Agassiz Village

CONTACT:

238 Bedford Street, Suite 8
Lexington, MA 02420
(781) 860-0200
www.agassizvillage.org

Cliff Simmonds, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Agassiz Village is a summer camp for Greater Boston disadvantaged inner-city boys and girls, ages 7 to 14. Of the nearly 800 children attending the camp each year, more than 80% are from single-parent families living at or below the poverty line, 65% are minorities and 15% have physical disabilities. Most of the 110 staff are former campers in a well-developed training program aimed at preparing them for colleges and jobs. A solid cohort of Trustees are also alumni/ae, working as volunteers to repay the Village for their own successful summer experiences.

The Village has been doing this successfully since 1935, when it was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Burroughs, with financial support from Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian Agassiz. More than 50,000 youngsters have found enjoyment and grown from this totally different learning and recreational experience. The Village is located on 600 acres of fields and woodlands, with four islands and two miles of shoreline, on beautiful Thompson Lake, near Poland, Maine. One of the very best programs of its kind, it is now upgrading itself for the 21st century, and you can help.

(2000: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: Sports and Summer)