After another long, cold, Geauga County winter, warmer weather is on its way. The school year is beginning to wind down and children are eager to begin their summer vacation. Geauga County Job and Family Service’s Summer Camp and Enrichment Program provides foster children and low income children in Geauga County an opportunity to enjoy a summer camp experience or summer activity.
Over 105 children benefited from this program in 2013, attending a variety of activities including resident and day camp, dance camp, school field trips, little league baseball, football and basketball camp, YMCA camp, music lessons, soccer, cheerleading, and karate camp. The Summer Camp and Enrichment Program is funded solely though donations from Geauga County residents, civic groups, churches, and businesses.
Foster children in our agency’s custody receive first priority. Some foster children, because of special needs, must go to camps that are quite costly. In addition, children who live with their family and are receiving social services and children whose families are struggling financially are also considered.
Monetary donations to the Summer Camp and Enrichment program also assist families with pay to participate fees. Limited funding has forced many schools to institute a “pay to participate” policy for after school activities. These fees range anywhere from $100 per year up to $425 per sport! For many families who struggle every day to make ends meets, this is an expense that they simply cannot afford. Students benefit from participating in extracurricular activities through the coaching and mentoring they receive as well as maintaining the required grade point average.
If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact Sara Shininger at (440) 285-9141, ext. 1263. People wishing to donate to the Summer Camp and Enrichment program should make their check payable to Special Services of Geauga County. Include “Summer Camp” in the memo portion of the check. Checks can be mailed to Geauga County Job and Family Services, PO Box 309, Chardon, Ohio 44024
