Highlights from Healthy Acadia's 2024 Down East Teen Leadership Camp
Down East Teen Leadership Camp Gathers for its 24th Year!
- Article and photos contributed by Naomi Eyerman DETLC 2024 Student Staff Media & Arts Coordinator
Left to right: Ziva Marsceill, Gabriel Hopkins, True Brickle, and Leah McNally enjoy one of the many activities during this year’s Down East Teen Leadership Camp.
Healthy Acadia’s 2024 Down East Teen Leadership Camp (DETLC), held from July 22nd to July 26th, was a huge success! DETLC is a weeklong overnight summer camp experience for teens held at the Cobscook Institute in Trescott. The program challenges and empowers teens by providing them with the skills necessary to positively impact their lives and those in their schools and communities.
DETLC is a camp for youth, led by youth. Throughout Camp, there are different themes, activities, and experiences with the goal of promoting leadership, community bonding, and holding space for healthy discussions.
During the week campers participate in team-building activities, leadership skill-building, workshops provided by regional and statewide businesses and organizations, excursions that build self-confidence, and so much more.
Ed Gerety joined us on Thursday, July 25th for an energized Community Session. Ed drove home this year's camp theme, “Shine Your Light” and taught the DETLC family how to navigate our way to a life we’ll love.
Family groups are one of my favorite parts of camp as a youth staff. It’s great to get to know campers on a more personal level. Family groups really foster connections and are safe spaces where campers can have fun as well as open up and get deep. DETLC overall has so many unique experiences that make camp truly memorable.
Down East Teen Leadership Camp is gearing up for its 25th Year Celebration in 2025. If you are a former camper or hold DETLC close to you, please reach out so that we can keep you updated on what’s to come in 2025.
For more information or how to donate to DETLC and ongoing youth programming contact Sara McConnell at (207) 255-3741 or by email at sara@healthyacadia.org.