(adapted from a MYCA announcement) The bill that the Maine Youth Camping Association (MYCA) submitted to clarify that camp meals are not subject to 7% sales tax has passed and was signed into law by Governor Baldacci. It is Public Law 529. The law clarifies: "This bill amends the definition of 'prepared food' under the sales tax law to exclude food and drinks served by a youth camp licensed under the Department of Health and Human Services." So Pilgrim Lodge and other Maine camps will have no further worries about a sales tax on meals. Jack Erler & Steve Sudduth did a fantastic job of making the connections needed for passage of this bill. As you know, its been a 3 year effort. Thanks to every camp that made a contact (or many) on this bill, and to private camps under the Children's Camp Alliance of Maine for contributions and activity on this measure. This is a great example of the power of camps being united and of having a superior governmental relations liaison (that's Jack!) who knows how to get complicated negotiations like this done. Everyone should feel great about this outcome!!

New Pilgrim Lodge Registration Guides are now available.  You need to read one of these before registering for camp.  For those who choose to register off-line, these guides also contain the registration forms:

Parent Guide (for youth camps)     Family Camper Guide       Adult Camper Guide

Download a 2008 Maine Conference Scholarship Application, Due by May 25

Leaving early / arriving late policy – Pilgrim Lodge desires to create a community with all of its participants.  Arriving late and leaving early creates gaps in that community that affect all participants.  Therefore we expect campers to arrive at the designated time and to stay for the duration of the program.  If you cannot make this commitment please cancel or reschedule your camp experience by calling the Maine Conference office. Deposits are non-refundable. A camper will be released for their own medical health or on the death or imminent death of a family member.

Counselorship Policy – As a thank you we will reduce the camper fee for one household member or dependent in grades 3 - 12 by $75 for a week long camp.  Scholarships are available as well for campers in need.

Interpretation and reasoning:  

Leaving early /arriving late policy - In recent years we have seen an increase of campers arriving late after the group has begun forming, the guidelines laid out ,and expectations explained. We tried to accommodate parents by pushing the acceptable drop off time as late as noon on Monday.  We've also seen a marked increase in parents wanting to pick children up on Friday night or before breakfast on Saturday which breaks the flow of the event for the whole group and in particular the child's cabin group. A third issue involves parents picking children up for appointments and sporting events then returning them to camp.  We understand that there are many activities and choices for children and families: family vacations, routine doctors visits and team sporting events are common reasons for missing part of camp.  We know that making a choice is difficult but to protect the integrity of the PL program we are insisting that a choice be made. We will return any payments beyond the deposit and we can work to get the camper switched to a different session in his or her age range if possible.  Parents are asked to avoid conflicts with routine doctor and dentist appointments as well.

Counselorship Policy: This was originally designed to be only used for one's children.  While we appreciate everyone's volunteer efforts has been widely interpreted in recent years to include payment for oneself, grandchildren and other relatives.  The program was never designed to be used this widely and the financial implication for PL has been significant.  This renewed policy returns the counsellorship to its original intent.

Carl, (right) His son Dick Barnes (center) and Director Bryan in the PL store at PL's 50th anniversary celebration, June 10, 2006

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Read the article about Pilgrim Lodge from the
August 18, 2007,
Bangor Daily News

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Over $12,300 donated through the PL07 mission project!	Photos from The Maine conference Annual Meeting
Food Wasting Stats are in!
View the Wilderness Awakenings Trip Camp Log	MEET THE 2007 PILGRIM LODGE STAFF CANDID PHOTOS ADDED 8/24

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	Health Center Gets a Makeover
Nurse Marge inaugurates the new health center		Dr. Roger Condit (right) with his wife Karyl (center) and Camp Director Bryan

It began last fall with a meeting of camp nurses at PL. The conversation eventually turned from policies and procedures to the physical plant.  The notes were later picked up by the group of four nurses and two doctors that were charged with preparing PL for the "Health and Wellness" standards set out by the American Camp Association. Next came the handy work of Maintenance Supervisor Steve Jones who took the committees ideas and turned them into reality. What began as the "Nurse's Cabin" is now worthy of the title "Health Center."

The front room has a new entrance to what is now the dispensary.  The reviews are in: the nurses, and the campers love the new set up and the systems that are in place.  The cherry on top was the addition of two new signs, one outside and one in. The family of  Dr. Roger Condit, OMC member, counselor and  member of the Health and Wellness Review committee asked if there was anything they could give to PL in honor of Roger's birthday.  Roger and his wife Karyl were present for the mounting of the signs this summer.  Currently the maintenance staff is retrofitting two donated accessibility ramps to the south side of the building. Thank you nurses, H&W committee, Steve and to the Condit Family!

Our happy little family of trucks has a new little one!  Thanks to the generosity of Allie and John Rimkunas we now own the cutest little truck in the world: PL3 (its a magic number) is a Ford Ranger.  Look closely and you'll note that PL2 (fondly known as "the Red Truck") is in fact not the PL2 you remember.  The former PL2, which served God and camp well, has gone on to a quiet retirement of fishing and light duty.  The new PL2 is a Ford 150 donated this spring by Dean and Patricia Roberts of Cumberland.  Our two new vehicular servants of God join the proud PL1, donated by the First Congregational Church of Camden in 2001.    Thank you for the incredible gifts that help make PL possible!

Rev. Jack Steeves keeps Our Staff Clean and Lemony Fresh!

When Rev. Ian "Jack" Steeves finishes an interim ministry, the congregation is so grateful the church wants to do something wonderful.  We already have a wood splitter given in honor of Jack's time in Winthrop.  This spring when the  First Parish Congregational UCC of Yarmouth wanted to find a way to honor Jack's two and half years with them they called and asked what PL needed that might honor Jack as well.  Jack has often been considered an adjunct staff member coming to help out whenever he can.  As such he has endeared himself to staff members across many seasons.  The project chosen was to install a new washer and dryer in the Balbrook staff cabin.  The staff no longer lugs it laundry half way across camp to compete with the kitchen and nurse.  Thank you Yarmouth!

Janos Meysar, a PL maintenance staff member for four summers asked Gabriella Barta, in her second year with the kitchen staff, for her hand in marriage.  It was sunset on June 28, 2007 at Balbrook Beach (near the staff cabins). She said yes! Both Gabriella and Janos are Hungarians from the Ukraine, no, wait, maybe there Ukrainians from Hungary.  It matters not because they're in love.  Click here for a for a series of engagement photos of the happy couple. Both of these young people are hard working, good natured and have become treasures at Pilgrim Lodge. We'd like to point out that there is a strong tradition of married couples serving together at PL so if you see them, let them know we want them to come back for years to come.  Wedding plans are in the works for some time in the second half of 2008 in the Ukraine (near the Carpathian mountains).  We'll keep you posted.

For three four years now the men of West Parish Congregational UCC in Bethel have spent the long winter hours in community and screening.  Each fall Dean Walker and his companions come to PL to measure and assess the screening situation.  They don't just re-screen the existing frames they build new ones. And this year they decided several cabins needed not just new screens, but new doors as well.  Imagine our delight and surprise when we began installing them to find a familiar, newly reinterpreted logo.  The PL logo in layered wood.  Thank you to the Boys Screening League of Bethel for giving PL a little more pizaz and still keeping with the simple beauty we love. 

Pilgrim Lodge apparel is sweat-shop free!