The Mayhew Program

The Mayhew Program challenges and helps at-risk New Hampshire boys to believe in themselves, work well with others, and find their best. The Program supports boys for approximately eight years beginning at age 10 through high school graduation. The core ideals of the program; respect, responsibility, challenge, and community, are realized in different ways as boys move through the program and will serve them well into adulthood. The first two years, boys (age 10-12) participate in a 25-day residential summer program on Mayhew Island located on Newfound Lake. The boys work together in six person cabin groups, tackling physical, social and emotional challenges. For most boys, Mayhew is their first opportunity to find out who they can be and how much they can do away from outside influences. Between summers, the boys benefit from regular mentoring visits with the staff in one-on-one and small group settings. Beginning in the third year, boys can participate in a 5-day, adventure-based summer program. Trips include canoeing, backpacking, biking, and nature and wilderness skills training. Boys who are 14 or older may apply to work for Mayhew, earning a salary and a dollar-for-dollar matching scholarship for post-secondary educational pursuits. In the final two years of the program, Mayhew focuses on supporting the boys through high school graduation, assisting them in establishing goals for their lives beyond high school, brainstorming ways to overcome barriers to success, and emphasizing the importance of giving back to Mayhew and the broader community.