Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Protect this Land

For generations, Camp Bomazeen has been a place where Maine kids first discovered the magic of the outdoors. Along the shores of Great Pond, kids have paddled quiet coves, hiked forested trails and camped beneath the stars, creating memories and a lifelong connection to the natural world. Today, that remarkable legacy is at risk.

The landowner is actively marketing the property with a sale expected in the next 2 months.  Without action, this extraordinary landscape faces the real possibility of development, including a proposed RV campground with 200-400 campsites on the 80 acres of uplands.

With leadership from 7 Lakes Alliance, the region’s leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting both the lands and waters of the Belgrade Lakes watershed, our community has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conserve this 280-acre property before it is lost forever. With financial support, we can protect the forests, shoreline, wetlands and wildlife habitat to make sure that this special land remains intact for generations to come.

Why This Land Matters

Camp Bomazeen is not just any parcel of land.  This is one of the last largest undeveloped properties left on Great Pond.

  • 280 acres total
    • 80 acres of forested uplands
    • 200 acres of wetlands that naturally filter runoff and protect lake health
  • 900 feet of shoreline on Great Pond
  • Significant wildlife habitat and unique geologic features
  • Existing low-impact trails, camping areas, and scouting facilities
  • A beloved property with a long history of community use
  • Highly desirable for future development if not conserved

Aerial view of Camp Bomazeen, photo credit Alexander Wall

The Project at a Glance

Goal: Permanently conserve Camp Bomazeen
Budget: $3 million
This funding will support:

  • Property acquisition
  • Due diligence and environmental assessments
  • Boundary survey
  • Title review
  • Significant deferred maintenance
  • Stewardship

7 Lakes Alliance is actively negotiating a Purchase and Sale Agreement and moving  to complete all necessary due diligence in parallel with raising the funds needed to protect this land forever.

Aerial view of the beach shoreline at Camp Bomazeen, photo credit Alexander Wall

Our Vision for the Land

Our vision is to conserve Camp Bomazeen while honoring its historical uses and managing use to levels acceptable to the neighbors and community. An overarching goal is to minimize the impact on Great Pond as conserved land protects water quality.

Once acquired, the property will be managed as a conservation area with carefully regulated access designed to protect neighboring properties, preserve the natural environment, and support 7 Lakes Alliance’s broader conservation mission.

7 Lakes Alliance will work closely with community members and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive management plan guiding:

  • Limited, managed public access, possibly including some Scout access
  • Appropriate use of existing facilities
  • Protection of wildlife habitat and water quality
  • Long-term stewardship of the land

Photo of 7 Lake Alliance board member Meg McCann’s late husband, Richard, a Bomazeen camper in the 1950s (Courtesy of Meg McCann)

This is the Moment

This is a rare opportunity to conserve one of the most important remaining undeveloped properties on Great Pond and one of the last chances we will get to protect land like this at this scale. If we don’t act now, the choice is made for us.

Together, we can make sure Camp Bomazeen remains what it has always been: a place where nature, clean water, and outdoor discovery are protected for generations to come.

We can’t do it alone.  We need you.

To support the Camp Bomazeen Conservation Project and make a donation online, please use the Give Now button below. On the donation page, under the Donor Information section, select “7 Lakes/Bomazeen Conservation Fund” in Special Programs dropdown menu.

Give Now

Questions about donating to 7 Lakes Alliance? Contact Laurie Raleigh, Advancement Director at 207-931-8806 or laurie.raleigh@7lakesalliance.org.

About 7 Lakes Alliance. 7 Lakes is a certified land trust with a year-round staff of 15 conservationists, scientists, and educators and nearly 80 summer seasonal employees working to protect the entire the Belgrade watershed. We are an entirely donor driven organization that depends on our community’s support to protect the region we all care so much about.