Center Day Camp (CDC) is a

day camp Day camps also known as summer camps in some areas, are geared for those who are of school ages 3-7. They offer activities in a social setting, usually in the community and the children return home in the evenings. Day camps can be booked by the ...

run by the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

that coordinates, promotes, and supports the Jewish philanthropic, benevolent, educational, and communal activities in

Southern Maine Southern Maine Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Maine. It commonly includes the coastal areas of York County and Cumberland County. Some notable towns are Biddeford, Kittery, York, Wells, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Saco, Old Or ...

. It is located in

North Windham, Maine North Windham is a census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Windham in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,904 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland– South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropoli ...

, on the shores of

Sebago Lake Sebago Lake is the deepest and second-largest lake in the U.S. state of Maine. The lake is deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of . It is possible that Sebago is the deepest lake wholly contained within the entire New England region, ...

Program

The camp is co-ed. Campers range from 3 to 15 years old. CDC provides a traditional Maine summer camp experience for campers on the wooded shores of Lake Sebago. Twenty minutes from

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

, Maine, CDC sits on of woods, fields, and shoreline. Generations of campers have spent their days at the camp's lake and learned new skills at the camp. CDC accepts campers of all faiths and backgrounds. CDC is accredited by the

American Camping Association The American Camp Association (ACA), formerly known as the American Camping Association, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the United States. It is an association for camp owners, camp professionals and others interested in summer camps and si ...

. Center Day Camp also has a

counselor-in-training Counselor-in-Training (CIT) at a summer camp can be both a person’s designation and a program intended to prepare people to become counselors. CIT programs vary in detail, but all have elements in common. Common elements * Virtually all progra ...

(CIT) program whose participants assist staff with group participation, activities, and lesson planning, developing skills to become future counselors.

Founding

Norman Godfrey, a leader in Portland's Jewish community, recognized that few families could afford to send their children to sleep-away camp during the summer, so he decided to start a summer day camp. Godfrey wanted to open the summer camp on Peaks Island, but he died of leukemia in January 1947 before taking his idea to fruition. Others in Portland's Jewish community continued Godfrey's idea in order to make it happen. The summer camp was established, albeit operating in temporary locations. The first location was in Deering Oaks Park in Portland, and it later operated Sebago Lake State Park. It had about 50 campers. The camp was non-sectarian, although most, but not all, of the campers were Jewish. In 1949, Portland's Jewish community took out a loan of $9,500 () in order to buy on Sebago Lake as a permanent home for the camp. The loan was formally secured by six volunteers, but ultimately 140 families donated in order to pay back the loan over the next three years. The camp was dedicated to the memory of Godfrey.Nacelewicz, Tess (July 12, 2003).
Camp memories turn to gold: Center Day Camp far exceeds its fund-raising goal, and will celebrate with a re-dedication ceremony
. ''Portland Press Herald'' (Portland, Maine). p. 1B.

References

External links

Jewish Community Alliance
Jewish summer camps in Maine Jews and Judaism in Maine Buildings and structures in Windham, Maine 1949 establishments in Maine {{Maine-geo-stub