Vietnam War veterans from across Maine recently gathered at Camp Kieve for a special week of Kieve’s Veterans Camp. Entering its fourth year of veteran-focused programs, this is the third, “Vietnam Only,” event.

“After our first season of Veterans Camps we wanted to be sure that we were thanking veterans in the most honorable and respectful way possible,” said Henry Kennedy, the executive director of Kieve-Wavus Education. “So we met with a lot of veteran-oriented agencies and asked their advice; that’s when the Vet Center brought up a, “Vietnam Only” camp session.”

Veterans Camp is about being physically active, laughing, creating and healing. While the active and joy-filled environment remains as vibrant as ever, this year the creative process changed a little.

“We’ve spent the last few years collaborating with wonderful community partners like The Carpenters Boat shop and Bath Iron Works and they’ve given the veterans a great experience,” said Nancy Kennedy, the Veterans Camp Director. “But we wanted to keep things fresh and recently others in the community have come forward and offered their support through programming.”

According to Nancy Kennedy, one of the goals of Veterans Camp is to reconnect the community to its veterans and veterans to their community. Two of the community members who have offered to help are Peter Christine and Gary Lawless.

Christine, a realtor in Damariscotta, often volunteers his time teaching veterans how to tie flies, used in fly-fishing. “We were excited to have Peter share his expertise with our guests, and even more excited when he brought a whole crew with him,” Nancy Kennedy said.

Lawless, co-owner of the Gulf of Maine Books bookstore in Brunswick and a well-known poet and community volunteer, brought his talent to Kieve in the form of a writing workshop. 

Following an opening night, guest-veteran poetry reading, Lawless offered an afternoon workshop giving suggestions and coaching several camp guests on various writing techniques. “Writing is way that helps people who are struggling with issues describe their feelings in a very effective way,” Lawless said. “A lot of times it really helps them get a monkey off their back.” 

At the camp’s Thursday evening closing-circle several veterans stood and read works they had written during the week.

Guest instructors for the well-attended activity included Dr. Sean Moran of Miles Memorial Hospital, Sean McCormick, President of Trout Unlimited’s Kennebec Valley Chapter, and Brad Ronco from L.L. Bean, among others.

Kieve Veterans Camp is offered several times each year, free of charge to veterans who have deployed during wartime service. 

Military families and families of service members currently deployed are encouraged to join the camp, located on the shores of Damariscotta Lake, for fun activities and comraderie. 

For more information, visit www.kieve.org/veterans or call 207-549-5719.