Hidden Valley Community - International Coed Summer Arts Camp

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HIDDEN VALLEY CAMP
Freedom, Maine 04941
Peter & Meg Kassen - Directors

An International Children's
Community for 60 Years

Email:
summer@hiddenvalleycamp.com

Phone: 800-922-6737
From Overseas: 207-342-5177
Fax: 207-342-5685

Program Choices · Programs for Teens > Hidden Valley Community

Community Service and Leadership Training

A 4-Week Summer Program

Our teen community service summer program, for boys and girls aged 14-16 and who are committed to making a difference in their communities and their own lives.

The Goals:

Develop skills in self-sufficiency, leadership, and community service useful at home, in school and in any work related activity. (Community service credit available.)

The Environments:

Live in a restored farmhouse on 17 acres of woods and fields, prepare your own meals or share them at the Hidden Valley Dining Hall, and spend time in three environments – your micro community, the camp, and the neighboring Maine towns.

Activities at the Blodgett House

Team building and leadership workshops.
Problem solving & communication skills.
Discussions such as “moral & ethical dilemmas in groups and communities.”
Food preparation using organic garden vegetables from the Blodgett House garden.
Small construction projects.

Projects at the Camp

Develop your own camp classes and teach younger children.
Create a demonstration wind or solar power project.
Build a bench or a stained glass window for one of the camp’s common areas.
Learn construction skills by building a shed from scratch.

Volunteer Work in our Rural Community

Plant trees at Acadia National Park
Assist with an alternative energy project
Maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail
Construct a picnic area on conservation land
Help elderly farmers with chores
Care for cats and dogs at a nearby animal shelter
Maintain equipment at a volunteer fire department
Assist at a local arts festival

Thorndike Fire Chief explains the airpack to an HV Community volunteer.

creating a picknick area in Unity, Maine

Creating a picnic area on conservation land in Unity.

The Blodget House – Visited by Teddy Roosevelt on his expeditions to Maine.

Typical Schedule

MORNINGS

Breakfast at the Blodgett House
Chores and Workshops
Community Service at Camp
Lunch at the camp or on the road

AFTERNOONS

Assist in Hidden Valley classes, or
Lead a special project for camp interest groups, or
Work on a building or decorative project, or
Volunteer outside of camp.
Dinner at the Blodgett House or at camp

EVENINGS

Lead a Cabin Night program, or
Sing, tell campfire stories, or
Go on a special trip to a Maine performance or events.

The month at HV Community concludes with a special trip to Canada, Campobello Island or Quebec.

Helping homeless animals at the Camden - Rockport Animal Rescue League

Giving homeless animals attention at the Camden- Rockport Animal Rescue League.

Helping to milk cows at a dairy farm in Searsmont.

Tidying up a National Park for the public.

Our Mission

The goal for Hidden Valley Community participants is to strengthen one’s capacity as a community member and become a better person at all levels of community life. The program also represents the camp’s understanding that Hidden Valley is not an island. Since 2003, our volunteers have led the camp’s efforts to share with its neighbors our rural community’s way of life.

"Volunteer work like planting trees in Acadia, or helping to run a booth at the Blue Hill Fair, was a lot of fun – it didn’t feel like work. Part of the reason I chose Community was because I liked the idea of giving something back in terms of community service; the experience was even more fun and rewarding than I expected. Being together as a small group in Blodgett House was really great. Living together and working together made us really close."