ONAWAY PHILANTHROPY

Philanthropy and service are part of the fabric of the Onaway community. The girls learn at a young age the rewards of giving.

Environmental Stewardship

Newfound Lake is one of the most pristine lakes in the country and as caring stewards of the environment, Onaway girls volunteer to help protect it, along with area woods and trails. We seek ways of minimizing our footprint through simple living, recycling and composting, water conservation and minimal energy consumption.

Girls of Onaway Fund

Throughout the summer, the campers and counselors contribute to their own philanthropic fund called The Girls of Onaway. Proceeds from the Onaway Fair, chapel collections, and money saved from their weekly Girls of Onaway meals are deposited into this special fund. At the end of the summer, the girls decide how the money is to be donated.

The girls make a point to give locally, domestically and globally. Generally, they support causes connected to girls’ education, healthcare and the environment. At the end of the summer of 2018, the Girls of Onaway made donations to the following organizations:

At the end of the summer of 2018, the girls made donations to the following organizations:

The Circle Program

Founded in 1982 by Onaway alumnae and trustees, The Circle Program is now an independent nonprofit organization serving at-risk New Hampshire girls. Through a unique combination of summer camp and year-round mentoring, Circle provides girls new opportunities to learn the skills, courage and confidence they need to handle the challenges in their lives.

Onaway counselors volunteer at the Circle Program each summer and Onaway and Circle girls sometimes meet for fun activities and write to each other at camp. Onaway girls also support the Circle Program through their Girls of Onaway Fund each summer, and Onaway provides scholarship opportunities for Circle Girls to attend Camp Onaway.

Carol Southall, former Onaway Director, Circle Founder and Trustee Emeritus writes:

“The Circle Program is the embodiment of all that is good about Onaway. It has given girls from resource-poor families the chance to share the beauty of the outdoors and the lifelong friendships that have made the Onaway community so powerful through the years. For the Onaway girls, it has brought a focus for giving and sharing that is personal and dear to them. It adds a whole new dimension to their summer experience.”