 2021. Brichetto said she wouldn’t have found USM without the camp. “We went there for a camp-to-campus trip. I had never actually heard of it.”
Staff member and former camper Trevor Pollard also chose USM because of the camp. A freshman this year, Pollard plans to major in social work because of their experiences at CSC. Pollard realized in high school that they wanted to help people for a living, and they realized this by finding a home at CSC. “It was the only place where I felt like a sense of community,” he said. When it was time to apply to schools, CSC also helped them find USM.
Even the smallest parts of camp are learning experiences. Cabin clean-up time encourages campers to be tidy and clean while maintaining a safe learning environment. Staff teach campers everything from how to make their beds to teeth-brushing techniques. “If a kid isn’t used to something or just hasn’t done something before due to history at home, we’re able to help them and teach them,” said Pollard. Pollard has been a staff member for three years and was a camper for four. “We act like teachers in a way.”
The University of Southern Maine and Camp Susan Curtis work together to help Maine youth further their education. Over the years, the camp has developed and maintained a network of over one hundred schools representing every county in Maine. Many campers, like Sandie DeJoseph, are introduced to USM through camp directly. “The entire reason why I’m enrolled at USM right now is because of camp,” she said. “And the major I chose is also because of camp because I have so much experience working with kids, and making a difference has become my whole spiel in life now.”
For the campers and staff members at Camp Susan Curtis, growth is lifelong, and friendships last forever. Support Team Director Brichetto met her now husband at camp. Staff member Pollard started at camp as a weak swimmer but is now a lifeguard at the waterfront. Staff members like DeJoseph carry their love of camp with them and think of how their future at camp will look.
“When I do become a teacher, my summers will still be free so I can continue my career at Camp Susan Curtis,” DeJospeh said.
Visit Camp Susan Curtis’s website to learn more about the camp’s features and program and see if you’re interested in being a staff member at Susancurtis.org! Kids flourish when they explore the outdoors– and so do adults, so try to adventure outside this week.