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Scalabrine’s future with Celtics in limbo
Lewiston Sun Journal

Jul 30, 2010 / No Comments

OTISFIELD | Brian Scalabrine might be able to coexist with one O’Neal and continue his career with the Boston Celtics.

Whether or not that run as a mainstay on the NBA Eastern Conference champions’ bench and active contract talks with the team would endure the arrival of a second O’Neal—this one a lock for the hall of fame—remains to be seen.

Scalabrine, 32, played out the final minutes of his five-year, $15 million contract during the Celtics run to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Needing frontcourt depth to compensate for Kendrick Perkins’ catastrophic knee injury in Game 6 of that series, the Celtics signed 14-year veteran Jermaine O’Neal to a two-year deal this summer.

With Perkins out indefinitely due to the long rehabilitation, that might leave room for Scalabrine, a career reserve who has never averaged more than four points per game in green. But the 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward continues to hear the nagging rumors that Boston is interested an another noted wide body, Shaquille O’Neal.

In limbo and awaiting the domino effect, Scalabrine hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

“Me and Shaq’s games are really quite similar. He’s an inside player. I’m an inside player. He’s 360. I’m 250,” said Scalabrine, the expression on his face hardly changing. “I don’t know, if they had to make that choice that there’s only going be room for one 360-pound center, I feel like they could do both. They could have me and him.”

The free agent was in Maine for what has become his annual appearance at Seeds of Peace, the lakeside, international youth camp.

Often the most decorated professional athlete to appear each summer, Scalabrine conducted an informal sports camp Thursday as part of a star-studded lineup.

While soccer great Mia Hamm taught skills to the teenagers with her husband, former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, providing support, Scalabrine stood tall on the adjacent basketball courts.

His cohorts included four-time Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards and incoming NBA rookies Xavier Henry of Kansas (Memphis Grizzlies), Scottie Reynolds of Villanova (Phoenix Suns) and Brian Zoubek of national champion Duke (New Jersey Nets).

“Nomar and Mia, they’re definitely changing the dynamic of this. Teresa Edwards, as well. We have some big stars here,” Scalabrine said. “It’s not hard to sell them on coming up to Maine. There’s the beautiful weather, which is gorgeous today, and just the idea of what these people are going through. In our lifetime we would love to see peace in the Middle East and peace everywhere, and that’s why we’re here.”

Scalabrine’s agent, Arn Tellem, is a Philadelphia native who developed a fondness for western Maine when he spent a summer on the current Seeds of Peace grounds—then Camp Powhatan—as a youth.

Another colleague, NBA veteran Brent Barry, made the trip and convinced Scalabrine to pay his initial visit.

“Now I’ll spend four or five days up here,” Scalabrine said. “I’ll swim in the lake. It’s a good time for me to get away from Boston and the hustle and bustle of life.”

That busy itinerary includes the prolonged negotiations with the Celtics.

Scalabrine, who spent his first four seasons with the New Jersey Nets after playing at the University of Southern California, believes he fits into the Celtics’ veteran philosophy no matter whom they sign for reinforcements.

“We definitely got older (with the Jermaine O‘Neal signing), but probably our team can kind of do that. Doc (Rivers) is probably the one coach that can coach aging superstars,” Scalabrine said. “If Shaq signs, he’ll fit in well. We’ve got a lot of young guys like Baby (Glen Davis) that can go 40 minutes if those guys need games off or whatever. It’s a different dynamic, but you’ve got to remember teams are built for the playoffs. The kind of players we have will be built for the playoffs.”

Boston set a trend by bringing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen into the fold prior to the 2007-08 season. They combined with Paul Pierce to form a Big Three that won the franchise’s 17th NBA title in their first year together.

The Miami Heat’s acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to complement Dwyane Wade has many conceding them the 2010-11 championship. Scalabrine, for one, isn’t so sure.

“I would think that in today’s day and age when you can put three guys, three studs like that together, it’s a good way to go. Now it comes down to the role players and they can build their team and see how they play,” he said. “At the end of the day, though, you have to think about it. You have to go through Boston, go through Orlando, and unless those guys can guard Dwight Howard, they need to figure out how they’re going to do that. You need to have length and size to win, so we’ll see what happens.”

For these few days, however, speculation about the season ahead and anxiety about where he will spend it melt away for Scalabrine underneath the brilliant July sunshine and blow away in the light breeze wafting through the pine trees.

