08.17.2016
Creating a Summer to Remember
Each summer, about 300 Treehouse kids and teens pack up their sleeping bags and backpacks and head off to the summer camp adventure of their choosing through our Little Wishes program. Whether its sports, arts, specialty, adventure, or traditional marshmallows-around-the-campfire camp, we love giving students a chance to make new friends, develop and refine their skills, and have fun in a new environment. And when summer comes to an end, I have the pleasure of opening up our mailbox and reading the thank you notes that come in from kids sharing their favorite memories from their time away.
Many of these opportunities would not be available to our kids if it were not for the generous community partners who provide Treehouse with scholarships and discounts for these experiences. For the past few years, the YMCA of Greater Seattle has generously provided Treehouse with financial aid to send Treehouse kids to YMCA camps.
I asked Jen Hitt of YMCA Camping Services to share a little about what makes summer camp so special, and why the Y choses to support Treehouse kids:
“The mission statement for the YMCA of Greater Seattle is to build a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body. At our summer camps, we have created a place that offers unique experiences for kids and teens where they can be themselves and have fun in a safe, welcoming environment. It’s ultimately what kids need to feel successful, and as a bonus, they get to be away from screens and technology for a week so they can truly connect with and enjoy the outdoors.
Our partnership with Treehouse stems from similar mission work and wanting to provide opportunities for children and teens who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the camp experience, and all that it has to offer. With a lot of the youth Treehouse serves who are in foster care, we know that these kids have already had to deal with so much, and it’s so important that they are still able to have fun. We strongly believe that camp is for everyone, and through our partnership we have been able to send 15-20 campers to camp each summer over the last few years, and look forward to many more successful summers!”
Thank you to YMCA Camping Services for providing Treehouse youth with the opportunity to make lifelong summertime memories!
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About the Author
As Treehouse’s Little Wishes Coordinator, Daquawya Finley connects Treehouse youth to extracurricular activities that help them meet new friends, engage in activities that promote school success, and have fun!