To apply for a Tanglewood 4-H Camp scholarship or for more information, call Patti Chapman at 789-5868, or visit www.tanglewood4h.org. 

LINCOLNVILLE — Sandra Neily wants Maine families to know she has some room, and money, to allow children to attend the Tanglewood 4-H Camp. The camp admits Maine children ages 6 to 14, and busing is available.

There are nearly 100 available slots with funding assistance at the camp, said Neily, executive director of the program. More of those 100 spaces are available to boys. There are also some openings in the leadership programs for teenagers.

“We raised $50,000 this year,” Neily said. “We still have some money, $4,000. Some of the slots are filling, but we want to give away every cent.”

The camp features typical summer camp activities, and focuses on environmental education and sustainability. For instance, at lunch kids at each table weigh their waste.

“There’s great competition to not have waste,” Neily said.

Tanglewood has teaching camps in Camden and Tenant’s Harbor. It’s part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.

Neily came on board last December and noticed a “huge increase” in requests from families for help so their children could go to summer camp.

“We were hearing from so many parents who have lost jobs, or are struggling on reduced hours, or facing large medical bills that prevent spending on their children this summer,” Neily said.

She put out a fundraising plea and people responded, she said. “We raised close to $30,000 in four weeks from folks who love Tanglewood.” Given the economy, she didn’t expect the fund drive to be that successful.