“To come here and see the kids, it brings my life back to reality,” Scalabrine said. “People are going through big problems, and everything I’m going through is not such a big deal. Selfishly I do it for me just as much as I do it for them.”

Read Kalle Oake’s article and view Russ Dillingham’s photos at The Lewiston Sun Journal »

Pro-basketball players to host 15th Play for Peace clinic at Seeds of Peace Camp

Jul 11, 2017 / No Comments

OTISFIELD, MAINE | On July 17, Seeds of Peace will host the 15th Annual Play for Peace basketball clinic at the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine.

Six current and former NBA and WNBA players, including two NBA Champions, will join 181 Seeds of Peace campers from the Middle East and South Asia who are courageously engaging each other across lines of conflict as a first step to creating change in their communities.

During the 15th Annual Play for Peace clinic, these young campers will get a break from their intense daily dialogue sessions and learn teamwork and hoops skills from some of the best basketball players and minds in the game, including two-time NBA Champion Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs), Sue Wicks (New York Liberty), and Ish Smith, Luke Kennard, and Henry Ellenson (Detroit Pistons).

NBA Champion Brian Scalabrine (Boston Celtics) will be making his record 13th Play for Peace appearance. Joining him is Darren Erman, a former Seeds of Peace counselor, Celtics assistant coach, and current New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach, and Dwight Davis, who serves on the National Basketball Retired Players Association Board of Directors.

A visit from world-class athletes and coaches will bring renewed energy to Camp as the players demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills on and off the field. The visitors will also learn more about our campers and the challenges they face as they work for change in communities divided by conflict.

This is the 15th year that Play for Peace has been organized by Seeds of Peace board member and former sports agent Arn Tellem, who now heads the Detroit Pistons front office, in partnership with the NBA.

Seeds of Peace inspires and cultivates new generations of leaders in communities divided by conflict. We equip them with the skills and relationships they need to accelerate social, economic, and political changes essential for peace.

Media interested in covering the July 17 Play for Peace Clinic or visiting Camp this summer should contact Seeds of Peace Director of Communications Huberta von Voss-Wittig at huberta@seedsofpeace.org.

Youths meet to promote Mideast Peace
The Boston Globe

Aug 19, 1996 / No Comments

BY OMAR KELLY | When he boarded a flight from Egypt to the United States over the weekend, 15-year old Mohammed Wasfy had his heart set on accomplishing a mission some deemed impossible.

“Friendships,” he said. This is my chance to make friends out of enemies.”

Mohammed’s flight landed in Boston less than two hours before he put his plan into action.

Clad in his blue jeans and white T-shirt, Mohammed took the first step toward his goal. During the first activity of the Seeds of Peace program, he hung out with teenagers from eight different Middle East countries, all at once, for the first time in his life.

Mohammed is among the 150 teenagers participating in Seeds of Peace, an internationally recognized coexistence and conflict-resolution initiative based in Washington.

Through teenager participants from Qatar, Tunisia, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco and Greece, the program works with the next generation of Arab and Israeli leaders to promote Middle East peace.

Yesterday these young leaders spent the first day of their three-week stay in the United States in Boston. The remainder of the trip will be spent at a campsite on Lake Androscoggin in Maine.

“Most of these kids have never interacted with each other before. They were too busy fighting, “said John Wallach, the program’s founder and a former foreign editor for the Hearst newspapers.

“We get these kids together so that they can build a new foundation for peace. Forget the older generation. They’ve been fighting for years,” Wallach said. “The only chance we have is building the next generation before they begin to hate.”

The future world leaders participate in a camp that resembles the United Nations with a teenage twist. Their mission: learning how to get along and live on friendly terms with one another in a way that has eluded their countrymen.

Day activities at the camp include sporting events and fun and games while the evenings will be reserved for serious discussion at summit-style forums.

The participants are chosen through schools in their home countries. And each year the camp brings back the best participants for more.

The goal is to dispel fear in the hearts of the next generation, preparing them for the arduous task of peacemaking. By nurturing lasting friendships, trust and teamwork, this program makes it possible for youngsters to become the seeds from which an enduring peace will grow, Wallach said.

Iddo Shai, a 16-year-old Israeli student, is participating for the third time. He said the program has helped him, along with others, explore feelings and fears they have about one another.

“Everyone is learning to understand and empathize with those feelings from different and conflicting backgrounds,” Iddo said. “I learned even though we have differences, we are all very similar people.”

