Camp 2026 in Numbers
- 120 campers representing 8 delegations: Egyptian, Indian, Israeli, Jordanian, Pakistani, Palestinian, United States, United Kingdom.
- 15 Seeds returning to Camp for advanced leadership program.
- 32 hours of facilitated dialogue for new campers.
MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH ASIA, UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM
Flag Raising | July 20
Today our focus was on community-building, kindness and dialogue. When we assembled for Show Up, the benches were all in the hot sun, so the counselors quickly reassembled the seating area in the shade of an ancient nearby oak tree. That configuration seems ideal.
As we sit under the protective branches of this tree, we can’t help wondering what the tree could tell us if only it could speak. In the background, instead of the cry of the loons on the lake in Maine, we hear the throaty hoot of an owl.Most of all, we listened to the wisdom of some of the counselors who have become campers, Paul, our Camp director, and Bobbie, the co-founder of Seeds of Peace.
Paul addressed his reasons for being part of Seeds of Peace and asked the campers to think about why they decided to join us. Bobbie spoke about a sign we used to have at our old camp site, which was painted by campers after they listened to a poem by Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet. The sign said, “This is the field,” referring to Rumi’s poetic lines, “Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” These campers wanted us to think of Seeds of Peace as that field of understanding that Rumi was talking about.
In the afternoon, campers took on staff in volleyball. This turned out to be a lot of fun for both sides.
We have worked hard to come up with a way to have enjoyable meals together even though the dining room is a little small for us. The food is served cafeteria-style and much effort is made by the kitchen staff to meet the various dietary needs of almost 200 people. The traditional table cheers keep everyone engaged as they wait their turns to get their food.
We raised one flag that unites us: the green Seeds of Peace flag. We celebrated it by singing the Seeds of Peace Camp song. Incidentally, the son of the Seed who wrote the word for this song is now a camper!
Tonight was the first “bunk night,” an excellent way to encourage all the bunk groups to enjoy each other’s company in their “home away from home.”
Arrivals! | July 19
Most campers arrived yesterday, a bit tired but in good shape. Two more campers will arrive in two days. We have around 120 campers this year, from the Middle East, South Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Among them, are several second-year campers who will be given advanced dialogue training and opportunities to lead the new campers in the arts and sports. They also carry forward many traditions, including our universal blessing before every meal: “For friendship, health, love and opportunity, we are thankful.”
Several practices have changed over the years. For example, for the first time, we have changed what we used to call “Line Up” to “Show Up,” conveying the idea that we make a choice when we gather together. It is not a demand. And we have always gathered the whole Camp together for Line Up, before each meal. This year we are gathering after breakfast and dinner.
We hold Show Up in the shade of a giant, ancient oak tree beside the sports field. We will be remaking a sign from our first Camp which said “This is the field.” That sign was in reference to the famous Rumi poem, which starts with: “Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” The Seeds who painted that sign wanted us to see a double meaning—that we had a sports field and that Seeds of Peace, itself, is the field in Rumi’s poem.
The evening activity was a surprise chance to watch the World Cup final on a big screen in the theater.
Staff Orientation | July 18
For many years, we have composed daily Camp reports for parents and other interested persons to follow along as the summer progresses. These reports are attempts to capture the essence of the Seeds of Peace International Camp experience. Of course, we can not describe each person’s experience, but we hope these reports will provide glimpses into the daily experiences of the campers and staff.
Researchers at the University of Chicago, led by Professor Jane Risen—who attended Camp herself as a camper and later as a counselor—measure the impact of the program every session. The principle that is behind this impact is simple, but the methodology for creating positive impact can be complicated and challenging. First, we begin by bringing the staff together for a strong orientation, where they live and learn on-site. By the time the campers arrive, the staff has become a community of helpers, understanding one another and enjoying our shared purpose.
The staff consists of a leadership team, led by Camp Director Paul Stapleton, dialogue facilitators, counselors who live with the campers and lead activities, as well as medical personnel. Many are former campers, living their dreams to be counselors at Camp. The entire staff has been trained in a trauma-informed approach. We follow strict guidelines to safeguard every person in our Camp community. We also endeavor to have fun while learning new skills and discovering our commonalities and uniquenesses.