This summer, thanks to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, we are once again able to support summer day camp programs in rural Kentucky and West Virginia, benefiting a projected 225 children ranging in age from 5-13.
Last year, executive director Cameron Krizek reported that Americans Helping Americans® “made a significant impact on the youth by funding two summer camp programs: Cumberland Mountain Outreach (CMO) in Lee County, Kentucky, and Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA) in McDowell County, West Virginia.
“These camps not only provided safe and structured environments for children during the school break, but also addressed the critical needs that are often magnified during the summer months, such as food insecurity, academic learning loss, and lack of outlets for recreation,” said Cameron.
Cameron pointed out that the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) notes that interruptions in school disproportionately harm disadvantaged students who lack access to learning opportunities and supportive home environments.
“By filling this gap, the summer camps that we sponsor ensure that children don’t fall behind and discover opportunities to grow and thrive when too many are at risk of missing out,” says Cameron.
At the summer camp operated by CMO, children in grades 1-5 participate in various activities, including trips to a nearby swimming pool at a Kentucky state park.
“Here, the children gain independence while also learning teamwork, cooperation, and the value of giving back through volunteering and service projects,” says Cameron.
“For some, the highlight is when the pool opened, and many learned to swim for the first time.
“Throughout their week, campers also receive nutritious meals, which fill a gap for children who often rely on school as their most consistent source of food.”
In her grant request for $10,000 from Americans Helping Americans®, CMO President/CEO Cynthia Evanoff explained that the funding would support five weeks of a three-day summer camp program beginning June 1 and serving an estimated 200 children from 90 households.
“We provide the program, transportation, a light breakfast, lunch, snacks, games, crafts, and an afternoon at the state park swimming pool,” stated Cynthia.
“The cash grant provides the fuel for transportation, snacks and lunch, some of the game materials, some of the craft supplies, and the entry fee for the state park swimming pools.”
She noted that, “Many of the children here in Appalachia are secluded in the mountain regions.
“This program provides them interaction with other children, as well as feeds them, teaches them social skills, and gives them exercise for healthy bodies.”
Cynthia said they have church groups come in from all over the United States to help implement the summer camp programs, interacting with and encouraging the children.
“This program is being funded by Americans Helping Americans® and the church groups that come in with their lessons and games.
“If Americans Helping Americans® did not fund this program, the younger children would not have anywhere to go for a summer camp experience—no food, no exercise, no interacting with friends—just staying home.”
Ultimately, Cynthia says, “the outcome we hope to achieve is happier, healthier children in our community that have learned skills such as public speaking, swimming, and good sportsmanship.
“We have also found ourselves to be babysitters for low-income working mothers,” she added.
In McDowell County, BCPIA executive director Dyanne Spriggs reported that BCPIA’s summer camp program will serve approximately two dozen children ages 5-13 from 20 households this June.
She requested $8,000 in grant funding, which includes covering the cost of transportation to and from BCPIA headquarters, a full lunch and snack each day, as well as crafts, supplies, and miscellaneous activities for the kids.
In addition, “Because almost all of the kids we serve have never been on a vacation, at the end of the camp we will be planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains to stay three nights in a cabin.
“They loved their trip last year, and if we get the funding we ask for, we will have four days and three nights to be able to do everything we want to with the kids without being rushed.”
Dyanne went on to explain:
“Our families face many challenges: extreme poverty, lack of education, drug abuse, poor housing, and lack of transportation.
“Many kids come from families where they have no support, guidance, or care, with parents who do not place education as a high priority for their children.
“We can provide the kids a safe and positive atmosphere with the opportunity to get away from their home environment for a little while in the summer to associate with their friends, go on a field trip, and have fun learning together.
“Our summer camps will give children the opportunity to learn how to work, play, relate, get along, empathize, and connect with others.
“Our camps provide kids the opportunity to gather during the summer for organized activities to prevent ‘Brain Drain’ and build their independence, resiliency, and self-esteem in a safe, supervised, and supportive environment.
“We would not be able to serve these kids through the summer camp without financial support for the meals, activities, transportation, and field trips.
“The only funding we receive for our Summer Camp comes from Americans Helping Americans®, for which we are truly grateful.”
A New Partner Creating Opportunities Through Exploration
Among the newest partners of Americans Helping Americans® is Beyond the Front Porch (BTFP), located in Douglasville, Georgia, a youth organization whose mission is to inspire students’ educational journeys through exploration.
“We target underserved students in kindergarten through 12th grade who may have less access to participate in these types of experiences on a regular basis,” explains executive director Kascia Polk.
She told us that on the second Saturday of each month (except December), BTFP takes families to a different place of educational value throughout Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee by providing transportation, lunch, and admission fees for the purpose of removing barriers that could otherwise prevent families from participating.
Every year, BTFP provides five field trips to the same locations: the Tennessee Aquarium, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama, tubing in Helen, Georgia, Majestic Caverns in Alabama, and Zoo Atlanta.
As a first-time applicant, BTFP requested $2,500 from Americans Helping Americans® to sponsor an educational tubing trip on June 13 in Helen, Georgia.
“The cash grant will be used to pay for the standard expenses of transportation, lunch, and admission for participants in the Helen tubing experience,” stated Kascia.
“This educational tubing trip isn’t just floating for our students,” she explained. “It’s exposure to science, geography, health, social development, and real-world learning.”
She noted that most of the students who participate in the program are city students.
“They have not been exposed to the natural geographic landscape that Helen, Georgia, provides.
“Therefore, being exposed to the river ecosystems, natural wildlife, experiencing the currents, understanding the depth of the water flow, and seeing the impact of tourism in an area that resembles a town in Germany will broaden their worldview beyond the environment they experience every day.”
Kascia said they announce when seat reservations open for field trips on the organization’s website, through email, and on social media, and seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis until all spots are reserved.
She said they measure the success of the program through feedback from parents and students, Google and social media reviews, interest shown in future trips, and debriefings with field trip leaders.
For the tubing trip, she said they can take up to 56 individuals from 12 to 15 families.
“Beyond the Front Porch is unique because monthly educational field trips are our sole focus,” she said. “We do not have a suite of additional services to manage.
“By focusing only in this area, we are able to support many other organizations that provide services such as tutoring, mentoring, leadership training, and more, but may not be able to provide this particular experience. However, we serve the same segment of students.”
And without funding support, Kascia told us that “this field trip becomes exclusive by default, meaning only families with financial security and transportation resources will be able to participate.”