Yesterday, these young ambassadors, between the ages of 13 and 17, began their Boston visit by attending a New England Patriot’s exhibition football game at Foxboro Stadium.

Also on the group’s agenda is a visit to Harvard University, a picnic with young people from the Boys and Girls club on Talbot Avenue at Franklin Field in Dorchester, and a benefit performance by Marvin Hamlisch, the writer for the Broadway show “The Chorus Line.”

Seeds of Peace receives no government support. The primary source of funding is private donations.

“These children are helping to make peace, but it takes about $2,000 to pay for every kid who participates and we need the financial support,” Wallach said. “This program is the only chance we have with building the next generation before they begin to hate.”

16 American Seeds participate in Changemaking 101 Workshop

Jan 8, 2017 / No Comments

NEW YORK | Seeds of Peace’s Changemaking 101 Workshop brought together 16 American Seeds for a day of dialogue exercises and reconnecting on January 7 in New York.

The Changemaking Workshop focused on the hidden assumptions and assessing one’s biases and background when working on projects with various populations.

The Seeds also took part in a self-assessment component to analyze what style individuals prefer when pursuing social change and activism as well as pitfalls when working in the field of social justice.

The workshop allowed the Seeds to engage with each other about their different takes on effecting social change. ​

Coexistence: The Seeds of Peace Experience
MidEast Web

Aug 4, 2002 / No Comments

Rachel is a 17 year old high-school senior in Mercer Maine. She attended two recent sessions of Seeds of Peace International Camp for Coexistence as a member of the American delegation.

“You are all dirty terrorists!” “Your soldiers are monsters! They wear uniforms that say – ‘Kill Palestinians.’” “We have no water. We cannot wash – we cannot wash anything.” “I am so terrified to go on a bus.” “Jerusalem is our holy land, and you take your soldiers there!” “We have suffered more. More of our people have died.” “You kill our children!” “You kill our children!”

A thin Palestinian girl started to cry, and an Israeli boy leaned back in his chair and sighed with frustration. Mashour, a dark eyed refugee from Ramallah, rolled up his sleeve to show a scar on his forearm – “From your soldiers.” Her curly head bobbing indignantly, Noya related the daily fear of Israelis, and the death of her aunt, killed by a bus bomb. The room exploded into argument: yelling, crying, words in English, Hebrew and Arabic. At Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield Maine, Middle East teenagers were learning about the reality of “coexistence.”

The newspapers, T.V. and magazines all discuss the Arab/Israeli conflict, explain the significance of Jerusalem, and highlight key incidents of violence and terror. What they rarely delve into is the concept of “coexistence,” an unavoidable reality of the conflict. Despite the violence of the conflict, both Israelis and Palestinians exist on the same land, and will continue to do so forever. At Seeds of Peace, I watched kids my own age struggle to understand and achieve a “peaceful coexistence.”

In daily “coexistence sessions,” the Israelis and Arabs at first recounted their sufferings, and the ways that the “other side” had wronged their people. Both sides wanted to show that they were the blameless victims, that they had suffered more. A Jordanian girl said – “If you Israelis would just admit what you did and get out, we could solve this conflict.” The Israelis recounted the story of the Holocaust, the horror of suicide bombings, and constant fear. The Palestinians told stories of squalid refugee camps, poverty, and constant military occupation. Abigail, tears streaming from her eyes, said – “We suffer every day because of you. We suffered in the Holocaust. How can you compare?”

In the camp, they also had to live together. Ola didn’t sleep at all the first night. I woke up and saw her sitting in her bed, completely alert. “What are you doing?” I mumbled sleepily. She replied – “I can’t share a bunk with an Israeli.” Later that day, she had to play soccer with an Israeli partner. At the end of the practice, she walked over to me. “It was…it was OK,” she said “She’s not very good at soccer either.”

One day, Mashour said something new, “I think that maybe the Israelis also suffer. I think also that it is wrong for us to compare suffering. We both live there. We both suffer.” Across the room, Mohammud leaned forward to ask – “Well, but how can we both live there?” Silence. Then Abigail, who had barely said a word until now, spoke up: “We have to.” Ofer asked: “What do you mean?” Abigail said quietly: “Mashour sits at my table for breakfast, and we played tennis together. We talked about our families. What he said – his words really made me feel. He’s human, you know?” By seeing the enemy as a human being: as another person with a face, a family and real feelings, Abigail began to see that not all people from the “other side,” were suffering too, and that they had a right to live on the land as well.

