Meri Nichols

- Today more than ever kids and teens (and adults too) need a place to get away to where they can disconnect from technology and screens and instead connect face to face with real people and nature and develop relationships naturally and organically and in a place they can feel safe to truly be themselves without the pressure and expectation of modern society and their every day lives.

- Soundview develops genuine, authentic, truly loving individuals and their experiences and lessons learned and relationships formed last their entire lifetime. For younger kids to have amazing role models to look up to and learn from in person, and for young adults to have the opportunity to practice leadership and humility and authenticity with the campers is an invaluable experience for both sides.

- Soundview provides an opportunity to connect with people of all walks of life, in ways that are rare outside of a camp setting. Race, economic background, family history, faith, Soundview is a safe place for the confluence of so many differences.

- Regardless of where we all go after our time there, Soundview will always be home. It will always be a place we could count on to feel grounded and connected to the things that really matter, and to take that away from future generations would be a detriment to the presbytery and society as a whole. I can only pray that people are able to foresee the deep loss that would be suffered in it's closing.

-Meri Nichols
(My first summer was the year of fifth grade and I didn't miss a year until years after I graduated high school. I was a camper and lit and was on staff for 5 years as an intern and counselor.)