WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington is hoping to raise $50,000 during their Kids to Camp Campaign but the organization’s executive director says “the sky’s the limit.”
The foundation is being helped to reach that goal by the Skyline Group of Companies. Skyline is matching donations up to $25,000.
The foundation funds a number of services for kids but the number one program is summer camp.
“It’s an opportunity for kids to disconnect from screens, reconnect to nature, make new friends, learn lots of great skills and just be a kid and have fun,” executive director, Karyn Kirkwood explained. “It’s such a valuable part of childhood”
Kirkwood says they are not affiliated with any one summer camp, instead leaving the choice up to parents.
“Whether it’s pursuing a particular type of camp, like they might want to go to soccer camp or dance camp because that is something that the child is really interested in pursuing,” said Kirkwood.
The families the foundation serves are predominately low-income and Kirkwood says the rising costs of living mean the need is greater than ever.
“We’re seeing first hand the effects on families who may not have needed to access our services in the past, but are now with the rising costs of housing and food, are needing to turn to us for some help to provide those opportunities for kids” said Kirkwood.
Kirkwood says in today’s economy parents are having to make tough choices and extracurricular activities like summer camp fall by the way side. She says play is very important to a child’s development.
The Kids to Camp campaign runs from May 13th to May 31st. You can donate by visiting childrensfoundation.org.
