Willow Glen Resident

Community

Former campers return to Camp Campbell and are now mentoring others enjoying the experience

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

With summer just around the corner, Willow Glen's Kids to Camp offers children from all socioeconomic backgrounds a chance to gaze at the stars.

Started in 1967 under the name Community Kids to Camp, the low-cost camp program is designed to promote self-esteem, peer relationships, strong character, leadership and teamwork. In 1999, the program was merged with the Estrella Family Service Center and "community" was dropped from the name.

"Our job is to match kids with summer camps that are right for them at a lower cost," program coordinator Eric Deanda said. "The programs are available for families of children that wouldn't necessarily have had access to them otherwise."

Deanda himself is a product of Kids to Camp, and an example of what students can achieve with financial assistance.

"I went through summer camp for eight years at Camp Campbell," he said. "I came from a low-income family, and Kids to Camp allowed me to go to camp."

Deanda liked the camp experience so much that for the past couple of years, he has been a camp leader at Camp Campbell. Deanda's experience is not unique. Many other former campers have found their way back into the camps in leadership roles.

Along with its summer camps, Kids to Camp offers two other programs to low-income families throughout the year. The first is a weeklong spring camp, Campo Alegre, for students in second through sixth grades.

The summer camp program includes Camp Campbell, Central YMCA Day Camp and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Students between the ages of 5 and 17 are eligible.

The third program is a family camp at Camp Campbell, which involves parents and children.

"Families come to the family camp to get away from life's daily stresses," Deanda said. "These daily stresses can cause families to become fragmented. Family camp promotes family togetherness."

This program includes rock climbing, archery and campfires.

The program is countywide, and Willow Glen schools such as Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary School, Gardner Academy and River Glen Elementary use the Kids to Camp programs.

Along with being a low-cost alternative, Kids to Camp provides a Spanish-speaking staff, and refers families to low-cost physical examinations and mobile vaccination clinics. The program also loans sleeping bags to campers.

Kids to Camp, 1155 Meridian Ave., Suite 110, is always looking for donations such as gently used duffel bags and backpacks for campers. For more information or to donate, call 408.269.2267 or visit www. estrellafamilyservices.org.