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Promoting Volunteerism
at Camp
Below are ideas to promote volunteerism at camp from youth volunteer expert Cathy
Lanyard, executive director of American Friends of ALYN Hospital (www.alynus.org).
- Pick a project that has a broad appeal—have
several components to engage all the
campers (maybe one part is arts, another
sporting event to raise money, another
is an activist group to go out in the
community and raise awareness for the
organization).
- Make sure the campers understand why
they are doing this project and what
their efforts are going towards this
will engage them and give them a personal
connection.
- Consider dedicating a day to a cause
and have all campers wear the organizations
colors and make it an educational and
fun filled day about the organization. This
will raise their excitement and dedication
to making the project a success.
- Children and teens are the future of
the volunteer world. So it’s important
to give them the inexpensive, time-efficient
tools they need to help others.
- Parents will be happy you are giving
this opportunity to their children; they
will not only support it but will definitely
also remember this next summer when looking
for a well rounded program for their
child to attend – so make sure
you send information about the volunteer
program you have created to the parents.
For more ideas to bring nonprofit projects
in to your camp please contact Jori Victor
212-584-4320 or jvictor@5wpr.com.
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Child Safety
Safer Me TV presents NOT ME!, a by-kids,
for-kids abduction prevention DVD targeted
towards school-aged children in third through
ninth grades. NOT ME! is designed to be
viewed with a parent, caregiver, or facilitator.
It is currently being used in the Baltimore
County Maryland school system resource
library. Throughout the interactive DVD,
children are presented with several vignettes
and are given good advice on preventing
similar situations from occurring and how
to react if they do occur. Total running
time equals twenty-two minutes plus Interactive
Quiz & Expert Advice segments. Please
click here to view a streaming sample.
Visit www.SaferMeTV.com for
more information.
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Summer Food Service Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reimburses
organizations that provide meals to children
during the summer months. Residential
summer camps and nonresidential day camps
that offer nutritious meals as part of
an organized camping program may be reimbursed
for up to three meals or two meals and
one snack per day served to children that
meet income eligibility criteria.
Eligible children are those whose annual
household income is at or below 185 percent
of the Federal poverty guidelines—$38,203
for a family of four in July 2007. Organizations
interested in learning more about SFSP
and how to apply should contact the State
agency that administers the program locally.
Contact information can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer (click
on "Contacts").
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The 3rd Annual Great American Backyard
Campout
The Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF) and
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) invite
all families, youth groups, and individuals
to participate in the 3rd annual Great
American Backyard Campout scheduled for
Saturday, June 23, 2007.
On this night, tens of thousands of Americans
from across the country will celebrate
and share the joy of camping with their
family and friends. The "campout" is
designed to remind people that opportunities
for outdoor recreation are everywhere.
OIF and NWF encourage all Americans to
get out and camp on June 23 and register
their campsites at www.BackyardCampout.org!
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