windham pg 3 6-18-20

Category: Current Issue



POMFRET — The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp has been welcoming children to its summer camp program for 65 years.  With restrictions from COVID-19 all in-person camps for the summer of 2020 were suspended.
However, the camp director Heather Logee and the administrative team created “4H Camp Connecting,” virtual program which will run for six weeks starting July 6.  Three live sessions will be sent out via Zoom on  M/W/F  at 9-10-11 and T/TH 1-2-3. T/Th. Weekly fees will be $100 per camper if they provide their own supplies needed to participate or for $150 a week, they can pick up “camp in a box” at the camp.  It can be shipped for $10 with advanced sign up. Enrolled campers will get login information the weekend before camp begins. Staff will be offering activities in: arts and crafts, self-defense, fishing, sports, nature, survival skills, drama, music, dance and more.
A separate virtual training program has been developed for teen leaders  for $300 for the summer.  Registration for 4-H Camp Connecting…. Can be completed online by going to the camp website, www.4hcampct.org 
There will be a virtual time for thought time open to all (free) from 4:15-4:30 during the week and  Wednesdays at 6pm a family evening program time  (free to all). Fun offerings will include Family Skit Night, Pet Show and Tell and Karaoke.  Information to join these events will be emailed to current families. New families that would like to join can call 860-974-1122.
The financial losses by not running camp are extreme.  In order to develop a virtual program, purchases  of I-pads, a  Zoom Platform and expanded Wi-Fi  coverage  over the camp  property were necessary expenses.  The camp received a matching grant of $1,500 from The Last Green Valley to help. 
Other grants have been applied for and Danielson Surplus has stepped up as a business partner to support part of the summer’s arts and crafts program components. 
Buck’s Soft Serve has been promoting support for the camp since they opened this spring and bottled water sales and donations there have already raised $2,500 this summer.
The camp has established a Go Fund Me Page https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/summer-2020. The camp store is now available online on the website, www.4hcampct.org.  The Foundation has successfully run one  online mini auction and  has more than 50 items available.    Bidding closes at 3 p.m. June 19. Go to: https://www.biddingowl.com/windhamcounty4hfoundation.

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