Eastman Living Online Magazine

By Valerie Kehoe

As I sat and listened to Chief Community Living Officer Leslie Moses describe Eastman’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP), a couple of recurring themes surfaced. The first embraced the idea of value, that is the value of relationships and the partnerships developed between the SYP and Eastman. The second was of “experiential learning”—the importance of children experiencing the plethora of outdoor activities that the Eastman community cherishes and so generously shares. These themes embody the SYP’s motto, “Through the strengths that define Eastman, we provide personal growth experiences for our youth.” It represents what I call the “Eastman Effect.”

The “Eastman Effect,” as I have recently observed and experienced it, is the positive growth that occurs within the community when children, teens, adults, and elders sustain a cyclical relationship in which giving and receiving occurs simultaneously with the effect of total harmony. As I wrote this article, I realized how in the single year that my family has lived at Eastman, we have been positively impacted by the Eastman Effect. I volunteer in the community and my daughter is a counselor for the All Day Gang. It seems too corny to say, however I must…the “Eastman Effect” is a positive force that draws energy and strength from the kindness and beauty of the people fortunate enough to be pulled into its brilliant orbit.

This very special feeling is tangible when you are among the campers, counselors, and supervisors of the Summer Youth Programs. It is a direct result of the unique relationships the programs foster with individuals of all ages in the community. Leslie noted there are an abundance of talented Eastman residents who contribute to the vitality and magic of the summer programs. Two of those volunteers are Eastman Members Diane Sheehan and Susan Pratt who run the Lake Ecology Program for the SYP. The Lake Ecology Program consists of three lessons conducted during the first week of summer camp, occurring on consecutive days to introduce campers to the beauty of Eastman’s natural resources. Campers are taught how their daily activities can directly impact the quality of Eastman Lake. Diane and Susan’s instruction occurs first in a classroom-type environment and then quickly moves to hands-on activities on Eastman trails, in kayaks on the lake, and through interactive presentations provided by guest speakers such as a member of the NH Fish and Game Department (NHF&G). As Susan said in a recent phone conversation, “We want children to respect animals, plants, the water, how animals interact with the lake, and how we keep the lake healthy and clean.” Campers at all levels are taught how everything we do affects the quality of our beautiful lake and forestlands.

The Eastman Summer Youth Programs are gems. Each program—Kid City (ages 4-5), All Day Gang (6-11), and Adventure Program (12-14)—is honed to ensure that children experience the ideal mixture of adult guidance, creativity, educational opportunities, and pure play. One week, the camp theme for the All Day Gang and Kid City was “Leave No Trace.” Campers met with volunteers from the Lakes and Streams Committee to learn how to keep our watershed and forest healthy and clean. Two officers from the NHF&G also spent a day with the All Day Gang teaching them the “ins and outs” of fishing, baiting, and catch and release, after which the campers enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon fishing at South Cove. Gavin, a member of the All Day Gang, caught a 2-pound big-mouth bass that amazed all of the campers, including one who was so excited he gave the bass a big kiss. Immediately following their fishing expedition, campers enjoyed ice cream at Peppermint Patty’s. According to a poll taken by the camp counselors, the favorite ice cream flavor of campers is Peppermint Patty’s Maine Tracks.

Rachel Berg is a seasonal Special Events Program Assistant, and a former Eastman camper, Instructor in Training, and Camp Counselor. She told me Eastman has nurtured her through childhood to early adulthood, and noted that the community provided her with opportunities to practice her passion for recreation administration. Rachel observed, “Summer camp is not just a place for kids to hang out. Keep it fun, keep the kids outside and active! Utilize everything Eastman has to offer.” Based upon my time spent with adults and children involved in the Summer Youth Programs, I felt myself pulled by the “Eastman Effect.”

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Valerie Kehoe is a reading and writing specialist who works with elementary students during the school year. When not in school, she enjoys all of the amenities Eastman has to offer, including the cross-country ski trails in winter and the quiet roads for running.

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