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COME TO CAMP (SUMMER 2007)

(Article published in HWW May 2007)


Homes for the Homeless invites your kids

This year again, Homes for the Homeless’ invites boys and girls ages 7 through 13 to take a fun, summer break at one of its three sleepaway camps. The three summer camps -- Camps Kiwago, Lanowa, and Wakonda – are located an hour from NYC at Harriman State Park. Children can attend one of of three free two-week sessions: June 28th through July 13th, July 17th through August 3rd, and August 7th through August 22nd.

These camps emphasize fun, learning and safety. Activities include nature walks, arts and crafts, and evening programs such as International Night. Counselors are trained in safety procedures and mediation. Swimming is supervised by CPR and First-Aid trained lifeguards. Transportation to and from the camp is provided from pick-up/drop-off locations in each borough.

To qualify for the Homes for the Homeless camps, kids must have an active public assistance case. Priority is given to children now living in the shelter system or who have lived in a shelter within the last year, so even families who have moved out of shelter before the start of camp can send their children. To find out how to register, call the Camp Recruiter in the borough where you are staying:

BRONX

Coretta Miller (718) 617 6100

BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND

Terrance Phinazee (718) 244–0670

Patricia Virola (718) 244-0670

MANHATTAN

Megan Gibney (212) 765-0603

QUEENS

Harvey Robinson (718) 244 0670

Laura Williams (718) 244-0670

FRESH AIR FUND

The Fresh Air Fund has been giving New York kids a summer break from the city for 130 years. It offers two different free summer programs for children from low income communities.

The Fresh Air Fund has five different sleepaway camps on a 2,300 acre reservation at Fishkill, 65 miles north of NYC. Camp Tommy is for boys, ages 12 to 15. Camp Hayden-Marks Memorial serves boys 9 to 12. Camp Anita Bliss Coler is for girls 9 to 13. Camp Hidden Valley is for both girls and boys with and without special needs, ages 8 to 12. Camp Mariah combines camping with an educational curriculum preparing boys and girls 12 to 14 for the world of work.

Families can sign up for camp at many community agencies partipating in Fresh Air Fund programs. To learn more and find a convenient location to register, call the Fresh Air Fund at (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003.

The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town Program sends NYC children to visit families in their homes in rural and suburban communities in 13 Northeastern states. Children stay with the host families for two weeks. They can start the program at any age from 6 to 12 years old. If they are invited to return – and the majority of them are – they can come back year after year until they reach 18.

To learn more about the Friendly Town Program also call the Fresh Air Fund at (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003.

AND HERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO FIND SUMMER CAMPS

  1. •Child Care Inc.’s Resource and Referral Parent Service will give you referrals to summer day camps, sleepaway camps, and also to regular child care. Call weekdays (212) 929 4999.

  2. •Resources for Children with Special Needs is a great source of information about all kinds of programs including day or sleepaway camps for children with any kind of disability or special needs. Call soon (ask for Gary Shulman) because spaces in these camps are very limited. Call (212)677-4650 or search on the internet by clicking on www.resourcesnycdatabase.org.

  3. •Privately-run camps, both day camps in the city and sleepaway camps in the country, reserve a number of places for children of families on public assistance. The city pays the tuition for eligible public assistance cases. To find an opening for your child, go to your Job Center or welfare office and ask for the list of camps published by the Human Resources Administration.

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

NYC’S Summer Youth Employment Program places young people from 14 to 21 years old in entry level jobs at community groups and government agencies. This year May 18 is the deadline to apply for the program. For more information, call 1 (800) 246-4646.