Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities. Last summer, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. Most children who visit host families are re-invited year after year and form life-long friendships.
Every year, 3,000 children also attend five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. Youngsters learn how to swim, go on overnight hiking trips and participate in dance and art classes. Campers say their favorite part about camp is meeting new friends. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.
Our adolescent campers, 12-to-14-year-olds, participate in The Fund’s innovative Career Awareness Program (CAP), which takes place year-round. The program focuses on expanding youngsters’ educational and career options through challenging classes at Camp Mariah in Fishkill, tutoring, job shadowings, and a career fair. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.
For more information, please visit The Fund’s Web site at www.freshair.org, they need new host families, if you are able help and or host a Child in need of this wonderfull summer experience, please contact the Fresh Air Organization
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