WYN’s summer programming is in full swing, every available
slot is filled and new adventures are occurring each day. Our campers are so excited for an opportunity
to do activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. They get to climb an Alpine tower, ride the
Virginia Creeper, tube the New River and hike mountain tops. All of these activities are possible because
of our generous donors. Especially,
donors like Sandi Solomon who took all of our youth to attend Lees McRae’s
performance of “Mary Poppins.” Our youth,
including the ones that do not normally enjoy theater were grateful of this
opportunity and even commented on the quality of the production. In addition, to the events offered to our
youth because of donor support, we are able to go on numerous adventures
because donor funds contributed to the purchase of a new van. This van is a source of pride for our youth,
they have coined it the “Spaceship” and fret over who is going to ride in it
each day. The Spaceship is getting our
WYN campers safely from place to place and we could not be more thankful!
Summer Campers with Sandi Solomon and Mary Poppins!
Youth hanging out with the "Spaceship!"
Summer camp has become a place of refuge for many of our
summer campers to escape the hardships that they face at home. Currently, one of our success stories comes
from a young lady who was afraid to come to summer camp. WYN understood the importance of her
attendance because if she had to stay at home she would spend most of her days
just sitting around, unable to go many places or do many things because both of
her parents are battling separate illnesses.
After missing most of the first week of camp, our staff reached out to
find out what they could do to get her to camp.
One staff member spoke to her and found out that she was shy and worried
about swimming in river water. The next
day that staffer picked her up and took her to camp and talk about everything
that she was fearful of. Once at camp
she was introduced to other youth, staff members, interns, and volunteers. She was welcomed and put at ease by everyone
at WYN! Now she is in her 3rd
week of camp and she despises when it’s the weekend because she loves camp so
much. She says that camp “brightens up
her day, ” and she no longer worries about swimming in rivers!
Summer campers tubing and included in this picture is our camper who was afraid of river water!
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