Friends of Camp Mary White
Grants Awarded
Camp Mary White (CMW), a long-established wilderness camp in New Mexico, offers a program for low-income girls aged between 9 and 17 to develop outdoor skills, leadership, and a sense of stewardship towards the environment. The program, funded by Outdoor Equity Fund (OEF), covers tuition and necessary transportation to the camp, key benefits include gaining ecological knowledge, outdoor competency, connection to conservation career pathways, and fostering resilience via hands-on experiences. Besides practical skills, the program also actively develops participants' social-emotional competency, fostering a sense of responsibility and belonging towards New Mexico's natural and cultural heritage.
Friends of Camp Mary White, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and continuing the legacy of Camp Mary White (CMW), a rustic residential wilderness camp for girls near Mayhill, New Mexico. Our mission is to provide girls and women rustic outdoor experiences that foster confidence, independence, and leadership. Mission and Structure. Founded in 1927 by Mary L. White as the first Girl Scout camp in New Mexico, CMW is the longest-running girls’ wilderness camp in the state. When the Zia Girl Scout Council closed the camp and sold the property in 2007, an energetic and diverse group of former campers and staffers organized as Friends of Camp Mary White, Inc. to save it. Today the land is owned by a private landowner who strongly supports the camp, providing ongoing access so that the camp may continue to operate. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Restoration and Funding. Years of closure left the historic camp in need of significant restoration. Since 2009, and with the critical support of the PY Foundation of Artesia, we have repaired cabins and the lodge, regraded roads, renovated shower houses, rewired electrical systems, and brought the lodge kitchen up to code. Our work is further supported through camp tuition, alumni donations, and grants. Recent Accomplishments. Most importantly, we have kept camp running each summer—an achievement that will carry CMW into its 100th year in 2027, ensuring girls across southern New Mexico continue to have access to transformative wilderness camping.