Each year, Youth Alternatives (YA) takes 150 local income-eligible youth on a week-long adventure to the Beaumont Scott Reservation in Rock Creek, Ohio. YA is currently preparing by fundraising and gathering supplies to make sure the kids have a fantastic experience, especially after the year of uncertainty presented by COVID-19.

Danielle Lewis, program coordinator, remembers her time as a counselor at the camp: “I feel especially lucky to be part of a special week that shows deserving children in our area new experiences. Many of these children have responsibilities beyond their years while at home, so knowing that they have even one week off from their stresses and are able to just have fun and be a kid is something that I will always be grateful to YA for.”

YA depends on support from local businesses and community organizations to send all 150 children to camp, at no cost to them. Reach out to Danielle Lewis for information on becoming a sponsor of the camp.

Camper applications are available now. Contact YA at their Oil City office at (814) 676-5785 or at their Franklin office at (814) 346-0188 for more information.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s June 2021 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.