It soon became apparent, that for every event in history, there were at least two versions of the story. Israelis told the forming of Israel as a great and sorely needed action. Palestinians recounted it as “al-Nakba,” or “the catastrophe.” Facts became subjective – there seemed to be two truths for every event, two records of each action. Slowly, the two sides realized that they had been taught completely different accounts of history. As they shared their “facts,” a new and more objective version of events emerged: one which recognized the biases of each side. The friendships that they had made allowed them to talk as people, one-on-one, not as representatives of their government, but as children who were tired of the situation.

An hour later, my group was out on the soccer field, running and playing. Joo-Joo, her blue head-scarf fluttering, passed a ball to Hadeel, who raced towards the goalpost. She paused. An Israeli girl was standing next to the net, in the perfect position to kick the ball in – her team-mate. Then she passed. Her team scored. I saw a new look cross Hadeel’s face. When the team gathered to celebrate, she walked up to the Israeli girl and gave her a high-five. Later that day, they would argue about politics, settlements and of course, Jerusalem, but for a moment, I just saw two girls playing soccer.

When people talk about the seemingly impossible situation in the Middle East, they often say, despairingly – “Will they ever learn to live together?” I don’t know the answer to this question, but I can tell them that I have seen it happen: I’ve seen Israelis and Palestinians come to the realization that they are both human beings, and both sides are suffering. I’ve seen them overturn their personal biases, and explore both versions of a historical event. Coexistence does not mean fluffy, idealistic visions of peace, nor does it mean a strict division enforced by a military. Coexistence is simply the idea that two human beings can come to the realization that both of them are suffering, both have been taught hatred and prejudice, and both have a right to exist on the land. Respect is necessary, and so is direct communication between both sides. I saw children my own age: victims of violence and hatred, come to a peaceful coexistence, and one they would take home with them. Coexistence is an intelligent, objective goal, based on the realization that neither side is going away, both have the right to exist, and both have suffered greatly in the conflict. It means refusing to be Pro-Palestinian or Pro-Israeli. It means refusing to be a tool of continuing unrest, and bringing a human face to the conflict: the face of a friend on the other side. To be a Seed of Peace.

2018 Camp Report Roundup: Session 2

Aug 14, 2018 / No Comments

Three weeks ago, 162 young leaders from across the United States arrived at the second session of the 2018 Seeds of Peace Camp. Our 26th summer may have just ended, but there’s no better time to look back on the memories these new Seeds will never forget. We hope you enjoy this Camp roundup!

Day 1: July 25

ARRIVAL DAY! Over the course of the afternoon, campers from all across the United States— from nearby in Maine all the way out to Los Angeles—arrived to the enthusiastic welcome of our counselors and staff. By dinnertime, all but four campers were settled into their bunks.

Day 2: July 26

Though it also marked the first dialogue of second session, the highlight of the day was a presentation our returning campers (called “Paradigm Shifters” or PSs) gave to new campers over a roaring fire. The PSs’ sharp contrast between Camp—“the way life could be”—and the outside world was met with deep appreciation for their insight and honesty.

Day 3: July 27

Robert Bordone and Florrie Darwin, faculty at the Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program at Harvard Law School, met with PSs to teach them valuable negotiation skills. The duo also run our popular Mediation and Negotiation Seminar in January.

Day 4: July 28

The spotlight was on our Educators program—teachers, school faculty, and community leaders who are go through their own Camp process as part of our Educators in a Diverse Democracy course. To decompress and reflect after their recent dialogue sessions, the DLs visited neighbors and supporters of Seeds of Peace at Moose Pond.

Day 5: July 29

In addition to trust exercises, rousing debates, and a visit from former head counselor Jerry Smith, this day featured our World Cup of Ga-Ga. Four teams of campers competed in the Big Hall, with the winning team facing off against counselors. This time, the campers prevailed!

Day 6: July 30

While this day was chock-full of activities, the most action happening was in dialogue huts. By now, this session had already gotten past the “getting to know you” phase—which sometimes can lead campers to beat around the bush on controversial topics—and have started confronting divisive issues plaguing their communities head-on in their dialogue sessions.

Day 7: July 31

Our PSs and educators went on an interfaith tour of Portland, hosted by 2016 GATHER Fellow and Portland city councilor Pious Ali. Meanwhile, Camp itself was bustling with activity—including a visit from Maine Seeds Program Director Tim Wilson.

