One Hundred Summers: Camp Stella Maris – 1926 to 2026 may now be published, but the story of Camp Stella Maris is still being written—and the work of collecting and preserving CSM memories is far from finished.
No single book could hold every voice, every friendship, every act of kindness, or every unforgettable summer shaped by Camp Stella Maris. There are stories we have not yet heard, memories waiting to be rediscovered, and new experiences being created each year.
That is why we are using the StoryCorps platform to build a living oral history of Camp Stella Maris—one told in the voices of the campers, counselors, staff members, families, alumni, volunteers, and friends who have made CSM what it is.
Do you have a Camp Stella Maris story to share?
Invite a friend, family member, former cabinmate, counselor, camper, or fellow staff member to interview you. You might even exchange interviews, giving each of you the opportunity to ask questions, revisit meaningful moments, and preserve the stories you carry.
Need an interview partner? Reach out to us, and we will connect you with someone who would be glad to listen and help record your story.
Whether your connection to Camp Stella Maris began decades ago or only recently, your experience belongs to camp’s continuing history.
Two Easy Ways To Record Your Story
StoryCorps offers two simple ways to record and preserve an interview. Each option includes a brief instructional video to help you get started.
Record in Person Using the StoryCorps App
The StoryCorps App allows you to record a conversation with someone sitting beside you using a phone or tablet.
Learn about the StoryCorps App
Record Remotely Using StoryCorps Connect
StoryCorps Connect allows two people in different locations to record a conversation over the web. It can also be used when both participants are together and prefer to record using a computer.
Learn about StoryCorps Connect
Wherever and however you decide to record your interview, we are here to help.
Add Your Interview to the CSM Community
Once your interview is complete, add it to the Camp Stella Maris Stories community in the StoryCorps Archive.
Visit the Camp Stella Maris Stories community
Before an interview is made publicly available, both participants must consent to sharing it. Once published, your conversation will become part of the growing Camp Stella Maris oral-history collection and may be preserved through StoryCorps at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
There is no final deadline for sharing your story. This community was created as part of the Camp Stella Maris centennial, but it is intended to continue growing long after the one hundredth summer has passed.
Before the Interview
Begin by connecting with your interview partner and discussing the kind of conversation you would like to have.
Review our suggested Camp Stella Maris interview questions together. Choose the questions and topics that feel most meaningful, identify anything either participant would prefer not to discuss, and add questions of your own.
Sample interview questions can be found on the Camp Stella Maris Stories community page.
You do not need to ask every question. The list is meant to help begin the conversation, not prescribe it.
Plan for approximately 40 to 60 minutes, although a shorter conversation can also preserve something meaningful. Choose a time and place where both participants will feel comfortable and are unlikely to be interrupted.
StoryCorps offers a planning worksheet with additional guidance:
View the StoryCorps Planning Worksheet and Interview Tips
An interview does not need to feel formal. The best interviews often become relaxed conversations in which one memory naturally leads to another. Listen closely, ask follow-up questions, and allow room for pauses, laughter, emotion, and unexpected recollections.
StoryCorps also offers advice for creating a meaningful conversation:
Read StoryCorps’ Tips for a Great Conversation
When recording independently, choose a quiet location and make sure your phone, tablet, or computer can capture clear audio.
Review the StoryCorps Recording Recommendations
How to Record a Camp Stella Maris Story with the StoryCorps App
To record an in-person interview using the StoryCorps App:
Visit the app store on your phone or tablet. Then search for StoryCorps and download the app. Then create an account or continue as a guest. Then simply follow the prompts to prepare and record your conversation. Save and upload your completed interview. Then add it to the Camp Stella Maris Stories community at StoryCorps.
If StoryCorps asks for a Camp Stella Maris community code, enter: CAMPSTELLAMARIS143
To record an a remote interview using StoryCorps Connect:
StoryCorps provides a five-step guide to recording an interview through StoryCorps Connect:
View the StoryCorps Connect Getting Started Guide
When you begin recording, take a moment to introduce yourselves and provide some context for the conversation.
Recording Assistance
Would you like help getting started? Do you need an interview partner, have a question about the technology, or want assistance adding your recording to the Camp Stella Maris Stories community? Send an email to this address.
A Few Final Suggestions
You do not need to answer every suggested question. Choose the questions that matter most to you and allow the conversation to follow the memories that emerge.
Do not worry about producing a perfect interview. Pauses, laughter, emotion, forgotten names, and unexpected turns are part of an honest conversation.
A story does not need to be dramatic to be important. A remembered memory, a CSM tradition, a waterfront moment, a friendship, an act of kindness, or an ordinary summer afternoon may reveal something essential about Camp Stella Maris.
Consider bringing photographs, letters, yearbooks, camp newsletters, keepsakes, or other objects that might help awaken memories and lead to new questions.
Most importantly, speak honestly and listen generously.
Every Camp Stella Maris story belongs here. Share yours.