As our 92Y Camps team puts the finishing touches on plans for this summer’s camps programs, we spoke with Lauren Wexler, Director, Children’s Enrichment & Engagement, about what they have in store for kids and families this year.
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92Y: What are you and the 92Y Camps team most looking forward to this summer?
Lauren Wexler: This is our favorite time of year: the weather starts to get warmer and we can start to really focus on making the magic of camp a reality. After 60 years, we are getting new home bases at our campgrounds in Rockland County. We toured the construction site a few weeks ago and were blown away on how different camp looks. We’re already planning the amazing programming we can do with this new space!
Last year, in order to reduce any COVID exposure, we paused programs like outside trips and visiting entertainers. We are really looking forward to bringing back trips to favorite locations like Splashdown Beach and Hershey Park. And we can’t wait to bring back special shows like Gameshows as well as our annual Carnival, with rides, slides, and food!
92Y: How is 92Y Camps promoting health and safety this summer? Have you adapted the programs to enable the kids to compensate for the months of isolation they may have suffered in the past two years?
LW: Camp is all about promoting social and emotional growth in children. We have created a new activity for our middle school-aged campers called Canteen. It’s designed to allow campers time to work with a facilitator (and their counselors and group mates) to foster positive relationships, using the Yale Ruler Program (and of course, snacks from the canteen). We have also spent a lot of time focusing on mental health training for our leadership staff and counselors. We were lucky to get a grant from UJA and the Foundation from Jewish Camping to expand the scope of our camper care team as well as providing specialized training to our counselors.
92Y: Can you tell us a bit about Camp Pride?
LW: Camp Pride is a one-week specialty camp for LGBTQIA+ campers and allies in grades 6-12. The week comprises community building, learning from LGBTQIA’s+ artists and community advocates, trips as well as traditional camp activities like zipline and swimming. We have always been a safe space for LGBTQIA’s+ youth and it’s an honor to be able to reach even more kids directly for a special camp experience.
92Y: What advice do you have for parents who are sending their kids off to camp for the first time?
LW: As a parent of two camp-aged kids, I know it can be easier to be on the “camp staff” side of this equation. Try your best to put on a brave face when your child walks to meet the counselor for the first time. Your child can feel your energy and is looking to you to let them know that the day will be successful. Even if they cry at drop off, they stop crying once you are out of earshot (I promise, I’ve seen it). Trust your instincts — you choose a specific program for a reason but it’s always OK to call and speak to a camp director. (They won’t think you are crazy; they want it to be a positive experience for everyone).
92Y: Do you have a message to our donors who have helped to make the 92Y Camps program so successful?
LW: We have been so fortunate to have the generosity and support of 92Y donors. Much of our scholarship funding comes from donor dollars. Scholarship funds allow campers to attend camp who may not be able to afford it. We have seen an increase in scholarship applications over the past two years with families experiencing financial hardships related to the pandemic. Families are craving normalcy — and camp is a place where children can have fun, make new friends, and grow their skills. It’s a privilege to be able to give this normalcy to a child thanks to donor scholarship funds.
In addition, thanks to the support of our donors, this summer we can put in new Gaga pits (which is a safe form of dodgeball that campers of all ages love to play). The Camps team always ask ourselves: how can we best use this money to provide the most memorable experience for every camper and staff? So my message to our donors is: thank you. Your gift is making an extraordinary difference in the lives of our children.
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