Day 8: August 1

The highlight was “The Mostest,” one of our most popular all-Camp events. Rather than celebrating being the “best” or “greatest” at something, The Mostest celebrates the act of committing to something the fullest. Other highlights include a powerful discussion of race relations from our educators and a performance from our Bollywood special activity group.

Day 9: August 2

Arts Day! This celebration of all forms of art—and how the arts can be used to physicalize and continue the dialogue process—occurs once each session, but a new feature was the “food truck” one group constructed and painted, from which the cooking groups could serve their creations. At night, each dialogue group gave a performance using drama, music and dance.

Day 10: August 3

PSs had two special sessions today: one with Seth, a Maine Seed who is now an investigative reporter covering stories about immigrants and refugees in the US, and another with our educators on improving relations between teachers and students at the high school level. We also offered all our campers the chance to observe the Muslim and Jewish faith services we conduct. For many campers, this was their first opportunity to view their religious practices.

Day 11: August 4

Sports Day! We were joined by two other Maine camps, which we played in soccer and basketball with our girls and boys teams. It was also a visiting day, bringing 40 Maine Seeds back to the place where they first learned “the way life could be.” Meanwhile, Group Challenge—which, like Arts Day, physicalizes and continues campers’ work in dialogue—arrived at its final stage: the ropes course!

Day 12: August 5

Almost always, around the two week mark is when the most challenging, and rewarding, period of the dialogue process begins. That was definitely the case with this session! The many activities campers could engage in, be they on the field, in the art shack, on the waterfront, or performing in the Big Hall, went a long way to defuse the tension.

Day 13: August 6

Our educators participated in two workshops on how to use the arts as teaching tools: one hosted by GATHER Fellow and renowned artist Hanoch Piven, another co-hosted by American Seed Micah and Mic & Pen participant Ami Yares. Meanwhile, campers rehearsed for the Talent Show and held a Café Night in honor of Seeds of Peace founder John Wallach, who passed away in 2002.

Day 14: August 7

Our PSs went on a hike up Bradbury Mountain, but they returned to tragic news. 2017 Maine Seed Laila, who was active in the community and who had come to Camp only three days earlier during visiting day, passed away in a bike accident. Staff and campers alike rose to their best selves in face of the news, giving one another the space and support to grieve.

Day 15: August 8

Everyone who knew Laila gathered in a circle, together in silence, during rest hour to honor her memory. Meanwhile, our beloved Camp Nurse, Peggy Ackers, was presented the Director’s Award of Excellence by Seeds of Peace CEO Leslie Lewin and Camp Director Sarah Brajtbord. At night, campers presented a magnificent Talent Show, including a moving song about Laila by the PSs.

Day 16: August 9

While our educators attended the second annual Seeds of Peace Forum on Educating In a Diverse Democracy at Portland City Hall, back at Camp, Color Games officially began! The next two days would see campers divided into two teams, Green and Blue, competing in all sorts of challenges. By the end of the day, scores were tied!

Day 17: August 10

Color Games were in full swing: canoe races, soccer, basketball, street hockey, debate, art, music, dance, Ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball. All leading up to “Message to Hajime,” a relay-race gauntlet comprised of over 100 tasks. The winner: Green Team!

Day 18: August 11

The last full day of Camp is always one of wrapping up. Campers had their last dialogue sessions, packed for their departures, and learned what year-round regional programs will await them back at home. In a Quaker silent meeting, many campers shed tears, expressed gratitude for being able to be who they really are at Camp without being rejected, and said that the experience made them realize that they could become the people they hoped to be. We also held a memorial service for the Seeds who have passed away over the years; including Laila, five were from 2018.

Day 19: August 12

Departure Day is always bittersweet; feelings of accomplishment and fulfilment clash with flowing tears for leaving the community we created at Camp. By the evening, only one camper remained; he rang the Camp bell one final time and, as its ring reverberated through the empty campgrounds, left on his bus.

Combined with our first session, this summer a total of 352 incredible young leaders—from now on officially “Seeds”—have now gone back to their homes with the skills, wisdom, and courage to lead change in their communities. Not only that, but they have returned to year-round local programming awaiting them there as well. Our 26th summer of Camp may have ended, but their journeys with Seeds of Peace have only just begun.

