“Dear Diary, I hope I can go to the Y's summer camp this year. They do such cool things and go on trips. My best friend is going, but her parents are both working. She told me the Y has scholarships, but I don't think Mom would ask for help. I hope there is a way for me to go, so I don't have to sit at home every day....”

This could be an entry in the diary of any child. Fortunately, this fictional young writer's equally fictional friend is right; the Boothbay Region YMCA does offer scholarships, thanks to the continuing generosity of community members.

YMCA Executive Director Andy Hamblett said close to $53,000 was used for camp scholarships in 2012. He expects this year the need will be higher.

“Last year was our biggest year ever, 103 kids out of the 400 who attended camps received scholarships of some kind,” Hamblett said. “Camp (Knickerbocker) helps support working families who need to send their children to camp while they work all day. The need is great for them.”

If a child is interested in a specialty camp, like sports or arts, but needs scholarship help, the Y will work with the family to get the child in that camp and Camp K as well.

“The amount awarded varies among families,” Y Administrative/Development Assistant Doris Welch said. “Some may get 100 percent and others 25 percent. And some parents don't like to come in and ask for charity, so to speak, but we hear from others in the community about children that might need care and do what we can for them.”

Hamblett said families that host Fresh Air kids receive assistance.

With a minimum of $50,000 to raise, community members can expect to receive donation request letters in the mail in late March or early April.

Hamblett said donors can specify who the recipient of their donation will be.

“We have some donors who earmark donations for a particular camp, family or neighborhood,” Hamblett said. “Others support a specific child for camp and take care of the child's Y membership.”

Other scholarship funding comes from annual support for membership and youth services. Hamblett explained that by using the annual membership dollars to provide a family in need with a family membership, camp becomes more affordable because camp fees are lower for members (payments are income-based on a sliding scale) than they are for non-members. This helps the Y's camp scholarship dollars help more kids.

Hamblett said kids from many surrounding towns come to Camp K, but that the Y always tries to award local children first. Local families that will need help are encouraged to use this “home court” advantage by registering their child/children as soon as possible.

Camp Registrar Maddie Rideout is handling all camp registrations this year. She said there are 20 kids registered, but with the exception of a few in Y child care or pre-K, most of those registered are summer residents or from other Maine towns.

“It's especially important to register early if a child is interested in a camp with a limited number of spaces like adventure camps and theater camp,” Rideout said. “We definitely don't want to turn away a local child.”

Quote from a parent in response to the 2012 Y survey question, "Why do you believe this program is making a real and positive impact in the life of your child?"

“This camp had her with kids her own age doing things outside, pulling her into trying new things on her own level, and seeing and actually experiencing what kids her age can accomplish. Her confidence in herself increased by leaps and bounds.”

Donations may be mailed to the attention of Doris Welch or Andy Hamblett, Boothbay Region YMCA, P.O. Box 500, Boothbay Harbor, 04538. Or, make a donation online at www.boothbayregionymca.org – go to “support the Y,” then select Camp Knickerbocker scholarship fund on the far left. Donations may also be made online.

Financial aid applications are available on the YMCA website under the “about the Y” button, or at the desk in the lobby. Questions may be directed to Lisa Stevens at 207-633-2855 or lstevens@brymca.org/.

What's new for summer 2013

Summer camp sessions begin June 14 and run through August 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Membership and Marketing Director Meagan Hamblett said the end date was based on school starting before Labor Day. If the school committee votes to start after Labor Day, camp will be extended through that extra week ending August 30.

Parents can sign children up for one of the half-day camps in the morning and Camp Knickerbocker in the afternoon.

Programming at summer camp has been expanded. This year each group, from the Scampers (Kindergarten) through Linx (sixth and seventh grade) will spend almost all, or half of one Wednesday at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG). The Growing Up Green program of the last few years was a grant funded, but the concept will continue with these weekly visits to CMBG.

The Y hopes to offer the golf camp again, but it will depend on what happens to the region golf course.

This year the first week of Theater Camp will be at the Y Arts and Community Center; it's air conditioned and it will give kids the opportunity to go swimming in the pool. The second week will be at the Boothbay Playhouse with the performance on the second Friday, rather than Tuesday.

Parent Y survey quote: “Musical theater camp is the BEST thing my kids have ever done! They have grown in confidence and have found a group of life-long friends, the counselors among them. Top rate, incredibly talented people run this program.”

Details are still being worked out with the Music Doing Good group to return in July or August to continue working with the Y to expand music programming for youth. Last year, the talented group of singers and musicians spent a week with the theater camp that culminated in a production of “Alphabet Soup.”

Speaking of food, new and healthy food choices will be offered at Camp K and Critter Camp. Kids will find sandwiches, pasta salad with veggies, fruits, and baked chips or Sun Chips in addition to the ever-popular pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers. No child ever goes hungry. When a child comes to camp without a lunch and no money to buy something to eat, they are fed.

Stop by the Boothbay Region YMCA, on Route 27 across from the Boothbay Region High School, and pick up a comprehensive summer camp guide or check out the camps online and register your child today. Their adventure is at your fingertips.

For more information, call the YMCA at 207-633-2855.