We Have a Camp!

When Lauren and I first began dreaming about Camp Eastwood, we had a vision of what it could become. We had a beautiful property nestled in the Maine woods, a perfect footprint for little campers. We had cabins, fields, pool, and a dining hall. We had plans, documents full of ideas, countless meetings, and more checklists than I can count. We had conversations about what camp should feel like and how we could create an experience that was intentionally different.

Most of all, we had dreams. But we didn’t have a camp. Because a camp isn’t made of buildings. It’s made of people.

A camp only truly comes alive when children fill the cabins with laughter, when counselors cheer campers on through new challenges and when strangers become friends around a campfire. This week, that finally happened.

Our first group of campers, our Eastwood Originals, turned everything we had built into something real. Watching them play has been one of the greatest joys of this first summer. From free play on the field to adventures in the woods, conversations in the gazebo, and spontaneous games that seemed to appear out of nowhere, every moment reminded us why we believed so strongly in this vision.

Play may look simple, but it is where so much growth begins. Through play, children learn confidence. They solve problems, include others, discover new interests, overcome fears, and develop friendships that often happen more naturally than adults ever could plan.

Play isn’t just something we offer at Camp Eastwood. It’s at the heart of who we are.

Another part of this first summer that has been especially meaningful has been watching our international staff become part of our camp family. Every accent, tradition, story, and perspective has added something unique to our community. Camp has always been about broadening horizons, and seeing children and staff learn from one another reminds us that camp can make the world feel just a little bit smaller.

As Lauren and I imagined opening Camp Eastwood, we hoped children would feel like they belonged here. We hoped laughter would fill the woods. We hoped this would become a place where kindness mattered, friendships flourished, and every child felt seen. This first week has been even better than we imagined.

There are only 25 campers here this week. On paper, that may seem like a small number. To us, it feels enormous.

The campers will forever hold a unique place in Camp Eastwood’s history. Years from now, hundreds of campers may run these same trails, gather around these same campfires, and play in the same woods. But only one group will be able to say:

“I was there when it all began.”

They are our Eastwood Originals.

We hope they leave with more than just memories of a week in Maine. We hope they carry home the courage to try something new, the kindness they shared with others, the confidence they discovered through play, and the understanding that camp isn’t simply a place you visit. It’s something you carry with you.

When we started this journey, we had buildings, plans, and dreams. Now, thanks to every camper, counselor, staff member, and family who believed in this vision, we have something far greater.

We have a camp. And this is only the first chapter.

Stacey spent over 20 years as an educator and coach at every school level. A former three-sport college athlete, she also earned numerous degrees in education and counseling. Her camp director journey began as a Unit Leader at Camp Manitou and evolved into helping with the creation of Camp Somerset in leadership roles, including Head of Athletics, before becoming Associate Director. She is looking forward to bringing this experience she shares with Lauren, as a Director at Camp Eastwood.