BREMEN, Maine — Biscay Pond gleams in the summer sun, the water calm and quiet—until lunch is over.

Then, a few dozen shouting, laughing, and eager kids plunge into the water, roiling it as they swim and dive, and simply have all kinds of fun.

They all wear life jackets, swimmers and non-swimmers alike, so everyone has the same chance to play, no matter their ability.

That is a key part of Hearty Roots, a summer camp where kids of all abilities, including those with emotional challenges, can swim, hike, play games, create art, or perhaps just talk.

"And that’s what we're trying to do here," Hearty Roots founder Haley Bezon said, "is create a space where all kids feel heard, seen, understood, and have a ton of fun in the woods."

Bezon started the program eight years ago, after years of

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