About
The Echo Hill Campership Fund (EHCF) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to sending kids to Echo Hill Camp! Learn more about Echo Hill Camp by visiting their website at echohillcamp.com.
EHCF relies on donations — mostly from the community of current and former Echo Hill campers, counselors, friends, and family– to raise money to send children ages 7-16 to Echo Hill for two or four weeks every summer. Once EHCF selects a child to receive a campership, we endeavor to continue that campership for that child every summer throughout their camp-eligible years. We strive to select children who will benefit from the positive and supportive environment at Echo Hill that will allow them to have new experiences, make new friends, and grow into independent, confident young adults.
History
In the mid-1980’s, a small, dedicated group of Echo Hill counselors pondered the dramatic impact of Echo Hill’s close-knit community on campers of all ages and backgrounds. Wanting to share this “Echo Hill Magic” with those in greatest need, the group set out to raise funds and build a vehicle to advance their goals. A non-profit was born, consisting of an all-volunteer board of directors with no paid staff. With difficulty at first, enough money was raised to send a child to camp. After a while, we were thrilled when we were able to send two children to camp in one summer. We then began dreaming of serving even more children, and Echo Hill Camp enthusiastically supported this goal.
Almost 30 years later, the commitment to our mission is stronger than ever. The community that supports EHCF is rightly proud of the organization and our collective accomplishments. We now send 15-20 kids to camp per summer for a total of 40-60 weeks of camp. Our ability to do this depends entirely on the amazingly supportive Echo Hill community who share our passion for Echo Hill and for giving this experience to those who cannot afford it themselves. Thank you again for your support, without you none of this would be possible.
Quick Facts
EHCF selects children, often living in extreme poverty and with difficult familial situations, and sponsors their camp experience, year-after-year.
90% of every dollar donated to EHCF goes directly to camp tuition.
EHCF is working on creative ideas for targeting new donors while also working toward increasing the donation levels of our current supporters.
EHCF is continuing to build an endowment. Recent fundraising success has allowed us to invest in the future and we will continue that trend in 2024 and beyond!
Testimonials
See what past participants are saying about The Echo Hill Campership Fund
I’ve taken the good with the bad, the harmony with the heartache, and it hasn’t hurt me any. What can I say, some people don’t like it, so they don’t come back the next summer. Not everyone can look behind the heat, sweat, and mosquito bites to find the love, friendship, and endurance camp brings. After the first summer they simply cannot make it (some don’t even make it through the whole summer).
Then there are the others who love camp oh, so much; they come back even as a counselor to ensure the tradition of excellence carries on.
Last year was my CA summer. And I tried to squeeze all I could into 2 weeks, but of course, it wasn’t enough. I took the 5th annual emergency room visit, did the swamp muck I promised myself I would do and even signed up for archery. The summer was chock full of memories I hope to keep for the rest of my life.
I don’t know how to close all of this. Memories of a past Echo Hill camper go on for pages and pages without any concrete ending, and so my ending seems appropriate because for everything at Echo Hill and all I have taken from it, all I can say is thank you.
I thank Nick Kirsch, for thinking I was special enough to share this precious gift called Echo Hill with me. Who knows, perhaps I’ll be a counselor when Niko is old enough to come. Thank you Pete and Penny, for seeing my need for Echo Hill and allowing me to come back every year. Thanks Danny for keeping up with me and making a way through any and all circumstances, for me to be back year after year. Thank you counselors and campers from 94-98 for keeping Echo Hill what it should be. Thanks to the Diva’s, while not always understanding each other, we did manage to make it out alive! Helene and Christine L. What can I say, if you do it again next year, more power to you, I love you. To all the campers I did not mention, I will see you next summer, counselor or not. And to all the wonderful people, parents and counselor alumni who donate to the campership fund, I thank you. You really have no idea how much it means that I, along with others, have had such a great opportunity to partake of all that is Echo Hill.
Thank you again, and I will see you soon!
William’s guardian applied for sponsorship to Echo Hill Camp in 1996. The application revealed that his father died a few years previously and his mother was currently in jail. William’s brother and sisters were living separately, fanned out across the country. He was not succeeding in school and was withdrawing socially. EHCF sponsored William’s attendance at camp that year, and for the following five years. Every year marked an improvement in William’s outlook, his willingness to participate in new endeavors, and finally, his ability to lead others. William recently surprised his guardian by attending college – the first and only member of his family to do so. Does EHCF take credit for growing William into an engaged, productive member of his community? No. But, EHCF is honored to have played a role in the growth and development of a child who is now a man.
I wanted to express Carson’s and I gratitude for allowing him to attend Echo Hill over the summer. Words can’t begin to describe the fun that he had over this past summer at Echo Hill. He was able to build long lasting friendships, gain a sense of independence, learn team building skills, enjoy peace without the distraction of the outside world of electronics and acquire a new sense of confidence. In fact, Carson said that it was refreshing to be able to enjoy nature without the outside noise of the world.
He was not the same young man that I dropped off at camp. His maturity level grew while being a part of your community! This was due to all the staff at Echo Hill. You allowed Carson to spread his wings and soar. He will forever be chance due to his extraordinary experiences.
One of the many things that he enjoyed was sailing. He had never sailed before and known wants his own sail boat one day. He was extremely proud of awards that he received for sailing and displays them proudly in our home for all to see. He has even spoken about wanting to compete in sail boat racing.
I’m truly thankful to the Executive Board Campership Committee for allowing Carson to have an unforgettable and life changing experience at Echo Hill! I have attached two pictures for you to view. One is a pictures is Carson’s first day at Echo Hill and the other is his last day.
May God continue to pour out his blessings on all of you!
Peace and Blessing
Board Members
Amy
Board Member
Amy was an Echo Hill camper and now serve as the President of the Campership fund board. Amy is the founder and CEO of Mehlman Capitol Strategies. She has represented Fortune 500 companies, CEOs and leading investors before Congress, the Executive Branch and independent agencies, most notably the Federal Communications Commission. Beyond telecommunications, Amy has also successfully engaged in tax, trade, energy and high tech policy battles. Amy started her professional career at the preeminent telecommunications law firm of Wiley, Rein and Fielding, successfully helping their clients understand and shape the historic Telecommunications Act of 1996. Amy currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Landon School in Bethesda, MD, an independent school educating boys grades 3 through 12. Amy is a 1992 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University (international politics). She lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and three children.
Emily
Board Member
Rachel
Board Member
Rachel has been associated with Echo Hill her entire life. Her father, a former Waterfront Director at Echo Hill, taught her to waterski and sail at camp when she was five. Rachel remembers getting upset at her parents when they told her an eight-year old was too young for sleep away camp, and she had to wait another year before she could go. At 18, Rachel realized she had bills to pay, and she said goodbye to summers at Echo Hill, but she has remained a part of the Camp community ever since. Rachel joined the Echo Hill Campership Fund board in 2015 and began running the Campership selection process in 2016. Rachel lives in Arlington, Virginia and works as a civil servant for the federal government.
Megan
Board Member
Kiva
Board Member
Kiva discovered the magic of Echo Hill Camp when she was 11 years old. After years as a camper and counselor, she had to start wearing real suits instead of bathing suits every summer. Luckily, serving on EHCF’s Board allows her to continue to experience camp’s magic through the eyes of our Campership kids. Kiva is a graduate of Tulane University and the George Washington University Law School. She engages volunteers and supports development and communications at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Kiva lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two little future campers.
Julia
Board Member