Seeds of Peace

Please check out our daily camp reports from the International Camp in Otisfield, Maine! These are jam-packed with interesting stories and anecdotes about the challenges faced by campers and the progress they are making. The reports are put together by Bobbie Gottschalk, Co-Founder of Seeds of Peace, who spends the entire summer at camp in order to track and report on these activities. If you have questions, please contact us at: info@seedsofpeace.org.

OTISFIELD, Maine- Seeds of Peace, which brings together children from countries in conflict, begins its 2008 summer program Tuesday at its lakeside camp in this western Maine town.  Attending the first session will be young Egyptians, Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Indians and Pakistanis.  They will bunk, eat and play together and take part in discussions about regional conflicts.  The camp's goal is to get youngsters to interact and understand the viewpoint of those on the opposite side.  Seeds of Peace was founded 15 years by John Wallach, a foreign correspondent who died in 200

Original source: Boston Globe
Original publication date: June 22, 2008

OTISFIELD, Maine - Seeds of Peace, which brings together children from countries in conflict, is getting set to begin its 2008 summer program Tuesday at its camp in the western Maine town of Otisfield. Attending the first session will be young Egyptians, Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Indians and Pakistanis. They'll bunk, eat and play together and take part in discussions about regional conflicts. Seeds of Peace was founded 15 years by John Wallach, a foreign correspondent who died in 2002. Since its founding, the program has brought 4,000 children to the camp.

Original source: SeacoastOnline.com/AP
Original publication date: June 22, 2008

OTISFIELD -- On a Friday evening early in a Seeds of Peace camp session, a Palestinian boy learned his cousin died from injuries sustained in a clash with an Israeli soldier months earlier. The news spread quickly and anger was palpable as the Israeli delegation emerged from Shabbat services. Counselors separated the Arab and Israeli campers into different buildings. Organizers worried how the situation would affect their ability to bring together children from opposite sides of the Mideast conflict.

Original source: Central Maine Morning Sentinel
Original publication date: June 22, 2008

OTISFIELD, Maine (AP) — Seeds of Peace, which brings together children from countries in conflict, begins its 2008 summer program Tuesday at its lakeside camp in western Maine. Young Egyptians, Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Indians and Pakistanis will attend the first session, bunking, eating and playing together as they take part in discussions about regional conflicts.

Original source: The International Herald Tribune

OTISFIELD (AP) ­- Seeds of Peace, which brings together children from countries in conflict, begins its 2008 summer program Tuesday at its lakeside camp in this western Maine town. Attending the first session will be young Egyptians, Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, Indians and Pakistanis. They will bunk, eat and play together and take part in discussions about regional conflicts. The camp's goal is to get youngsters to interact and understand the viewpoint of those on the opposite side. Seeds of Peace was founded 15 years by John Wallach, a foreign correspondent who died in 2002.

Original source: SunJournal.com
Original publication date: June 23, 2008

C-Span; Text From the Congressional Record

 Payne, Donald [D-NJ]. Debate: H.CON.RES.337

 Begin: 14:22:51 End: 14:25:53 (Length: 00:03:02)

"Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 337, a resolution honoring Seeds of Peace for its 15th anniversary as an organization promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East and around the world.

Original source: C-Span: Text From the Congressional Record; Debate: H.CON.RES.337
Original publication date: June 10, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Maine-based organization that brings young people and educators together from regions of conflict around the world was honored today by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Tom Allen honoring Seeds of Peace in Otisfield. The late John Wallach founded the organization 15 years ago.

Original author: By Portland Press Herald Staff Report
Original publication date: June 10, 2008 05:44 PM

125 Volunteers from Toll Brothers Inc. Will Help Prepare Camp for Arrival of Young Leaders from the Middle East, South Asia and the USA

Otisfield, Maine – The Seeds of Peace International Camp, which focuses on conflict resolution and leadership development, announced today that clean-up activities to prepare the camp for its sixteenth season will take place on Saturday May 31st.  Over 125 volunteers from the New England Division of Toll Brothers Inc. will participate in the activities.  Toll Brothers Inc.

Original publication date: 5/27/08

Seeds of Peace recently attended the second annual Islamic Games held in the city of South Brunswick, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 24, 2008. The objective of the Islamic Games was to execute a professional athletic and sports event within the Muslim community that promotes athletic skills, develop appreciation for sports and encourage participation from the community. For Seeds of Peace, it was an opportunity to engage in a conversation with Muslim youth.

Original author: Tammy Sun
Original publication date: 5/30/08