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February 2025
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
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swim and paddle a boat. There are cabin-to-cabin challenges as well, filled with friendly rivalry amongst them. Each of the two summer sessions have as many as 42 participants.
When they are 13-14 years old they move to the “Link Up” stage. This summer program is when, instead of staying on the island, they spend a week with staff mem- bers for hiking, fishing and camp- ing in the White Mountains.
“Extender Stage” is for boys 15-18. It is the phase when they are eligible to work on the island as part of the cooking staff or as a Counselor in Training. They are paid a “market wage,” said Saliba, but best of all, their wage is matched by Mayhew Program. That money is placed in a special account set aside for post-second- ary education for each of them, whether that be college, trade school or any other job-oriented learning opportunities.
The boys currently come from seven regions throughout the state. Over the school year, Outreach Staff meet with all of them to not only see how they’re doing but to help reinforce the values of the
Mayhew Program.
Last Saturday the Plymouth
Region boys gathered for their Winter Reunion at Mayhew’s headquarters on West Shore Road in Bristol. There was plenty of food for them and their fam- ilies as they chatted and played a few games. Salibas said the re- gion’s outreach team was also challenged to come up with a few games of their own. Trevor put together a skeeball type playing surface. Cups marked varying points were attached to one end of a table then part way up the side of the table there was a bar- rier running three-quarters of the way across the middle. The table was then tilted and teams of boys and adults lined up along the side at the opposite end. The challenge was to roll a ping pong ball around the barrier and into one of the cups to rack up as many points as they could. After Team 2 took the first win, the group split into a kids versus adults competition and the cheers were loud when the boys and their siblings took the win.
They all then settled in to watch a video that gave their par- ents a look at some of their expe-
Dawson went first for his team during a modified skeeball game at the Mayhew Program’s WInter Reunion, scoring 100-points on his very first roll. Photo by Donna Rhodes
the outdoors and you’re a kid, this is the place to come,” he declared. Since 1969, 2,100 boys have participated in Mayhew Program. Recommended by their school, they are not children with sub- stance issues or behavioral prob- lems. In fact there is no tolerance for such matters at Mayhew. They simply need support in finding who they are and where life can take them if they choose the path
that is right for them.
Mayhew Program is a 501:c3
that is overseen by a 16-mem- ber Board of Directors. They are funded solely by grants and private donations and take no government funding other than a small grant to help provide food for participants in need of nutritional support. It is the only program for boys in the state that provides not only a summer camp experience but year round support as well. That support extends to even helping them apply to col- lege or trade schools if they need a hand navigating the process.
For more information or to make a donation to the Mayhew Program, please visit their website at mayhew.org.
riences on the island last summer. Kaden, age 11, said he had a great time out on Mayhew Island and looked forward to the Sum-
mer of ‘25.
“It was really fun! The food
was great and I liked the sports the best,” he said.
Gabe, who is now 13 and will move up to the “Link Up” phase next summer, also raved about his experiences on the island.
“I think it’s a fun place to send kids. It gets them outdoors in the
summer,” he commented.
When asked what he enjoyed
the most he had plenty more to add, each beginning with the word “fun.” With a smile he said he liked “Quiet Hour” after a busy day of activities. But along with other activities, he also loved the sports championship, which he de- scribed as “fun but intense.” Food, challenges, all of it was great in his eyes.
“I go on hikes with my family so I like the outdoors. If you like
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