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Page 16 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM February 2025 Plymouth Region Boys Gathered for Mayhew Winter Reunion
BRISTOL – Now in its 59th year as a boys camp situated on a beautiful island on Newfound Lake, the Mayhew Program staff, participants and their families gathered recently for some fun and reminiscences about the boys’ camp adventures last summer.
Mayhew Program’s new Ex- ecutive Director Peter Salibas was on hand at each of the seven Winter Reunions around the state held over the course of the third week in January. At each reunion he had a chance to meet the fam- ilies and spend time getting to know all of the boys who enjoyed two weeks on Mayhew Island in 2024. Salibas himself has only been with the boys program for four months but is well versed in their mission and excited to be part of it all.
The roots of Mayhew date back to 1893 when Groton School, an independent boarding school in Massachusetts, formed a summer camp for underprivi- leged boys on Squam Lake here in New Hampshire. The camp was set up on an island known to this day as Groton Island.
In 1920, with the help of the Webster family, the camp was re- located to what is now Mayhew Island on Newfound Lake. Prior
Families and staff gathered for a group photo at the Winter Reunion for boys who take part in the Mayhew Program in Bristol. Photo by Donna Rhodes
to the move, the island was un- inhabited and only used to graze sheep and harvest lumber. As Mayhew Island, it’s purpose be- came a place to make young boys be their best.
The school continued their program for boys from urban communities throughout New England until 1966 when they decided to return solely to their focus on education and discon- tinue the summer camp program.
Over the next few years the buildings of the former Gro- ton School Camp became run down from neglect. But, in 1969, several former counselors of
GSC teamed up with the staff and trustees of Hebron’s Camp Pasquaney. Together they formed the Mayhew Island Project, which served nine boys from inner city neighborhoods of Manchester in its first year.
For the second summer of the camp, Tilton School teacher Tony Governati was brought on board to rebuild the island and put to- gether a program to suit the needs of the young boys they served. Three years later Governatti was hired full time, the camp experi- ence was expanded and boys from throughout New Hampshire were introduced to the program. That
program has continued to grow to this day, further expanding its services to include year round out- reach for boys age 10-18.
The mission of Mayhew Pro- gram is to teach at-risk boys “be- lieve in themselves, work well with others and find their best.”
“Mayhew believes in these boys even before they believe in themselves,” Salibas said. “Suc- cess is different with each one but we help them to find their best.”
Mayhew Program begins with boys who are 10 years old and have been recognized to have challenges, such as single parents, nutritional needs and perhaps
even housing issues. Salibas said 40-percent of those in the pro- gram have been “unsheltered” at one point in their young lives.
The incoming boys become part of phase one, known as “Is- land Boys.” For three weeks in two consecutive summers they attend camp on Mayhew Island. They rise early, gather for breakfast then set off on a day filled with activities; even occasional presen- tations from organizations such as Newfound Lake Region Associ- ation and Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. There are also jobs they are assigned, a midday rest time, and lessons on how to
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