The "Send a Kid to Camp" Fund
In the fall of 2003 Camp Echo, in collaboration with the Ted Fund of Evanston, established the "Send a Kid to Camp Fund."
While Evanston children sit side-by-side in classrooms during the school year, they spend their summers in very different worlds.
Children of the economically advantaged are enrolled in swim lessons, sports camps, drama classes, and other special programs.
Their summers are rich with opportunities for fun, self-expression, skill building, and personal development.
In contrast, children of families living below the poverty line are often left behind.
Nearly one out of every three children in Evanston comes from a family that cannot afford such extras as organized summer camp or recreation.
The Ted Fund addresses this glaring need by leveling the playing field.
The Fund enables public school children from families with limited financial resources to take part in quality, fee-based summer programs that other Evanston children take for granted.
The Ted Fund was established in 1996 in memory of Ted Muller, who had spent many years as a camp counselor and a District 65 teacher.
The Ted Fund identifies a dozen eligible third-grade students in District 65 schools, and provides them with a day camp experience for three consecutive summers.
Participating day camps include Olympian Sports Camp; the City of Evanstonıs Arts Camp, Ecology Camp, and Robert Crown Summer Camp; and the McGaw YMCAıs Camp WaNaGo.
Camp Echo's "Send a Kid to Camp Fund" picks up where the Ted Fund leaves off.
In collaboration with the Ted Fund, four eligible sixth-grade "graduates" of their day camp experience are identified and provided with a two-week Camp Echo experience.
Members of the Camp Echo Committee help to ease the transition from day camp to overnight camp by assisting with the paperwork required for camp and by helping each family to identify and obtain appropriate camping gear.
Donations to Camp Echo's "Send a Kid to Camp Fund" are welcome at any time.
Our goal is to send each group of four campers for (at least) two additional years, while identifying four new sixth-grade Ted Fund "graduates" each year from now on.
In 2005, we provided eight camperships, and in 2006 we reached our ongoing total of twelve full camperships per year.
In the summer of 2007, our first class of Send a Kid campers graduated to our teen programs.
In order to allow them to continue to experience Echo, we instituted a Send a Teen to Camp Fund.
The Send a Teen to Camp fund pays for 90% of a teenager's LIT or CIT experience, while the teen participant contributes the remaining 10%.
In 2008, we will have 12 Send a Kid to Camp campers and 5 Send a Teen to Camp participants.
While "Send a Kid to Camp" Fund donations have come from a variety of sources, a fun way to donate is through the purchase of an "Echo in the Round" CD.
The recording and editing sessions were underwritten by designated donations from friends of Camp Echo, ensuring that most of the purchase price will help bring kids to camp.
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Scholarships at Camp Echo and the McGaw YMCA
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Partial scholarships for Camp Echo (and many other McGaw YMCA programs) are awarded to those who qualify on a first-come, first-served basis.
Your unrestricted donation to Echo's Annual Campaign helps provide these partial scholarships.
The "Send a Kid to Camp" fund is different in that it provides full camperships to some very deserving Evanston youngsters.
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Feedback on the Kids We're Helping
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Class of 2004
7th grade girl
She did great at camp. She was a red swimmer, so she took swim lessons, but she loved all the activities she participated in. She was a spotter at water skiing. She played basketball and made friends with all the girls in the cabin. She was very respectful and helpful to everyone.
7th grade boy
He was able to make new friends and learn important skills about nature and wildlife. Overall he had an excellent experience at camp, one that he is sure to remember for the rest of his life.
7th grade girl
She really came out of her shell while being at camp. On the first day she kept to herself. As the days went by she began to make more and more friends. Although she was a beginner swimmer, she really enjoyed the barge party with the cabin and it motivated her to pass into the next level of swim ability.
7th grade girl
She really had a great time at camp. After a quiet start, she got more excited about the activities at camp she had never done before. She took charge on our overnight by building all the tents for the other girls. She also enjoyed our night hike and cooking over a campfire.
Class of 2005
7th grade boy
He was one of the more quiet members of our cabin. He got along fine with all his cabin mates, and interacted well with them in a positive way. He was very curious about camp, and was very open to learning new things from the first day on. He had a really great time at camp.
7th grade girl
She had a good time at camp, other than a few days when she had a cold. She enjoyed arts and crafts, and always let us know when she was having a great time with a hug and a smile. Other activities she enjoyed were swim lessons, music, and Superstars.
7th grade girl
She adjusted really well to camp. She was a little homesick at the start, but she made friends and opened up with much ease. She constantly had a smile on her face and when she didn't, she never hesitated to talk to a counselor. She moved from Red to Blue Circle in swimming; loved drama; liked participating in Morning Reflections; and enjoyed photography. She was often a mediator when there were disputes in the cabin.
7th grade boy
He is a great kid. At times he could be a bit rambunctious, but it's not unusual for kids his age to act that way. He calmed down when asked and was usually cheerful and fun. He's a camper I enjoyed having. He achieved the swim level of Blue Circle, and he enjoyed rides on the Float Boat, blueberry picking, sailing, biking, and playing football.
Class of 2006
Seventh Grade Girl
SHe had a great time at camp. The first few days she had a hard time getting used to "missing TV," however, after a few days she adjusted and really enjoyed all that camp had to offer.
I know she is especially enjoyed basketball during the Olympics and as a camptivity.
Seventh Grade Boy
He was a great camper, he got along with everyone wonderfully. For one Taps Talk, we had each camper compliment another person in the cabin.
At least half of the cabin said something nice specifically about him.
He fit in at camp wonderfully and was great to have around. I would love him to come back to Echo next summer!
Seventh Grade Boy
I feel like he grew and changed a lot at camp.
When he first arrived, he was understandably shy and reserved and found the idea of sitting on the dirty ground unbearable.
However, by the end of the session, he was playing happily with new friends and dying to run and slide into a dirty pile of leaves.
To see such positive growth in such a short amount of time was awesome.
He got along well with his cabin mates and counselors and was truly a pleasure to have in our cabin.
Seventh Grade Boy
He put forth good effort in his camptivities. He received awards for most improved swimmer and in his basketball camptivity.
He showed a lot of improvement as the session went on and will continue to develop at and enjoy Camp Echo next summer.
Class of 2007
Seventh Grade Girl
She had a wonderful time at camp! She was always smiling and laughing.
She came to camp as a nonswimmer, took swim lessons, and left as a mid-level swimmer.
I had the pleasure of having her in swim lessons and watched her work very hard to accomplish her goal.
She loves camp so much and took advantage of every opportunity. I can't wait to see her back at camp next summer!
Seventh Grade Boy
He had a little trouble adjusting to cabin life at first. Throughout the session, he became more comfortable expressing himself.
By coming out of his shell more and more, he was able to leave camp with more self-confidence. This was a great experience for him.
Seventh Grade Boy
He was a joy to have at camp and made great strides while he was there.
He got along well with his cabin mates and had a great deal of fun with them in a variety of activities.
He went from a nonsimmer to our highest swim level, which is just one of the many ways he grew and changed at camp.
I believe future summers at Echo will help him to continue to develop and gain self-confidence.
Strengthen the Spirit!
Click here to see pictures from the rehearsal and live concert.
Click here for CD liner and purchase information.
Click here for CD content and licensing information.
Click here to make an outright donation to the fund.
