Hearty Roots completed its summer adventures with two, week-long offerings of Sunbeam Camp at Oak Point Farm in Boothbay Harbor last week. The Sunbeam Camp annual offering provides an opportunity for area youth who are neurologically and/or physically diverse to enjoy fun, mentorship, and empowerment on Knickerbocker Lake. For many participants, Sunbeam Camp at Hearty Roots is the first time they’ve been able to enjoy a traditional camp experience, even if summer adventure camp at Hearty Roots is anything but traditional! Days are packed with opportunities for youth to swim, paddle board, challenge themselves on a low ropes course, and explore the woods. This inclusive, supportive camp focuses on helping participants make new friends, foster independence, acknowledge self-worth, dig deep into their grit and resilience, and beam with a smile. All while becoming good stewards of the land and their beautiful, glowing selves.

“During the two Sunbeam camp weeks, participants embraced each other completely,” says Hannah Walsh, a Hearty Roots Adventure Mentor who holds a master’s in social work (MSW) and master’s in outdoor education. “The level of encouragement, support, and inclusion from these campers created an atmosphere where participants felt empowered to try new things, forge new connections, and navigate challenges with bravery and grace."

Sunbeam Camp wouldn’t be made possible without the vision and grit of Hearty Roots campers, staff, and a meaningful relationship with Boothbay’s YMCA. “This offering is one that illustrates our collective capacity to serve community when we work together to think—and play, and paddleboard, and swim—outside the box. At Hearty Roots, we don’t just talk about inclusivity, we model it through our partnerships, programming, and mentoring,” says Shannon M. Parker of Hearty Roots.

At “Closing Circle,” a reflection ceremony held at the end of every adventure week, Hearty Roots participants mindfully, intentionally process their experiences, the connections they’ve made, and ways they’ll integrate their joy moving forward. “Hearty Roots integrates social-emotional wellness into every aspect of our programming,” Parker continued. “Because our mission isn’t just to deliver exceptional experiences for local youth; it’s to help local youth see their exceptional spirit and capabilities. Participants carry this empowerment with them, a lifelong tool that resonates far beyond a camp session.”  

Sunbeam Camp began in 2022 and is now an integral annual offering at Hearty Roots. The organization is currently in a capital campaign to purchase 400 acres of wild forest that includes old growth hemlocks and lakefront access in a strategic move to deepen and expand their offerings for local area youth. This land will be preserved for light, mindful recreation for Maine’s youth, serving as a campus for all kids to feel like they belong as they repair in the restorative powers of nature because Hearty Roots believes every kid deserves a chance to “get off the grid and into their heart.” For more information on Hearty Roots year-round programming, summer offerings for youth, their capital campaign for the “Hearty Roots Campus for Mindful Adventure,” or sponsoring a child’s hearty adventure through scholarship, visit heartyroots.org. They can’t wait to meet you in Maine’s wild, where journeys overlap.