Tanglewood 4-H Camp & Learning Center

When Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center acquired Blueberry Cove Camp in 2005, beginning the process of reviving a proud seaside camp so that it joined UMaine’s 4-H learning community, there was no way to predict all the unusual gifts.  In this year alone energy from generous donors, volunteers, alumni and Tanglewood staff have moved the transformation of BBC closer than anyone imagined last year.  A farsighted and generous donor provided for the hiring of a full time Director and facility funds to restart BBC’s residential camp program. Jon Downing, his wife, Shelby, and their children Emma and Evan arrived during mud season to roll up their sleeves and set up housekeeping in quarters mostly used by wildlife of all sizes and species.

In late April, Tanglewood ran out of scholarship money to help campers attend camp.  The requests for assistance piled up daily.  Letters from parents and grandparents struggling to pay even the lowest fees touched all of us. This wasn’t just the nightly news.  The candid stories we heard about employment, bankruptcy, falling business revenues, unexpected and heavy medical bills, even home losses fueled our determination to help each family.

That was Leaderhip 2 camper, Allie's, first question after her canoe capsized on the St. George River. “Where will I find dry clothes?” She'd calmly assumed that her clothes did not need to be inside the waterproof bag issued to all Leadership 2 campers. Everything she owned was soaked.

We’ve been thinking of more ways to help families; this year we are offering more family friendly camp policies and activities for our day camp and over night campers. Tanglewood has always been a rewarding, nature based, discovery experience for children but we felt a need to do more to help families in these challenging times.