ACA, New England Donor Story – Luke Joines, YMCA Camp of Maine
March 6, 2023
Camp is a community. Organizations, like ACA, New England, that carry missions related to the growth and longevity of camp rely on the membership, participation, and support of folks in that community.
Whether it’s time, money, resources, ideas, social media, etc. ACA, New England is consistently overwhelmed with the kind words, gestures, and donations that help us continue to help the camp community ensure better camping for all.
Throughout the year, we are going to share stories and testimonials from people who embody the word “donor”, and ultimately we hope their inspiring words will arouse fond feelings towards camp and encourage our readers to get involved however they can.
As always, continue to be there for one another, and remember that ACA, New England is always here for you.
Volunteering allows me to stay engaged, help those who need helping out, and [continue] to grow professionally and personally
Donor Story: Luke Joines – YMCA Camp of Maine
What is your connection to ACA, New England?
I started being involved with ACA, New England through Emerging Professionals in Camping (EPIC)in ~2018, maybe 2019. They were hosting events that I attended, and I loved being a part of a community bigger than my own. Now I am on the EPIC, New England Committee and a member of the ACA, New England Conference Planning Committee.
Why is it meaningful or important for you to give to ACA, New England?
It’s meaningful for me to give my time/money to ACA, New England because they have provided me with many opportunities to get involved and continue to do so. At Camp, we often work in our little bubbles/silos and often look inwards on our own organizations, however, being involved with ACA, New England has allowed me to look outwards and make connections with other camping professionals who alternatively allow me to grow as a professional.
During my time stuck in England through the pandemic due to Visa complications, ACA, New England provided me with heavily subsidized Career Professional Development opportunities to allow me to stay engaged and involved with camp, even though I was thousands of miles away. This act of generosity and kindness from ACA, New England just reminded me of how powerful we can be when we work together and not alone. Together we can achieve so much more than going alone. Being stuck in England and away from the trenches of decision-making as we all tried to navigate camp in a global pandemic was hard for me personally as I wasn’t there learning through my colleague’s decisions etc. Through ACA, New England, I took part in the New Camp Director Workshop, [and] the Newer Camp Director Round table series. These were both provided to me by ACA, New England. At a time when I needed support and a sense of community, ACA, New England was there and allowed me to continue being a part of something greater than just Y Camp [of Maine].
The most impactful part of [ACA, New England’s] mission for me is providing resources and increased access to camp however one defines “camp”. Volunteering allows me to stay engaged, help those who need helping out, and [continue] to grow professionally and personally. I see ACA, New England as the ‘Camp Resource’ for ALL so that we can ALL collaborate together [and] continue to elevate camping at large.
For more information or to make a donation of time, money, resources, etc. please reach out to camp@acanewengland.org or head to our Annual Fund Page.