The Otisfield camp aimed at training young people in conflict resolution opened its 18th season today with a flag-raising ceremony.
The Maine-based program that brings together young people from countries in conflict has opened its 18th season. Yesterday, 164 campers from the Middle East, South Asia and the U.S. arrived at the Seeds of Peace facility on the shores of Pleasant Lake in Otisfield.
The camp was founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, who died in 2002. Wallach hoped that bringing together young leaders from warring regions for leadership and conflict resolution training would help foster peace in their native countries.
More than 4,000 young people have attended the camp. This year’s campers come from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. At opening ceremonies this morning, each delegation sang its national anthem, followed by a flag-raising ceremony.