Hoops stars to host 14th Annual Play for Peace clinic

Jul 15, 2016 / No Comments

OTISFIELD, MAINE | On July 20, professional basketball players will join 159 Seeds of Peace campers from the Middle East on their journey to overcome legacies of conflict and courageously engage each other as a first step to creating change.

During the 14th Annual Play for Peace clinic, these young campers will get a break from their intense daily dialogue encounters and learn teamwork and hoops skills from some of the best basketball players and minds in the game, including Teresa Edwards, the Basketball Hall of Famer and five-time Olympic medalist, Boston Celtics legend and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dave Cowens, Tobias Harris of the Detroit Pistons, two-time NBA Champion Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs), Luke Bonner (UMass), Jake Cohen (Aris Thessaloniki).

NBA Champion Brian Scalabrine (Boston Celtics) will be making his record 12th Play for Peace appearance. Joining him is Darren Erman, a former Seeds of Peace counselor, Celtics assistant coach, and current New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach.

A visit from world-class athletes and coaches will bring renewed energy to Camp as the players demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills on and off the field. The visitors will also learn more about our campers and the challenges they face as they work for change.

This is the 14th year that Play for Peace has been organized by Seeds of Peace board member and former sports agent Arn Tellem, who now heads the Detroit Pistons front office.

Seeds of Peace inspires and cultivates new generations of leaders in communities divided by conflict. We equip them with the skills and relationships they need to accelerate social, economic, and political changes essential for peace.

147 young leaders graduate from first session of Seeds of Peace Camp

Jul 13, 2009 / No Comments

OTISFIELD, MAINE | On June 22, 147 young Afghan, Egyptian, Indian, Israeli, Jordanian, Pakistani, Palestinian, and American leaders arrived in Otisfield, Maine, to participate in the 17th summer season of the Seeds of Peace Camp.

As they entered the front gate, the Seeds of Peace flag was raised to signal the beginning of their intense three-week-long leadership training and conflict resolution program. Inside the gate, a new common identity was born among diverse national and religious backgrounds. When they departed on July 13, they left as friends, empowered to lead their communities in the Middle East and South Asia toward the possibility of peaceful coexistence.

It was not an easy, quick or painless process. Campers described it as “intense”, “sobering” and “very worthwhile.” In dialogue sessions, early shouting gave way to an ability to listen to opposing viewpoints. Slowly and through hard work with each other and themselves, Israelis and Palestinians learned to communicate about divisive issues that shape their lives back home: borders, refugees, water, Jerusalem, and much more. For the first time in their young lives, instead of talking at their supposed enemies, they began to engage in conversations—however heated—with their friends.

Outside the dialogue sessions, Camp staff used sports, arts, entertainment and even religion to reinforce bonds of trust, respect and compassion. The Ropes Course forced young Indians and Pakistanis to rely on each other for balance—if one person falls off the rope, so does the other. Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Hindu religious services were open for all to observe, allowing all campers to gain a deeper appreciation for the unique differences as well as the commonality of all spiritual traditions.

During the final days of the session, campers passed the relay wand from hand to hand during Color Games. They worked as teams across nationalities and religions to produce original works of art, music, and dance, incorporating elements of each delegation’s unique background and culture. They admired the colorful traditional clothes of the Afghans and the rhythmic pounding of the tabla drum by the Jordanians. Campers watched the Indian delegation perform traditional dance steps at the talent show and were in awe when they reached out to the Pakistani delegation to join them onstage.

In the words of a Pakistani camper, Ghulam Zain, “Despite my will to stick to my views, I was compelled, not by any individual, not by the camp, but by the experience to look at the bigger picture. Seeds of Peace opened a new door in my life—and I personally feel like seeds of peace have been sown in my own personality.”

These young leaders have returned to the Middle East and South Asia. Seeds of Peace continues to support the next stage in their development as peacemakers through innovative programming and field offices around the world.

More information about our programs »
Read daily Camp Reports from the summer »

A Summer of Tikun Olam (Repairing the World)
Heschel News

Sep 19, 1997 / No Comments

Seeds of Peace International Camp, in Otisfield, Maine, is a unique coexistence experience for teenagers from the Middle East founded five years ago by a former journalist, John Wallach. During the summer 1997 session, there were Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Qatari, and American boys and girls, in groups called delegations. The 175 teenagers, and approximately 50 counselors and other staff, came for four weeks, to campgrounds that Seeds of Peace has leased for the next ten years.

