FREE CAMPS FOR THE KIDS

(Article published in HWW April 2008)

Camps fill up fast and registration is already underway. That’s the word from two groups that have for many years given inner city boys and girls a chance to enjoy wonderful free summer vacations.

The Fresh Air Fund, which has run summer programs for city kids since 1877, offers two different free programs.

The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town program sends New York City youngsters to stay with host families for one or two weeks in rural and suburban communities in 13 northeastern states and Canada. Children can start the program at any age from six to 12 years old and if invited back (they mostly are) they can return every year till they are 18.

The Fresh Air fund also has five sleepaway summer camps on its 2,300 acres in Fishkill, NY, 65 miles north of New York City. The camps include Camp Tommy for boys, ages 12 to 15; Camp Hayden-Marks Memorial for boys, ages nine to 12; Camp Anita Bliss Coler for girls, ages nine to 13; Camp Hidden Valley for boys and girls with and without special needs, ages eight to 12; and Camp Mariah which combines camping and an educational curriculum to prepare boys and girls 12 to 14 for the work of work.

You can register your child now for either program with one of many community-based agencies. For a
referral to a participating agency near you or for more information, call (212) 897-8891 or (800) 367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.

Homes for the Homeless invites city kids ages seven to 13 to its three free sleepaway summer camps -- Camp Lanowa, Wakonda and Kiwago. The camps give boys and girls the chance to swim, boat, fish, hike, camp out and even take computer classes in beautiful Harriman State Park, only an hour from NYC. Children can attend one of three two-week sessions: June 27th through July 11th, July 15th through August 1st, or August 8th through August 20th.

HFH camps maintain a ratio of 1 staff member for every 4 campers with teachers and university students making up the majority of the staff. Counselors are trained in safety procedures and mediation. Swimming is supervised by CPR and First-Aid trained lifeguards.

Camps are filled on a first come first serve basis. So Homes for the Homeless urges you to register now. To qualify for the camps, kids must have an active public assistance case. Priority is given to children now living in a shelter 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 living right now!

HFH CAMP RECRUITERS

BRONX: Coretta Miller (718) 617-6100

BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND: Patricia Virola (718) 244-0670

MANHATTAN: Megan Gibney (212) 765-4557

QUEENS: Harvey Robinson (718) 244-0670