Camperships (Scholarships)
Financial Assistance for Families with Moderate or Low Incomes
For many families, our tuition is affordable and fairly priced. When you register for camp, you can self-select a tuition tier: Tier A—Full Tuition, Tier B—Some Assistance , and Tier C—More Assistance. Tier A represents the full cost of offering camp, while Tiers B and C are simple ways to you to self-apply financial aid. We warmly encourage families to consider what they can afford for camp and use Tier B or Tier C if it is necessary for your family this year. If your family needs further financial assistance, we are grateful to be able to offer a limited number of camperships (scholarships) each summer. Read our full campership policy on this page below.
If you are applying for a campership, the Friends Camp deposit is only $100 per session, per child. The deposit for a one-week Jones camp session is just $50 per child. You do not need to pay a deposit to register for camp if you are applying for a campership, but after your campership application is submitted and you have heard back, you will owe a deposit to hold your space. Your deposit may be less than $100 if you apply for nearly a full scholarship, but we do generally ask every family to contribute $20 as a deposit.
Campership funds are generally awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. However, we do try to hold open a few camp spaces and funding for families with significant financial need who register later in the season. Please feel free to inquire about campership funding at any time of year. You can find the online campership form once you have signed up using our online registration system. The simple campership application asks about family income, any additional funding you might have received from other sources, the amount of campership funds you are requesting, and any other ways Friends Camp can support you (e.g. assistance with transportation or resources like a sleeping bag).
Please do not hesitate to call or email our office if you have any questions about financial assistance. We are truly happy to talk with you about payment plans, camperships, and affording camp for your family. Every child should have the opportunity to attend summer camp, and we want to help make it happen for you!
Here are eight possible additional ways to help you reduce the Friends Camp tuition costs:
When registering your child, select the Tier B or Tier C tuition rate.
Ask your Friends Meeting / Congregation for campership support.
Ask that holiday and/or birthday gifts be all or part of the summer camp tuition.
Look to local service organizations for campership support.
Look to governmental and social service agencies for support.
If your camper is a teen, they could work part-time to help pay some of their camp fee.
Low income families from Maine can apply for the Maine Children’s Home / Keller Family Fund campership Programs – contact Camp Director for more information.
Ask grandparents or other family members to help out with the camp tuition.
Campership Policy
Friends Camp provides camperships (scholarships) to campers with financial need, grounded in the belief that every person who wishes to attend camp should have equal opportunity, regardless of financial means.
Camperships benefit our camp community by allowing youth of different backgrounds, identities, and experiences to contribute to our community. In this way, camperships support those who may not otherwise be able to attend camp and help foster a more equitable and inclusive camp community. In awarding camperships, we aim to support as many campers as possible who wish to attend camp, and we also seek to support deep, long-lasting connections; if we financially support a camper’s attendance one year, we commit to doing so in future years, if needed. In awarding camperships, special consideration may be given to campers in need from the communities Friends Camp is a part of (including but not limited to New England Yearly Meeting of Friends / Quakers and our Central Maine Community).
The Friends Camp campership application process relies on integrity; we ask families to reflect on their financial situations and trust families to contribute what they are able. Camperships range from a portion of camp tuition up to the entire amount of tuition. Families are encouraged to apply for aid from additional sources as well, including their local Quaker Meetings, special scholarship funds in their areas, and extended family support. We aim for open communication to allow both families and Friends Camp to plan ahead for spending.
Additionally, spaces within a session may be held open for campers who need significant financial support at the Camp Director’s discretion and within budgeted campership funds. This provides a grace period for families facing financial hardship who may not be able to register immediately when camp registration opens or may have emerging needs for financial assistance.
The total amount of campership funds available each year is determined through our annual budget planning process. If additional funds are needed, the Camp Director may appeal to the Camp Committee in accordance with the policies outlined in our Financial Handbook. Our commitment to offering camperships is reliant on a strong base of families paying tuition, on the support from generous donors, and on our Campership Endowment Fund. Providing camperships is an important priority of our financial operations, as is maintaining general affordability. Friends Camp works hard to keep camp tuition as affordable as possible for all families while still maintaining high standards of safety, operations, and care.
Providing camperships is a vital expression of Friends Camp’s commitment to equity and community. Camperships ensure that the opportunity of attending camp is extended to all.