Thanks to your generosity, this past summer 94 middle school students from very low income households, including children living in homeless shelters, enjoyed six days that will last them a lifetime in the Pocono Mountains at Camp Zeke
By popular demand, this summer SGHY and Camp Zeke will expand the camp period to six nights. In addition, SGHY is hoping to resume a day camp option so those who prefer sleeping at home also experience an enriching summer.
For these children, camp was their only vacation away from concrete neighborhoods. From shooting hoops to shooting model rockets, aquatics to acrobatics, exploring nature with their hands to exploring the universe with telescopes, these children enjoyed fun, fresh air, and friendship in a nurturing, caring, peaceful environment. These young people developed new dreams and the self-confidence to pursue them!
Common sentiments echoed in their camp’s end questionnaire include: “I learned to be kinder to others and make new friends.” “I learned that I can have fun without my phone.” “I want to go back.”
Teachers report that their returning students cite their camp experience as the highlight of their summers. They also report that the campers evince greater motivation, participation and achievement in their school year academic classes.
You can see the joy in the children’s faces, and some of the many new experiences they discovered, in these photographs…
