Acceptance. Belonging.
Two words no kid should ever have to question. Two words every kid experiences for real at Pilgrim Lodge. In Boardwalk conversations before lunch. Singing grace at the table. Playing at the waterfront. Participating - that's right, participating - in prayer
and worship down at the Chapel by the shore of Lake Cobbosseecontee. Walking the labyrinth in quiet and peace. Building social skills in games and programs. Listening to stories that delight and tear you up.
Every kid. Every summer. Learning for real what it means to love one another as we are loved by God.
What is Pilgrim Lodge?
*Pilgrim Lodge, a beloved summer camp visited by more than 1,000 kids and adults each year, resides on pristine Lake Cobbosseecontee in West Gardiner, Maine. The camp is owned and operated by the
Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ.
*This is a Christian camp in the most loving and inclusive sense. All are welcome as children of God. For many campers, Pilgrim Lodge is the ONE place where they can relax and be themselves - whether it's goofy, quiet, wild and crazy, irritable, elated,
sad, or complicated - and feel completely loved, accepted and affirmed for who they are.
*Since 1956, kids have found a safe, loving, carefully planned experience of camp. These are ususally week-long living experiences involving exposure to the world of nature, helpful, caring relationships, and experiences of sharing, recreation, fellowship
and worship.
So many lives have been changed! So many kids have experienced positive growth and change in Christian community!
*Pilgrim Lodge is a beautiful site, respectfully embedded in nature, where incredible memories are made for thousands of people.
Here's what campers say about Pilgrim Lodge:
“I felt loved and safe the whole time at Pilgrim Lodge.”
“This was, honestly, the best week of my life.”
“I don’t know where I would be without PL.”
“At PL you become the person you really want to be in the eyes of God.”
“Pilgrim Lodge showed me a strength I never knew I had.”
The "Pass it On" Capital Campaign
Pilgrim Lodge needs major renovations to continue deep into the new century. These include physical renovations, restoration, upgrades, and new construction.
Pilgrim Lodge's "Pass it On" capital campaign was started to fund these improvements. We began our campaign to restore, refresh and renew Pilgrim Lodge in 2013. While still working to raise all the funds necessary, we have replaced the boardwalk and made
the labyrinth accessible to campers of all abilities. We put a new roof on our lodge and made critical repairs to the water and septic infrastructure. The campaign to restore the waterfront is one part of this larger campaign.
Appropriate to its setting and heritage, the camp is not a fancy place. In asking for significant capital funds for Pilgrim Lodge, we are mindful to present an effective but not slick campaign. We have planned the projects carefully and are keeping costs
to a minimum.
The next phase of the campaign is very exciting. We will build a new dining hall that will seat 200 campers at once, a new amphitheater so the entire camp can easily gather together and new waterfront that will make it accessible, friendly and safe.
The Campaign to Restore the Waterfront
Part of what makes Pilgrim Lodge such a special place is its situation on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Cobbosseecontee. The sparkling water is visible through the trees from every cabin along the length of the boardwalk, from the dining hall and lodge,
and especially from the lakeside chapel.
The waterfront is also at the heart of the camp's recreational activities. Campers use the docks to visit or to sit in quiet reflection. They play in the water, wade, swim, splash, and paddle in canoes and kayaks and prams.
These waterfront activities are an integral part of the camp experience and we want everyone to be able to share in them. Currently, the waterfront is reached by a rocky, uneven stairway. It is difficult for some to access the shallow water even if they
are able to navigate the stairs.
A new waterfront will be accessible to all through a new hardscape pathway, better stairs, easier shallow water entry and new docks.
Acceptance and belonging. Every kid, every summer.
With your help, we can make it happen!
Pilgrim Lodge has been "the place where God lives" for countless youth and adults for the past 50 years. With your help, we can carry on that tradition, in an even safer and more inclusive way, for the next 50. Here's what you can do:
Step 1 - Use the link to make a donation today. Any amount you can give will make a difference to future generations of campers!
Step 2 - Pass it on! Share this campaign with your friends. You may use the share buttons to spread the word via social media, or reach out to friends in a personal email.
To learn more about Pilgrim Lodge, visit us at
www.pilgrimlodge.org.
You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PilgrimLodge.
