Copy birth certificate virginia

Project Heal the Children

Lifetime Camperships

Within two weeks following September 11, 2001 the American Camping Association (ACA) formally responded to the horrors of that day through Project Heal the Children, developed by the American Camping Association New York Section. ACA-accredited camps, from across the nation, donated spaces in day camps and overnight camps for all of the children who lost a parent on September 11. These are lifetime camperships, permitting the children to attend camp, free of charge, for as many years as they wish to attend. The ACA New York Section created a committee of its Board of Directors to oversee the administration of Heal the Children.

Two-hundred and fifteen camps from nineteen states responded to our request for camperships, accounting for eight-hundred lifetime camperships! Although the great majority of participating camps are in the northeast, it was gratifying to see camps throughout the country respond so generously

The Process

The only eligibility criteria for the program is that a child lost a parent on September 11 -- there is no means test associated with the program. Families fill out a simple, one-page application, indicating those things many parents want to consider in choosing a camp for their child. The family submits the application, a copy of the child's birth certificate, and a copy of the deceased parent's death certificate to the New York Section office for processing and matching the child with an appropriate camp. The Public Guidance Service at the New York Section, which typically helps inquiring families identify an appropriate camp for their child, uses the information provided by the family to determine an appropriate match. The family is given several alternatives, and the selected camps are asked to provide the family with promotional materials. Once the family selects what it believes is the best camp for their child, the registration process is similar to that of any other camper. Following the summer, regis tration for subsequent years at the camp is also handled similarly to how it is handled for all campers. As the child gets older and, perhaps, wishes to change camps (e.g., move from day camp to overnight camp), the program facilitates this process, and the camper continues to attend camp free-of-charge.

Getting the Word Out

In December 2001, Senator Charles Schumer of New York assisted the ACA in launching Project Heal the Children. In a news conference held in Manhattan, Senator Schumer stated, "Many people and many organizations have done many wonderful things in the aftermath of September 11, but this is as generous and thoughtful as anything I've seen. Summer camp is a special but rare treat and there's no better medicine for the children who lost a parent on September 11."

The New York Section contacted the companies directly affected by the tragedy, including those in the World Trade Centers, Pentagon, the New York City Police and Fire Departments, and the airlines. Many companies posted information about Heal the Children on the Web sites they had established for the victims' families. Additionally a Web site was created to provide families with information about the program.

Summer 2002

In 2002, over 125 children attended camp through Project Heal the Children. Many of these camperships were provided through the mechanism noted above: others were provided directly by the participating camps to families with whom they already had a relationship. Many of the affected children were already campers ACA-accredited camps and many of these camps offered camperships directly to the children.

Although the estimates of how many children actually lost a parent on that day changed frequently during the months that followed September 11, the current estimate is that 3000 children are left with one parent. When Project Heal the Children was conceived and created, the ACA was unsure whether the eight-hundred spaces would be sufficient to meet the anticipated demand of the eligible families. As the months went by, it became clear that most families were not ready to send their child to overnight camp. However, there was significant interest in the day camps in the suburbs of New York City. Of the 125 camperships provided in 2002, over one hundred were provided by the day camps.

The Reaction

Following the summer, the New York Section reached out to some of the families that were provided Heal the Children camperships. With no exceptions, families were grateful for the opportunity to send their children to camp and gave high praise to the experiences their children had at camp.

"My daughter had a wonderful experience at camp. The director and staff were wonderful. She had a wonderful learning experience."

"My son went to camp and loved it! He can't wait for next summer.

"I was particularly thankful that my son was among children who didn't experience the tragedy directly; he had so much counseling throughout the year that he was ready to get involved in a normal camp experience."

The Future

The American Camping Association expects Project Heal the Children to exist for a total of seventeen years, when the youngest children who lost a parent on September 11 will "age-out" of camp. Until then, it is anticipated that more families will avail themselves of the opportunity to send their children to camp. It seems that it has never been more important than now to provide kids with "a world of good." The fact remains that camp is a safe and nurturing environment.

For more information about Project Heal the Children, including a list of participating camps, please visit the Web site www.HealTheChildren.org.

Jay Jcabobs, chair, Project Heal the Children and executive director of Timber Lake Camp, Timberlake West, Tyler Hill Camp, and North Shore Day Camp

David Silverstein, American Camping Association New York Section board president and director of Summer Trails Day Camp

Brian Scholl, executive director of the American Camping Association New York Section

Photo: Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park, Colorado.

A Return to Normalcy

One Year Later

With all the intricate issues that surround the vastly complex world of camp, we often find ourselves struggling to maintain a consistent level of superior programming. Finding innovative ways to accomplish our mission is paramount to our success. Never was that need more challenged than in the 2002 summer camp season. For the past year, people in the Northern Virginia and metropolitan Washington, D.C., area have been on a quest to rebuild the Pentagon and return to a more normal lifestyle. While jobs, commutes, security around federal buildings, and travel plans have changed for all who live here, each family is trying simultaneously to balance the horrors of September 11 with the desire to move on. The visual reminder of what took place at the Pentagon, and its repair in one year, has become a metaphor of rebuilding for people all across the country.

The immediate reality to my camp community in Falls Church, Virginia. was shock, funerals, and grief. Current and former staff checked in on a daily basis to hear the latest news from other families. People were trading numbers and looking through old staff address books to send support or make special visits to grieving friends. Through conversations and the unique magic of camp, people began to put the pieces back together.

Proactive Support

Part of the healing process for many families in this region was to rely on something that has always been there for their children -- camp. Based on the numbers and types of inquiries that we received prior to the summer, it quickly became clear that parents were looking for reassurance that camp would continue to be a safe and supportive environment for their children.

We began the monumental task of stabilizing our community -- which includes military, civilian, and government personnel -- by answering questions and addressing concerns with immediate proactive responses. By getting the word out quickly that we were going to have camp in 2002, we definitely provided campers and staff a sense of calming relief. Included in our diverse camp community are families from Afghanistan. Being a part of camp and having an unconditional positive experience to look forward to really gave them great comfort as they continued to deal with issues of their homeland. Once these initial contacts were completed and the core of the community was informed, we began to focus on reeducating our camper families on the necessary values of the camp experience.