Draft:Rowe Center
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Submission declined on 8 September 2026 by Helpful Raccoon (talk).
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Rowe Camp and Conference Center, also known as the Rowe Center or Rowe Camp, is a nonprofit organization leading summer camps and conferences in Rowe, Massachusetts.[1] Its programming over the decades has been characterized by a level of unconventionality that is not typical at religious summer camps.[2] The organization continues to operate both youth summer camps, for three different age levels, and conferences and retreats for adults, including the Rowe Labor Day Retreat for gay, bisexual, and questioning men.
History
[edit]Rowe Camp was established in 1924 in connection with Unitarianism and was one of the earliest Unitarian summer conferences; Rowe was started less than 30 years after the first Unitarian summer conference, which was held in the Isles of Shoals in 1897.[3] Anita Trueman Pickett proposed broader use of church property in Rowe in the 1920s, the first Rowe Camp "rally" was held in 1924, and Charles and Maude Wellman organized what became the Rowe Camp and Conference Center.[3]
Anita Trueman Pickett, a Unitarian minister and religious lecturer associated with the New Thought movement, was a principal founder of the Rowe Center.[4] Lyn Burnstine describes her as a trail blazer in her life's work as a woman spiritual leader.[5]
In 1974, Rowe expanded its activities to include a year-round conference center, with the Reverend Douglas "Fir" Wilson taking the lead in this new direction. Rev. Wilson was inspired by Unitarian-Universalist principles and the peace movement and wanted to build a center modeled on the Esalen Institute.[6] The expansion broadened the organization's programming beyond its traditional summer camp activities to include conferences, workshops, and retreats.
Rowe Camp celebrated its centennial in 2025, 101 years after its founding. It was the 100th summer in which camp programming had been held. Jenna Cusack took over as executive director in the same year.[7]
The conference center
[edit]The Rowe Conference Center's programs have encompassed spirituality, personal development, social activism, environmentalism, music, literature, and political and social issues. Ram Dass[8] spent time there, as well as activist Abbie Hoffman.[9] Noam Chomsky gave lectures; in 1989, he participated in a teach-in and set of discussions at Rowe on which Paul Mitchell and John Schoeffel base over 40 pages of their book Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky on Chomsky's discussions at Rowe (specifically in Chapter 7, "Intellectuals and Social Change.")[10][11] Workshops at Rowe have also been led by musician Paul Winter,[12] environmental activist Joanna Macy,[13] and civil-rights activist Ruby Sales, among others. In 2017, civil-rights activist Ruby Sales led a program at Rowe addressing white supremacy and racial justice.[14]
Impact and religious and cultural niche
[edit]Rowe Camp has played a role in many young people's lives. One example was Eugene B. Navias, who attended Rowe as a young person and later became an influential staff member in religious education curriculum development at the Unitarian-Universalist Association. He considered Rowe to be the greatest influence on his path to ministry, bringing him "rich worship" and "strong relationships."[15] He also made influential acquaintances there, such as Angus MacLean, a professor of religious education at St. Lawrence University.
Today, Rowe continues to express a connection to Unitarian-Universalist principles while also focusing on fun.[7] Rowe youth camps offer independence in the form of optional activities or lack of bedtimes, as well as alternative cultural experiences, which in the past have included visits to a nude beach.[16]
Rowe continues to play a role as a progressive retreat center, as well. For instance, its Labor Day Retreat for gay, bisexual, and questioning men is one of the longest-running gay men's retreats in the country.[17]
The Rowe Center's 2025 revenue was $1.02 million.[18]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Local Resources and Links". Rowe, Massachusetts. Town of Rowe. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Jacobs, Harrison. "Visit The Utopian Summer Camp Where Campers Make Up Their Own Rules". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- 1 2 Harris, Mark (2009). The A to Z of Unitarian Universalism. Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 86–88. ISBN 978-0-8108-6817-5.
- ↑ Burnstine, Lyn (2000). Anita Trueman Pickett: New Thought Preacher. Boston, Massachusetts: Skinner House Books. pp. 103–106. ISBN 1-55896-384-7.
- ↑ Burnstine, Lyn (2000). Anita Trueman Pickett: New Thought Preacher. Boston, Massachusetts: Skinner House Books. p. 171. ISBN 1-55896-384-7.
- ↑ "Douglas Fir Wilson Papers". Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center. UMass Amherst Libraries. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 Schofield, Madison (June 3, 2025). "Rowe Camp and Conference Center marks 100 years". Greenfield Recorder. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "The times they were amazin'". B.U. Bridge. No. V.5. September 14, 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Giordano, Al (April 12, 2013). "Abbie's Road 1936-1989". Valley Advocate, reprinted in Narco News.
- ↑ Rowe Center: An Open-Ended Discussion, Noam. "Chomsky". Alternative Radio. Alternative Radio. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Mitchell, Peter and John Schoeffel (2002). Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky. The New Press. pp. 224–266. ISBN 1565847032.
- ↑ Hyde, Christopher (May 25, 2014). "Classical Beat: Paul Winter workshop proves you, too, can play the didgeridoo – and more". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Browdy, Jennifer (April 23, 2015). "EDGEWISE: Earth Day tribute to three earth activists". The Berkshire Edge. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Donahue, Joe (December 5, 2017). "Where Does It Hurt?: Overcoming The Pain Of White Supremacy". The Roundtable. WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Thomas, Joshua. "Eugene B. Navias". Christian Educators of the 20th Century. Biola University. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Jacobs, Harrison. "Visit The Utopian Summer Camp Where Campers Make Up Their Own Rules". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
- ↑ "Rowe Labor Day Retreat". Queer Forty. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "Unitarian Universalist Rowe Camp & Conference Center". Propublica. Propublica. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
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