In her own words: A conversation with Liz Seal about Pine Tree Camp’s Dirigo Experience
For Liz Seal and her four children, Pine Tree Camp’s Dirigo Experience is more than just a summer camp. It’s a way of life.
“This camp is family for us, and it always will be,” she said.
Dirigo Experience was founded by her husband, Joshua Seal, who was tragically killed two years ago in the Lewiston mass shooting.
Joshua was a passionate leader for the Deaf community and, for Liz and their four children, Dirigo Experience has very special meaning. Liz shares why.
Q: What do you think the kids who attend Dirigo Experience get from this program?
Liz: They get something priceless — a chance to just be themselves. At Dirigo Experience, Deaf and hard of hearing kids don’t have to work to fit in or struggle to keep up. They can communicate directly in ASL with staff and other campers, and that freedom gives them confidence. They gain independence, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging. For my kids, this camp has been life-changing. They come home taller, prouder, and braver every year.
Q: Why was this program so important to Josh?
Liz: Josh grew up knowing how isolating it can be when you’re the only Deaf person in a space. He wanted Deaf children to have the opposite experience — a place where ASL is everywhere, where their language is celebrated, and where they could see Deaf adults as role models. His dream was to create a camp that empowered Deaf kids to lead, to be adventurous, and to know they’re not alone. That’s why Dirigo Experience was so close to his heart, and it’s why it continues to carry his legacy forward.
Q: Why do you volunteer for this program?
Liz: I volunteer because I believe in Josh’s vision, and I see the impact it has on my own children. This program is Josh’s legacy, and supporting it is one way I can continue what he started. It’s not just important to me as his wife — it’s important to me as a mom. I’ve seen firsthand how much my children have grown here. Helping make camp possible for other families feels like the best way to honor him.
Q: Do you think the young people who come to this program feel isolated in their daily lives?
Liz: Yes, absolutely. My children attend schools where they are often the only Deaf student in their grade, sometimes even in the whole building. That can be very lonely. At camp, that isolation disappears. They look around and see kids just like them — kids signing, kids navigating the world in the same way. It’s like a weight is lifted off their shoulders.
Q: Have you seen a young person meet another Deaf peer at Dirigo Experience and have their life changed as a result of meeting someone their own age who is Deaf?
Liz: Yes, over and over again. I remember our first year of camp, we had a camper who had never even met a fellow Deaf peer. She met so many campers who signed and she was so motivated to learn ASL in order to communicate with them herself. She and another camper bonded instantly, and that friendship has carried on beyond camp. My oldest, Jayson, has stepped into a leadership role because he’s surrounded by Deaf peers who look up to him. Watching those connections form, and knowing the kids carry them home, is one of the most powerful parts of this camp.
Q: How has Dirigo Experience impacted each of your children?
Liz: Each one of my children has grown in unique ways:
- Jayson (14) has been at camp since the beginning, and he’s developed such leadership skills. He comes home more confident in mentoring younger Deaf kids and taking responsibility.
- Sephine (11) has become braver — she’s not afraid to try new activities like climbing or swimming, and she’s learned that it’s okay to step outside her comfort zone.
- Jarrod (7, almost 8) has found his independence. He used to cling to me, but after camp he’s proud to show me the things he can do on his own.
- Jaxton (5) is attending for the first time this year, and he already loves it. Seeing him so excited to join his siblings, and to sign freely with other campers, makes me so proud.
Q: Have your children made lasting friendships with the other campers?
Liz: Yes, absolutely. Every year they reconnect with friends they’ve made before, and those bonds continue outside of camp. They video chat, text in ASL, and look forward to seeing each other again. The friendships are deep and lasting, and they remind my kids that they’re part of a much bigger Deaf community.
Q: As a mom, what makes you proud when you see your kids at Dirigo Experience?
Liz: I’m proud when I see them thrive in a space that was built for them. Watching Jayson lead, seeing Sephine laugh with her friends, watching Jarrod proudly show me how he can hit a bullseye in archery on his own, and seeing Jaxton’s face light up as he signs with new friends — those are moments that make me proud. I see their confidence growing, and I know they’re carrying that strength into the rest of their lives.
Q: What does Dirigo Experience mean to your family?
Liz: For my family, Dirigo Experience is more than just a camp — it’s part of Josh’s legacy. He wanted Deaf kids to feel proud of who they are, to know they belong, and to grow into leaders. Every time my children come home from camp, I see his dream alive in them. They are stronger, more independent, and more connected to their Deaf identity.
As a mom, it fills my heart with joy to know they have a place where they are understood, celebrated, and loved exactly as they are. As Josh’s wife, it gives me comfort to know that what he built continues to impact not only my children, but so many others. This camp is family for us — and it always will be.
