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Camps provide education and opportunity

Local children are finding themselves meeting new friends and visiting exciting new places thanks to a Foundation sponsored program that sends those living with their own families to a variety of summer camps.

"They have a vast opportunity," says FACS-Elgin Volunteer Co-ordinator Charlotte McDonald. About 10 area camps are used, ranging from day camps like the local YM/YWCA to those that last a week or more.

While the province picks up the tab for children in foster homes, the Foundation covers registration for children who live at home with their families. In total, between 75 and 100 children are placed by FACS staff in camps each year.

"Depending on what the child's interests are, we try to match up what they are looking for with what we have," says Charlotte. Whether it is theatre, sports or arts and science, there is an area camp that meets their interests.

Among the most popular is the Dude Ranch, where, the kids get to learn about the grooming and care of horses, and do some horseback riding.




What does
the Elgin Children's Foundation do?



Read about
Kamping 4 Kidz,
our recently launched
camp endowment fund.

 
Others include Camp Olalondo in London, and the Tim Horton's camp, which this year gave children a chance to go to Camp Kananaskis in Alberta and do some white water rafting.

Either FACS staff or the child's family may request a return to a certain camp if they found the experience was successful, says Charlotte. "The children are able to return as often as they like - given the availability of funds."

An excerpt from the Winter 2000 Edition of For The Children, the FACS-Elgin/Children's Foundation quarterly newsletter.