Published: 08/02/2023 - 8:00 AM
150 Children Provided Scholarships to Attend Overnight Summer Camp in the Poconos!
Mayor Jim Kenney and city officials, as well as public and private partners launched the 2023 Camp Philly program. Camp Philly is a partnership between Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Camp Speers that will provide an opportunity for children between the ages of 8 and 12 to experience the independence of camping in a rural setting, worlds away from their everyday urban environment.
Camp Philly will run two one-week sessions at Camp Speers YMCA. Opened in 1948, Camp Speers was the first ever racially integrated YMCA overnight camp in America. The 1,100 acre campground includes a private 42-acre lake and 400 acres of conservation easement property dedicated to education and wildlife preservation.
“It is so important for young people to have the opportunity to experience the beauty and serenity of nature outside the confines of the city,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I am grateful to our partners for offering young people this extraordinary opportunity to expand their minds and inspire them in immeasurable ways.”
The City and the Greater Philadelphia YMCA worked together to raise awareness and funding to support Camp Philly. Community partners, business leaders, and individual donors helped to fund the program. Camp Philly 2023 is presented by Bank of America.
The funds raised will enable campers to receive all camp necessities for free. Those necessities include, camp accommodations, daily meals and snacks, transportation, programming, camp counselors, supervisory and support staff, program amenities, shirts, sleeping bags, and toiletries.
”We are excited to partner with the city on such an important initiative,” said Shaun Elliott, President and CEO, of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “There is no better investment than in the lives of children. Getting kids outside and connected to each other again is of utmost importance. They have lost a lot in the last few years and this camp helps them begin to not only rebuild, but to grow..”
Under the guidance of positive adult role models, campers will participate in a wide range of interactive programming, like archery, horseback riding, drama lessons and swimming, developing key skills such as decision making, creativity, confidence, and teamwork in the process. Through these activities designed to expose them to new concepts, CAMP Philly participants will grow beyond their current frame of reference and develop more complex ideas about the world around them.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through intentional and sustained stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues, and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.
Bank of America: At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.