Things like this just don’t happen every day. On Feb. 17, 1,000 feet of undeveloped, wooded shoreline on Sebago Lake — more than three football fields — became protected in perpetuity from development. The effort took two decades to get right.

Located across from Frye Island on the western side of Raymond Cape, Camp Wawenock in Raymond contacted nearly every land trust in Maine until partnering with the Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine. Of the 90 acres held by the camp, 62 are now in conservation.

Additional Photos

Camp Wawenock co-director June Gray began her association in 1956. Wawenock, which is in its 101st year, recently joined with the Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine to conserve 1,000 feet of Sebago Lake shoreline. Don Perkins photo

“It’s our hope that others in this area and all along Sebago will try and put some of their land in conservation,” said June Gray, one of four camp directors.

This area of Raymond Cape is an especially scenic setting of towering pines and granite outcroppings, and has been the location of the girls’ camp for 100 years.

Because forestland along the shore directly affects water quality, the Portland Water District partnered with Camp Wawenock in its efforts, donating $10,000 toward legal expenses for the conservation easement

Paul Hunt, the district’s environmental services manager, says, “It’s proven forests filter pollution and improve water quality. Because the Sebago Lake watershed is mostly privately owned, the Portland Water District encourages conservation easements to protect Sebago Lake for years to come.”

Camp Wawenock is in its101st year. For decades, campers have come together in ceremony among the tall pines and granite ledges to watch picture perfect sunsets over Sebago Lake.

June Gray, the soft-spoken camp matriarch and mentor to scores of young women, began her experience among these Sebago forests in 1956. Today, she and the other directors live at camp year-round.

Gray, originally from Virginia, is the longest-serving owner-director at Wawenock and is happy that the recent conservation will ensure a picturesque camp experience for decades to come.

Q: How did you first come to Camp Wawenock?

A: I came here as a junior counselor at 19. I learned about the camp through the University of Richmond. There had been a history of Richmond students and faculty at Wawenock going back to 1916. The woman who taught me had been the program director here in those days. Since then we’ve had over 40 colleagues and professors who have been affiliated with this camp. That’s quite a legacy.

Q: How has Sebago Lake changed over the years?

A: When I came here, there were only three stores in North Windham. Three! But as far as the lake, what’s changed the most is the increase in boat traffic. There’s so many boats and personalized watercraft now. Fortunately they stay out of our cove; they don’t come in that far, but what a change.

It used to be largely just fishermen. And Frye Island, there was nothing over there when I first came. There’s been a lot of development along Cape Road as well.

Summer cottages of out-of-state families have been converted or replaced by year-round homes, and the interior woods of the Cape have been developed. All this has increased the traffic along the Cape Road. Staff used to jog on the road; we don’t run there anymore.

The store at the top of the road used to be called Pop Shaw’s store. It was the only one around and they used to stay open late for us.

Q: What has stayed the same?

A: These 90 acres have remained as pristine as we could keep them, which includes erosion control. People who were campers here in the ’30s and ’40s and have returned tell us it’s exactly the same. The view across the lake is just like they remember. It’s a whole other world down here; you wouldn’t even know Route 302 existed. But the beauty of this place — sitting out at night writing letters only by the light of the moon — that hasn’t changed.

Q: Why did you decide to put down roots here?

A: It just happened (begins to well up with tears). I just felt like I was where I was supposed to be. That’s the only answer I can give to that. All my family was in Virginia — I was a sponge for learning and this place was such an opportunity. When you’re in your passion, you just shine. That’s how it is here.

Don Perkins is a freelance writer who lives in Raymond. He can be reached at: presswriter@gmail.com

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