8-Year-Old Melville Girl Wins $5K Toward Camp Tuition from Maine Camp Experience

Submitted by Maine Camp Experience

Tracey and Dan Segal from Melville recently won camp tuition money for their daughter Jordyn. 

Current and prospective camp families of the Maine Camp Experience group of 31 premier camps were eligible to enter “Win Tuition” for the chance to win up to $5,000 toward their summer camp tuition.  Families entered at www.mainecampexperience.com.     

Jordyn is currently 8 years old and in 3rd grade. She’ll be attending Camp Vega, a member camp of the Maine Camp Experience group, for seven weeks this summer for her first time. Tracey had been interested in Maine camps so she began to engage on Facebook. She saw the “Win Tuition” information on the Maine Camp Experience and Camp Vega Facebook pages, so she decided to enter. Tracey knew she wanted camp in Maine for Jordyn because “you just get a different experience.” 

Tracey feels that, “the lakes and the trees and opportunities for white water rafting and hiking and nature are so beautiful and don’t compare with anywhere else.”  She was interested in the authenticity and happy with the “beautiful setting and traditional camp experience.” 

The family toured Camp Vega last summer knew it was the place for Jordyn.

When Tracey received the winning notification email from Kyle Courtiss from Camp Vega – she wrote, “No way!” to which he replied, “Way!”  When she spoke to Kyle by phone she was thrilled and said she had to tell her husband Danny that they won … (and that she had entered this contest on the first place). 

She said she should’ve bought a Powerball ticket that day! Tracey is very excited for Jodyn!  She wants Jordyn to “be successful, grow as a person, become independent, make friends, try everything, and have a good time.  She wants Jordan to have all the experiences they can’t give her at home.” 

Jordyn is excited to water ski (she’s never done it before), go fishing, and make new friends. Maine camps have been a sought-after enduring camp tradition for generations.  Nothing beats its perfect combination of nature, arts, trips, staff and opportunity to form bonds that never break. 

Jordyn’s interest, which began with watching the video, was confirmed when she toured the camp.  She doesn’t know anyone going to camp with her, but she can’t wait to make new friends and take advantage of everything the Maine camp has to offer. 

Kyle and Emily Courtiss, directors of Camp Vega were excited to know one of their camp families won.  They said, “It couldn’t have happened to a better family.”  They added, “From the time we met the Segal family … we knew pretty quickly that Jordyn (and her younger sister) would thrive at camp and have a blast.” 

Kyle and Emily also said, “Jordyn will get from camp anything and everything she wants – all the foundational elements including friendship, a sense of being part of something greater than herself, an appreciation for the environment, and enhanced skills (arts, sports and life), plus development in her specific interests.”

Maine Camp Experience is a community of premier Maine Camps dedicated to providing children with the highest quality summer camp experiences in the country for generations.  Camp in Maine is transformative.  It is the authentic camp experience.  Each summer approximately 20,000 kids and their families enjoy what these Maine camps offer – the perfect combination of natural beauty, strong traditions and values, incredible activities and instruction -  including lakefront and sports experiences - and innovative culinary and arts programs.  www.mainecampexperience.com, is the resource for all things camp and Maine – complete with a “personal guide” to assist you with information about the member camps.   The site also features real Maine Camp memories self-posted by campers, parents and alumni, and special offers.