The camp’s structural concept is such that campers engage in various activities during the day, including land and water sports, art, music and drama. With a strict “English-only” policy, campers are encouraged to get to know one another by participating in athletics, eating meals together, and sleeping in the same bunks.

In addition to counselors who live with the campers, and are responsible for activities, Seeds of Peace also engages trained facilitators to lead coexistence workshops which the teenagers attend every day. Consisting of no more than 12 campers, each facilitation group is composed of a mix of young people from all delegations. By switching group leaders every three days, campers have the opportunity to participate in and learn from different types of activities designed to help them improve their listening and communication skills. Discussions often become tense and frequently continue long after the workshops are over. Counselors must try to maintain their objectivity so that they, too, can facilitate dialogue and encourage interaction between the campers in the bunk, in the dining hall, in the art room, or on the playing field.

Meet two Vietnam vets-turned peace activists who keep campers healthy

Aug 8, 2019 / 2 Comments

We tend to highlight the programmatic aspect of Camp—from dialogue to arts and sports. These are the areas that challenge campers and spark joy, that make them grow in ways they could never imagine.

But there are also the unsung heroes who keep Camp ticking (like the staff working in the Camp office), who keep our campers fed (Chef Mike and his crew), and our medical staff who tend to our Campers physical and emotional well-being. Meet two members of this vital team: Nurse Peggy and Doc Rob.

Peggy Akers is a nurse practitioner from Portland who has been at Camp for the past 10 years. Rob Boudewijn retired last year as an emergency department physician’s assistant, and this is his second summer at Camp.

Seeds of Peace: What do you see here that you think, perhaps, other camp medical staff don’t have to deal with?

Doc Rob: The problems that we see here, medically, are minor. We are always ready for emergencies. That’s what we are here for—those potentials. But, at least in my experience, a majority of them are cuts and bruises or aches and pains. And the majority of campers ask, ‘can I go back?’ Most of them want to get back out in the field and do whatever.

Nurse Peggy: I think it’s dialogue. I think that’s the part, where we see kids who are struggling with dialogue, and they will sometimes come in because it is hard. And they don’t know how to say, ‘I don’t want to go to dialogue.’ We do everything we can to get them to go back to dialogue. It has been so wonderful to have Ella here; it’s really changed things for all of us.

Seeds of Peace: Describe a little bit about who Ella is and her work.

NP: Ella is the social worker who is available to the entire camp. And she is here for us when we have a kid who is struggling. Because we cannot really leave here and go off into the woods and talk for a little bit.

So, Ella is here to really talk to the campers. We have to be pretty creative to figure that out. Because you do not want to discount their headaches; it’s real for some of them. Dialogue is the most important part. The kids do not tell me what they talk about in dialogue. Sometimes they will tell me about an exercise that they did and how hard that was. Some of them do not like dialogue at first. I am just really honest, saying how important it is, and that it is a safe space for them to say anything. And if they do not get that, then I do get Ella. She’s the in between for all of us.

Seeds of Peace: Many kids come into any camp medical infirmary with stomachaches or headaches. It could be what they ate, or dehydration. But you hear about how emotional trauma or stress takes on a physical form. And so that’s probably a real difference here as well.

NP: You know sometimes kids just need to come in here and chill. They just need to lay down in a quiet place, and they need space. Then they wake up and they say, ‘Oh, I feel so much better!’ They know we are checking on them every 15 minutes or so, and we are right here. I guess I feel motherly.

Seeds of Peace: One of the things that I think is fascinating, too, unlike most camps in Maine, especially in the international session, is that the campers are coming from really different backgrounds, cultures, and geographies. It’s different water, food, climate, bugs, and bacteria than they might be used to.

NP: Oh yeah, the bug bites. Some of the kids aren’t used to the bug bites. Each group is always embarrassed, but the biggest problem for this session, as it is every year, is the constipation. And I talk about it the first day. I say ‘there is magic stuff here, all you have to do is come in and ask for it.’ It’s Metamucil.

DR: I was talking to a young man the other day about using the bathrooms, and he said, “I can’t go there—everyone will hear me.” You have no privacy even though the doors are closed. You can hear everything, and for some people, that’s a big issue. Particularly for kids. You can imagine them saying, “I’m not going anywhere,” and then five days later, well …

NP: So they can come over to use our bathrooms any time, and they know that. And then we always have pads for the girls back here, in case they need anything. We try to make it so that it’s an easy, safe place for them. I hope they feel like they can come here for anything.

