Colonial Beach Community Foundation Continues Tradition of Sending Local Kids to Camp
July 10, 2024
Helping children attend 4-H summer camp has been a yearly tradition for the Colonial Beach Community Foundation (CBCF). This year, with the support of generous donors, five Colonial Beach youth spent a week at the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) 4-H camp in Jamestown.
The camp, sponsored by the VCE, is an educational and fun adventure for children ages nine to 13. Campers participate in games, swimming, boating, and crafts as well as educational experiences in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) while making new friends and building confidence and leadership skills.
"The Foundation is pleased to coordinate this support. It is a wonderful opportunity for the kids in our community to attend the fun-filled and educational camp. For some, it is the first time that they have had the opportunity to spend an overnight away from home," said Michele Inderrieden, President of the CBCF.
At a recent Welcome to Colonial Beach Monthly Meet Up hosted by the Foundation, campers, their parents, along with Wendy Herdman, Extension Agent and Unit Coordinator for 4-H Youth Development, were on hand to tell the crowd about their adventure. Rising Colonial Beach High School sixth-graders Cassidy and Gabriella talked about the fun they had at camp. Some of the highlights were trying out archery and canoeing. They also enjoyed meeting new friends. Some of this year’s campers are the children of Colonial Beach Public Works employees. David and Olivia Knapp expressed their thanks and gratitude to the Foundation and the community for Cassidy’s opportunity to attend camp. “Cassidy would not have gone to camp if it hadn’t been for the financial help,” said the Knapps. “She now wants to give back to the community and is ready to attend more camps.”
“We’ve enjoyed a lengthy relationship of support from the Colonial Beach Community Foundation,” said Herdman. “We are thankful for the outreach the Foundation conducted in order to get kids to camp. It’s a wonderful experience for the campers, teen counselors, and the adults who oversee the activities.
Several grants and financial assistance programs are available to families who wish to send their children to the camp. This year the CBCF provided about $1,500 in financial support to cover the difference for the five Colonial Beach campers. The cost for each person to attend camp is $317 which includes transportation to and from the camp. Each child even receives a small amount of spending money for the camp store.
“Youth Development is one of the Foundation’s strategic objectives and helping kids attend camp is one way we support this goal,” added Inderrieden. “The Foundation is grateful for the support and contributions that make this possible.”
The Virginia Cooperative Extension/Westmoreland has an active Facebook page and regularly posts upcoming events and projects.
For more information about the Colonial Beach Community Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.cbcommunityfoundation.org.
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The Colonial Beach Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in around Colonial Beach through community strength, youth development, health and wellbeing, cultural enhancement, environmental protection and beautification. If you have the desire to help, please reach out to us at info@cbcommunityfoundation.org or visit our website www.cbcommunityfoundation.org. Follow the CBCF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cbvafoundation.