belgrade lakes, maine february 2021 GAP YEAR PINE ISLAND MISSES A BEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 118 YEARS Pine Islanders have long been known for their ability to make do with less. The expression “less is more” has been a hallmark of life at Pine Island since the very beginning, when traveling by train and dirt roads brought camp- ers and staff to a remote island. Since 1902 Great Pond and Pine Island have become less remote, but the camp has consciously maintained a facility that feels remote and where making do with less is providing an even more valuable experience as boys and staff are given the opportunity to unplug and lose the myriad distractions of the modern world. Making do with less is one thing, but this past spring the 90 or so boys and nearly 40 staff who were planning to make do with less learned that they would have to make do with… nothing. After weeks of careful research and communication with Maine Summer Camps, the professional association to which Pine Island belongs; the Maine CDC; and infectious disease experts Pine Island awaits the arrival of PIC 2021. and prospective parents, the Pine Island board of directors decided, out of an article on page 16) of would-have-been Sumner, along with Communications wonderful things that being part of the abundance of caution, not to operate for counselors who lived and worked on Director Sarah Hunter and a generous effort provides. And alumni and friends the 2020 season. Director Sumner Ford, Pine Island for six weeks, completing and energetic board of directors and the world over missed the comforting instead of preparing for his first season many projects and providing on-line Shortfall Task Force, was instrumental knowledge that whatever else was go- at the helm, spent countless hours doing “content” for those boys who wanted to in rallying the PIC troops to provide ing on, the Pine Island adventure was research, having long conversations, and maintain contact with PIC during the crucial financial support to make up for underway. At this writing, plans are be- creating a range of scenarios for operat- summer months. Sumner spent many the shortfall caused by zero tuitions. ing made for a robust, safe camp season ing camp in the COVID era, in the event hours on the phone checking in with Pine Islanders made do, but campers, in 2021, and dozens of boys are already we decided to open camp. Ultimately 2020 campers and their parents and staff, and parents acutely missed taking looking forward to hopping aboard the Sumner’s efforts went into creating a was at the helm of a very different ship part in the creation of another success- KWS on the 25th of June to head to the successful and safe “Skeleton Crew” (see throughout the summer. In addition, ful community on Pine Island and all the island. SUDDEN TUITION VACUUM UPSETS PIC BUDGET — HUNDREDS OF ALUMNI, PARENTS AND FRIENDS RESPOND Pine Island Camp has faced many partly to provide a cushion to mitigate Swan asked several Pine Islanders to Annual Fund arrived hot on the heels of challenges during its long history. the financial impact of “unforeseen cir- join the Shortfall Task Force, dubbed the Shortfall appeal, but true to form There have been lean years and not-so- cumstances,” unforeseen circumstances “The Force,” and all of them immediate- Pine Islanders are responding generous- lean years and even some moments in came calling and didn’t knock. ly said yes. Within a couple of weeks 22 ly, again. To all of Pine Island’s support- the past when the future of the camp Although the shock of going from 96 individuals, either on the Force or on the ers around the world a huge THANK seemed to hang in the balance. Over tuitions to zero was eased considerably Board of Directors, had provided a stun- YOU and AKKA LAKKA! the past 30 years or so, a great deal by the many 2020 parents who rolled ning $300,000 matching gift fund, pro- On the next page are the names of of work has gone into stabilizing the over their tuition payments to 2021, it viding an important incentive to offer the Pine Islanders who responded gen- camp’s budget and planning carefully was nonetheless severe, even more se- potential donors. Through the US Mail erously and quickly to plug the hole cre- for the future. One of the silver linings vere than the necessity of rebuilding and various on-line appeals, in just a few ated when the board of directors made of the dark cloud of smoke from the fire seven buildings following the fire. Many months over 400 Pine Islanders made the difficult decision not to open camp of 1995 is that Pine Island Camp, Inc., years of work by the Finance Commit- gifts large and small and we reached the for the 2020 season. We are very proud which had recently become a 501(C)(3) tee, board chairman John Goodhue, goal