As we look toward an exciting season in 2026, we invite you to partner with us as we create a bright future for our campers at Pilgrim Lodge. Through our collective gifts, we can manifest experiences like August’s for every camper at Pilgrim Lodge, sending them out into the world knowing that they are seen, known and loved.
Scroll down to read the story of Rev. Joyce Long, a Friend of Pilgrim Lodge and why she supports camp.
Rev. Joyce Long – A Story of Giving
Rev. Joyce Long has a long history with Pilgrim Lodge and loves to give back. She and her husband, Eugene, are monthly donors. Joyce has been a volunteer counselor and Dean for decades. Joyce shares, “There is so much bad stuff going on in the world now. One place that feels different is Pilgrim Lodge. It is what the world should be like. Kids who may not fit in other places find a place to fit in at Pilgrim Lodge. It is so important. It is a place where God can smile.”
Joyce became a camper when she was a teenager and felt more accepted at church and Pilgrim Lodge than at school. Because of that, it was important to send her own children to camp. Her children now send their children to carry on the family tradition. Some of them attend Grandparents and Grandchildren Camp with Joyce and Eugene. Others are old enough to come for a week on their own. “It is the only place where my grandchildren get this kind of community.”
Beyond investing in camp opportunities for her own family, as a Pastor, Joyce worked with her church on fundraisers to send people to Pilgrim Lodge. “I believe that if there is one terrific thing a church can do, it is to celebrate Pilgrim Lodge Sunday. It gets a lot of spirit and energy flowing.” On Pilgrim Lodge Sunday, together with her congregation, Joyce would wear camp shirts, sign “Grab Another Hand,” and serve ice cream after worship to bring camp traditions to church.
Joyce’s contract as a Pastor supported her volunteerism at camp connecting her local church to the ministry of Pilgrim Lodge. “Wherever Tom Hancock was a Dean, I was a counselor; first for Middler Spirit and later for Senior High.” She reflects that Tom and Holly Hancock both reflected a deep love of Pilgrim Lodge. She later supported Arts Alive with Sally Colegrove where her relationships with other counselors were meaningful and lasting. Joyce was invited by Rev. Deb Breault and Anne Hodgman to Women in the Wild in 2002. “When I came as an adult camper, I felt that sense of belonging again just for my own sake, not only as a counselor.” Joyce has led Women’s Spring Weekend for a decade, contributing to helping other adult campers experience a sense of belonging at Pilgrim Lodge.
When asked why she volunteers her time and shares her resources with Pilgrim Lodge, Joyce shares “The two most important places where I can give money to make a difference are to my church and to Pilgrim Lodge. I struggle every day with what is going on in our country and our world. If I’m going to make a difference, committing to Pilgrim Lodge and helping it to stay strong and become stronger is the best thing that I can do. I want to be a part of that.”
