International Camp | Overview

Set on a quiet lake in the woods of Maine, the International Camp provides an escape from the explosive rage and violence spilling over in the Middle East and South Asia. This neutral, supportive setting makes it possible for hundreds of young leaders from both sides of major conflicts to meet their "enemy" face-to-face, often for the first time in their lives. Here they confront their prejudices and deep-seated fears and tackle the issues that fuel the conflict back at home.

The three-week conflict resolution program is designed to open young minds to the possibility of a new reality. Every aspect of the program fosters trust, challenges assumptions and narrows the psychological distance between the participants. The program’s intensity is deliberate. Each Seed shares a bunk with the very people they have up until now had every reason to hate.

Athletic, artistic and cultural activities scheduled throughout the day deepen the bonds between Seeds and strengthen the daily dialogue sessions that are at the core of the Camp process. During hours of discussion conducted by professional facilitators, Seeds are forced to confront their differences, their competing historical narratives, and share their personal experiences of the conflict. By the end of the program, the Seeds have achieved new thresholds for understanding perspectives that, for many, were at the start of the summer beyond comprehension.

• How to Become a Seed
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• Employment Opportunities [2]