The Camp Out for Calvert Committee successfully launched the inaugural Camp Out for Calvert to benefit the Project ECHO House the weekend of Sept. 22 and 23. Between the campers, team captains, sponsors and volunteers, we can say it was a successful event.

The teams enjoyed educational discussions about the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), building their “Construction Destruction” projects, cooking their own suppers, dodge ball, tug-of-war and, of course, our favorite, campfire fellowship and singing.

This event was truly a community effort, just as Project ECHO is. There are so many individuals, groups, sponsors, supporters and volunteers to thank. Project ECHO extends its sincerest gratitude to the ministries and other groups that planned their construction and teams to support Camp Out for Calvert. Project ECHO is especially thankful to the volunteer committee members who spent several months planning, organizing and strategizing the event. With working with so many youths, no stone was left unturned and every possible instance was addressed well in advance. The Camp Out Committee consisted of chairman Mark Chandlee, Tim Keck, Eric Meuller, Andy Craven, Nick Colevas, Greg McKnight and Judy Allison.

On behalf of Project ECHO, the board of directors and those we serve, we thank you for your continued support of the ECHO House. It truly takes a village.

Trisha Gipson, Prince Frederick

The writer is the executive director of Project ECHO.