Bangor to hold free United Way camp fair

BANGOR – For the seventh year in row, area parents and children are invited to attend United Way of Eastern Maine’s Free Camp Fair, from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Bangor Civic Center.

Families with children enrolled in grades three through six in the Bangor public school system are eligible for United Way of Eastern Maine’s Camp Bangor Program, which offers $800 scholarships to current third- and fourth-grade pupils and $1,000 scholarships to fifth- and sixth-grade pupils to attend Maine summer camps of their choice, after meeting good citizenship guidelines and volunteering in the community.

However, those with an interest in learning more about Maine summer camp programs are encouraged to attend.

“The Camp Fair is a fun and quick way to go shopping for Maine camp programs that best match children’s interests,” said Sara Yasner, United Way of Eastern Maine’s Camp Bangor program director. “Last year, hundreds of families came out for the fair. This year we would love to see even more children take part in the Camp Bangor program.”

A 2007 camp directory with information on more than 125 camp programs across Maine and other Camp Bangor program details will be available online at unitedwayem.org by Feb. 19, while additions on paper will be distributed to eligible pupils through the schools in mid-March. Additional copies will be available in the children’s department of the Bangor Public Library at that time.

The United Way’s Camp Bangor Program is funded by the Libra Foundation, a private foundation established by the late philanthropist Elizabeth B. Noyce.