Elmo M. Royce Benevolent Fund
In our culture the summer camp experience is iconic. Just say it and visions of sing-alongs and bug juice come to mind. Many in this region remember climbing our of a lake waterlogged and weary to sun themselves on a warm wooden dock. What resonates long after camp is the feeling of confidence,of creating oneself anew with each adventure. For most, camp is really about personal growth.
The Community Foundation sends children from Schuyler County to summer camp for just this reason. Campers canchoose any camp they like, but over the yeas ost gone to Camp Casawasco, Hidden Valley 4-H Camp and Lamoka Lake Baptist Camp.
Doug W. Brooks, Chairman of the Campership Committee for the Tyrone United Methodist Church has shuttled kids to and from Camp Casawasco for the better part of a decade. He's seen myriad campers go away a "little nervous" and come back "different kids" from having learned valuable lessons about the natural world and themselves. He thinks all kids should have the opportunity to go.
"We try not to turn anyone away," he says. "Typicaly, fewer than one half of the kids come from our churc; most are from the community at large. All of them have a ball."
"It's more than just fun, though," Brooks adds. "It's an important ministry of the church to expose people to positive experiences that lead to learing and practicing good principals for the rest of their lives." He credits the Foundation with being an important partner in this effort to encourage growth, good will and community.
