Camp Exclamation Point

was founded in 1991 by staff from the discontinued, federally-funded Vermont Migrant Education Program Summer Camp. We wanted to provide continuity for the children with whom we had been working and save a program which we thought made a difference in their lives. Camp Exclamation Point, Inc. is a non profit educational and charitable institution serving children with otherwise limited experiences due, but not limited, to financial hardship, geographic isolation, and disruption of life and education due to frequent moves or other circumstances. Many of their families are involved with agriculture and often move to follow available work. We have maintained a strong relationship with Vermont Migrant Education, as children from their program make up approximately a third of our camper population. Our driving principles are as follows:
• Community: To provide a safe and welcoming environment for kids to be kids, where good citizenship is modeled and encouraged.
• Continuity: To create a stable and rewarding experience that our campers enjoy returning for each summer, and to make this experience available to their brothers and sisters.
• Choices: To empower children to make meaningful personal decisions, learn responsibility and build their self-esteem.
• Core: To offer a program of experiences and activities in art and music, natural science, physical activity, water safety, nutrition and hygiene, and literacy. These principles are put into action in a residential camp setting for 100+ boys and girls from 3rd to 8th grade. In addition, we offer leadership training and supervised work experience in a supportive community environment for teenage youth who have "graduated" from our summer camp program and have shown an interest in further participation in the organization. Our competent and caring staff members direct a multitude of programs and activities. A particular emphasis is given to empowering campers in making choices that directly influence their experience at camp, while providing an example of a functioning community of campers and staff wherein kindness and cooperation are modeled and taught. We hope that, from this experience, campers will become aware of an expanded set of possibilities and be better able to make choices and to serve society in a compassionate manner.