About Camp Common Ground

Since 1994 hundreds of families from all around the world have come together as part of our unique family camp programs, creating lasting relationships with one another while engaging in life-long learning and community building.

Our family camp experience is grounded on the principles of respect, inclusion and cooperation. Using thoughtful and inspirational programming, we create an open and integrated community amongst families of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. We believe the kind of community we generate at camp is a living, breathing example of the kind of world we want to be able to live in year round.

This summer we'll be offering four fabulous weeks of our family camp programs in Starksboro, Vermont.

Mission and Guiding Principles

Common Ground Center is a multi-age, arts, education and outdoor recreation center. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together and strengthening diverse families and communities.

We work to foster strong and healthy families that:
•learn and grow together, supporting each other to gain new skills and explore individual creative talents
•interact cooperatively, to make families, neighborhoods and communities more vital and sustainable
•communicate openly and honestly, to share joys and concerns, solve problems, and resolve disputes
•play together, making time to laugh, relax, and simply enjoy each other's company

We work to develop strong and sustainable communities that:
•intentionally welcome, support, and celebrate diversity
•counter alienation by fostering interdependence among community members
•honor the unique contributions and talents of each community member
•take responsibility for the well-being of each community member
•value our interdependence with the natural environment

History of Camp Common Ground

Peg Kamens and Jim Mendell wanted to spend their vacations in creative activities with their three young children, where the kids could enjoy fun, interesting programs while they were pursuing adult interests. They wanted healthful food that respected alternative diets. And they wanted a place flexible enough in price so that a variety of people could afford to come.

They visited many family camps and improved on the best ideas. They called their friends in Brooklyn and Vermont with whom they thought it would be fun to spend a week and who also happened to be great teachers. Everyone said yes, came, and brought friends. The first summer of Camp Common Ground happened miraculously!

Since that start in 1994, we have grown into an extended family with some wonderful, devoted campers and a talented and diverse staff. In 1996 we bought the Starksboro property and had our first full camp here in 2005.

“What we love most about Camp Common Ground is the opportunity for our family to break bread with other families of different cultures and economic backgrounds allowing us to form connections not possible in our everyday lives.”

- Peg Kamens & Jim Mendell, CCG Co-Founders

Camp Common Ground Today

Many of the core values, first established by our founders continue to be upheld.

Camp Common Ground is a diverse community that welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, and lifestyles. Whatever defines family to you is a family to us! Adults can come with or without kids, but kids must be accompanied by an adult. Extended families (friends and relatives) are welcome too.

“Plenty of spaces simply claim to be open to gay and lesbian families, but Camp Common Ground truly achieves the integrated, open and affirming community so many of us hope to create. As a lesbian, I truly appreciate the warm and open environment at camp.”

- Anya Schwartz, Former Board President

Campership has come to be a very important part of our programs. Each year, over 50% of our campers apply for and receive some sort of financial assistance to attend camp. This includes many work exchanges and a few partial or full scholarships, at least one of which we give to deserving families through our partnerships with local Vermont organizations such as the Addison Parent-Child Center, the COTS Family Shelter in Burlington Vermont, and the King Street Youth Center. The campership programs help our camp to maintain a high level of economic diversity in our community.

“There are many levels on which we work – on the surface we have fun and do art and wellness kinds of things, but underneath it we really learn how to live in community, so that when disputes come up we work on resolving them in a way that is educational for everybody.”

- Jill Entis, CGC Wellness Coordinator

Community has been another fundamental aspect of our programs. At camp, families find the type of community that is lacking in society today. A community in which parents can seek the advice of experienced teachers and educators to help them make healthy parenting and lifestyle choices – a community in which parents can network with other parents and can learn and grow from the experiences of others.

“I have always believed that the cause of many social problems we face today is the lack of community and the lack of caring environments for whole families. I see Camp Common Ground as a model and an inspiration for me to build a community in my own neighborhood.”

- Francis Goodman, Wonewoc, Wisconsin

Every adult and teenage camper and staff member is required to sign up for 3 hours of community service per week – by sharing the work we keep our overhead costs down and we also learn to work and play together as a community.

Camp Common Ground is a cooperatively run organization of campers and staff. Our year-round staff does much of the planning but we provide many opportunities for campers to participate. Members receive our camp newsletter Open Pages which keeps them up to date on news about our organization. We also send out questionnaires on a regular basis which ask for camper input and help us to make important organizational decisions. Members are invited to attend our annual meeting – held each fall – to share their insights and to elect the board. The board meets quarterly and anyone can attend.

“We had a great time at camp. The one word that keeps coming back to me is “wholesome.” No TV (and it wasn’t missed by our TV and computer-game loving son); wakeup songs along the pathway of tents and cabins; wonderful, healthy and plentiful foods. I loved seeing Sam, our seven year old, running across the acres and acres of camp with the friends he made. He had the kind of freedom he’s never had in our Boston suburb.”

- Emily Soltanoff, Melrose, Massachusetts

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