"The Caribou Collaborative Initiative, or CCI, is non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the Camp Caribou experience with deserving children whose families could not otherwise afford this type of opportunity. Our goal is to raise funds to support these "camperships" so that children may benefit from the tremendous growth that happens in our warm, safe and nurturing camp community. In addition to their personal and social growth, these children will have the opportunity to develop their skills in all the land and water sports and wilderness adventures that are offered at Camp Caribou, while spending their summer in the beautiful Maine woods. We will work in conjunction with several other non-profit youth programs out of Boston and New York City to help us support children from underrepresented backgrounds.

The camp experience has the unique ability to break down economic, racial, geographic, religious, ethnic and social barriers. Camp celebrates diversity and promotes understanding; and open-hearted children become open-minded adults.

Camp Caribou invites you to take an active role in promoting unity and an appreciation of differences among our campers.
Each year, Camp Caribou gives scholarships to campers who cannot afford the camp fees and whose presence at camp will broaden the composition of the camp community. With the creation of this 501c3 fund, we hope to continue to give the gift of camp for many years to come."

Testimonial

Looking back at my memories of how I spent my summers growing up, none compare to the summer I was welcomed into the Caribou family. I don’t get to spend as much time as I used to in Central Maine, but whenever I get the opportunity to travel back, I always look back upon the experiences I accrued as a camper at Camp Caribou.

My name is Lucas Good, and today I work as a Preschool Teacher outside of Portland, ME. However, 10 years ago I was a just a youngster excited about my chance to experience life as a camper. I grew up in Fairfield, ME, a small mill town not far from Camp Caribou. Most children from Fairfield rarely get the opportunity to experience a summer at a top tier camp like Caribou. Bill and Martha Lerman, two people I still have tremendous respect and admiration for, were aware of this. Through the kindness of their hearts, they provided 2 other local boys and myself the summer of our lifetime with a full scholarship so that we could experience something we had only heard about; a summer at Camp Caribou. I am still greatful today for the chance they gave us.

From competitive basketball tournaments, to archery, to colorwar, I was able to be a part of the Caribou tradition. All the while I was accepted as a camper by everyone and not just as a kid who received a scholarship. Bill and Martha made sure that I was comfortable and above all else, I had fun and knew that I had become a welcomed member of their community. So even today, I say, “Thanks Bill and Martha!”