early this fall. to list these many names, but we do so non-profit institution, connected with and the indispensable and tireless Em- Thanks to this immediate and gener- with some trepidation since it’s almost many generous alumni, parents, and ily Swan made it easy (never a given in a ous response, Pine Island Camp heads impossible not to leave someone out. friends and increased its ability to raise small institution) to figure out what Pine into the coming year in excellent finan- And donations to our shortfall cam- money the camp needed both to rebuild Island needed to make up the shortfall cial shape with the funds needed not paign continue to come in as this issue after the fire and to begin the process of and stay healthy. In short, Pine Island just to make it to June but to handle goes to press. If you made a gift and your securing the camp’s future. Ironically, needed gifts totaling $600,000 over the the added expenses that are inevitable name does not appear below, please for- this spring, with a campaign underway next few months. Board member Nick in this unusual and unpredictable envi- give us! to increase Pine Island’s invested funds, Bellamy and Executive Director Ben ronment. The appeal for the once-a-year 1 Many Thanks To Our Generous Donors! 35 anonymous gifts Lawrence Dickey David Hincks Chris McKeon and Melissa Kerns- David Seymour Simon Abranowicz John and Martha Donoghue John and Anne Hincks McKeon Sandra Sgroi David and Debbie Adams Jacob Donoghue Marcia and John Hincks David and Jamie McLain Russell and Pam Sharples Katherine Adams Noah Donoghue Will Hitchcock Sam and Celina Meites Steve Shepley Chuck Albers Will Donovan — in Memory of Sloan Ben Hitchcock Allison and Kevin Mertens Jordan Shields Corinne Alsop Critchfield Jim Holden Nick Miller Sloan Shoemaker Appy and Elaine Apperson John Dowling Richard Holden and Grace Won Joseph and Susan Mondello Alex Sidorsky Lise Aubry Kelly Drury Ted Holden The Montague Family Foundation Peter Siebert and Candace Nelson Scott Baer William Drury Dan Hollnagel Taylor Morrison and Page Darron Ted Siebert and Lana Fuller Monte Ball David Duncombe and Dena Skran Coleman and Amy Hoyt Howie and Connie Muir Bill Silver Charles and Sia Bauer Alec Durkin Woody and Kate Hoyt Parents of Maxx and Jordan Murray Chris Skelton Anne and Eric Baurmeister William Durkin David Hubbard Maxx and Jordan Murray Kate and Christopher Skogen James Becker Keith Eaton Harriet Hubbard Stuart Murray Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith Marty and Kathy Becker Sarah Eaton and Adam Joyce Max Huber Nadosy Family Foundation Hugh and Sally Smith Beckerman/Schachner Family Jonathan and Allison Edwards Skip and Marcia Hudon Katherine Nagler Kit Smith Bianca and Mark Bell Agnes Effron Andrew Irvine Rick and MaryAnn Nash Spencer Smith Nick Bellamy Penn Eichorn Jamie Iselin and Jessica Casey Kenneth Neil David and Sarah Stack Teddy Berg The Eigeman Family Chris and Betsy Isles Scott Nelson David Starr Bertha Betts Elizabeth Ellis Nicky Isles Kathy and Tom Nelson Bob and Marianne Steinhacker Harrison and Arria Bilodeau The Elston Family Ashley Jacobs Nick Newbold Nan Strauss Charles Birney Bill Enck Marc and Turi Janes James Newman Barbara Sullivan Ned Bishop Spike and Sandy Enck Elissa and Bill Johnson Anna Newton Seth Sutel Calix and Xander Boldt Ellen Evans Kelley and Scott Johnston Eliza Nichols Ben and Emily Swan Charlie Boutwell and Lara Nadosy Ben and Kim Farquhar Mark Jones Conner Ozer August and Harry Teague Mary Louise Boutwell Doug and Mandy Farquhar Steve K. Frank Page Jim and Nancy Thomson Rob Boutwell Alison Farrar The Kasper Family David Pap Nick Toole Bruce Bower Aidan Fennessy Mark Kasper Jim and Maureen Parton Henry Towbin Vivian Boyle Scott Finlay and Martha Finlay David Kemp Debbie Patnaude and Joe Scutero John Treadwell Jr. Charles and Susan Boynton Jason Fischer Phil and Pat Kemp Morgan Patterson William Truscott Woodward Boynton Julie Fisher Norva and Wayne Kennard Adam Peck Navarro Vaisbort and Family Annie and Cameron Brandt Whit Fisher and Dennis Gagne Patrick Kenny Mike and Rachel Peckar Brad Vogt The Bregahearnes Lisa Flanagan Charles Kernan Jesus Gonzalez Pereda Susan Voudren Dan Bristol Bob and Liz Flynn Zev and Bonnie Kindler Rob Perkin Becca Waldo Gene Brown Bobby Flynn Cricket and Angus King Thomas and Heather Pierce Jim Waldo and Susan Mitchell Sam and Baya Brown Ray Foote Duncan and Emily King Stewart and Julie Burger Pierson John Wallace and Lessa Brill Nick Buck Ian Ford Peter Klivans Heather and Mark Powers Roy Wallace Samuel Buell Jim Ford Charlie Krause Jake Pressman Andy Wallerstein and Mary Sloane Stephen Burt Tom Meites and Lynn Frackman Andrew Krauss Cecily Pulver Jessica and Peter Ward Dan Byman and Vikki Wachino Peter Frailey Penelope and David Kulko Mr.