Seeds of Peace: Are there certain times of day or certain activities that when you look at the schedule you think, “Okay, let me get ready because I’m going to be busy in an hour?”

NP: Ga-Ga! Our philosophy is, we bring everything up there to the Ga-Ga pit. Big bags of ice and all the bandages. And nothing happens. If we sit here and wait for them to bring people, then they bring people. But if we’re right there, no one gets hurt. It’s true!

Seeds of Peace: We talk about Camp being transformational for those who come here. How do you see that play out in your space?

NP: We usually sit here and look out. We see the kids from the first days, where they’re just sort of walking along to dialogue, to where they’re suddenly arm-in-arm. It just happens, and it’s so beautiful to watch. Just laughing and skipping along. Every day just feels lighter for them.

DR: I think it’s important to stress that the main medical part here is the nurse. We’re both there, but I try to keep myself as much on the periphery as possible. I’d love to know more, but also, I think, they’ve got enough stuff going on, they don’t need me getting involved. They just need to know that I’ll be there for them if something happens. But when it comes to people like Peggy, they have much more knowledge of and camaraderie with the campers.

NP: You know, you’re out in the woods here! I mean, you’ve got emergency meds, but still. These are someone else’s kids. Our job is to protect them and keep them safe while they’re here. We take it really seriously.

Seeds of Peace: You started to tell me that the two of you have a really unique story about how you met … how your friendship began.

NP: We didn’t meet in Vietnam, but we met because of Vietnam. We lived in San Francisco; I was going to school there to become a nurse practitioner. I had heard about the Vet Center and I was kind of struggling. I had never told anyone I was even in Vietnam. (I was a nurse in the war.) I wanted to see if there were other nurses that had been there. In Vietnam you don’t go as a group. You get orders and you go. So, it is not like you go together and come back together like they did in World War II. So, I didn’t really know people that had been there. I went to the Vet Center and Rob was there, and we became friends. Then, somehow, we both ended up in Maine, and we have been friends forever.

DR: I worked at the Center for many years after Vietnam. I left Vietnam in 1969, I was a medic there. And at that time, we called it the post-Vietnam syndrome, which is now called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. During that whole period of time until President Carter came along, the VA wouldn’t acknowledge it. Then, under President Carter, they established the Vet Center and we opened up the first center in San Francisco. I was one of the people that helped set it up, and Peggy was the first woman that we ever had. And at that time, our job was to try to reach out to Vietnam veterans, any vet, but particularly Vietnam veterans struggling with whatever issues: drug addiction, PTSD, a whole variety of things.

NP: One of the things that brought us together as friends, Rob’s been in the peace movement. He walked across the country with other veterans. He started a group called … I can’t remember the name of it anymore.

DR: Veterans for Draft Resistance.

NP: I got very involved in the peace movement in San Francisco.

DR: After Vietnam, she worked in Thailand in refugee camps.

NP: I first came up here to Camp and felt so much hope. Just seeing these kids. And sometimes you can get so discouraged when you are right in the middle of everything. You march for this, march for that, but nothing changes. But Camp for me was such a wonderful place to feel that hope for the world, for these kids. I don’t mean to be laying the heavy burden on them. But when I am here, there is a great possibility that there could be peace and a better climate. You just overhear their conversations and feel just ‘wow.’

DR: This is a story that is not told often enough. Because it is easy to just feel dismal and despair, and particularly when you come to our age. These kids are great. These kids are our future.

NP: They are such special kids really. Sadly, we do not get to know them as much as the counselors do. Because we really only get to know the ones that come in frequently or are not feeling well. Sometimes I will see a kid and think, ‘I have never seen them before and I wish that I had.’ But at the same time, I don’t want them to be here in the infirmary. The day the kids leave, you see the absolute love and compassion between the counselors and the kids. It’s so beautiful. And I just weep. To have those relationships; some of these kids don’t want to leave.

Seeds of Peace: Most are going back home to a reality that is very different than this. Even the campers who are walking back into the most privileged circumstances, they are still walking into a teenagerhood that is not as accepting as it is here.

NP: Absolutely, I see them being goofy and silly. We watched a baseball game yesterday, and the kids were dancing and cheering each other on even though they are on opposite teams and it was just so sweet. To see that these are kids who might not be so goofy in front of other kids at home. It was pretty wonderful.