This year, R&R camp hosted 82 campers ranging in age from 6 to 10 years old from Trenton elementary schools.
By Brooke Olster
Dozens of elementary school children spent their weekdays on the playground of Hopewell Elementary School during July.
They were not local youngsters, but children who participated in the Hopewell Valley Reading & Recreation (R&R) camp program.
This year, its 37th summer, R&R camp hosted 82 campers ranging in age from 6 to 10 years old from Trenton elementary schools.
Every day campers broke into groups focused on four key concentrations: reading, music, games/physical education and art. They also swam daily at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
The purpose of the camp is to "provide the same summer suburban kids have," said Dorothy Katz, Hopewell Township resident and founder of the camp. The camp, meals, transportation, and special trips all are free, because the program is funded yearly by donations from various sources.
"We want to give these kids the chance to play and continue their educational process," said Evan Milman of Bordentown, who has been the director of R&R for three summers. "It is gratifying to provide these kids with a summer camp experience that their families may not have been able to afford."
Campers are bused from their homes each morning to the elementary school to TCNJ, back to the school and eventually home at the end of the day. R&R started this summer on June 30 and ended Aug. 1.
This summer campers and staff visited the Philadelphia Insectarium, after working on a project involving bugs, said Mr. Milman. The campers also picked out books at Barnes & Noble and saw a movie at Princeton MarketFair in West Windsor.
On Friday, campers concluded their summer by performing for their families and former campers in the annual Host Day Program. Campers sang, danced and acted in a medley of Disney songs. The children proudly performed to songs such as "Under the Sea," from "The Little Mermaid" movie and songs from Disney’s "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast," and others.
R&R still has the same goals it did when it was created decades ago. Ms. Katz said she was a longtime tutor in Trenton and regretted the end of the school year since she couldn’t continue helping students with their reading skills. She found approximately 30 other local women who were willing to take two or three children into their homes and help them with their reading. About 50 students were the beneficiaries of their generosity for three summers. They then moved into Hopewell Elementary School expect for a few years at Timberlane Middle School where they have been ever since.
According to Mr. Milman, R&R is funded through various charitable organizations and families in the community. Every year, R&R runs a popular fund-raiser the R&R Gala at the McDougald Farm, off Old Mill Road in Hopewell Township. In addition to the ticket sales, local merchants donate items to be auctioned. Proceeds from the day go to R&R. The Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust also is a major camp benefactor.
R&R campers come from four Trenton elementary schools Cadwalader, Stokes, Gregory and Kilmer. Guidance counselors at the schools must recommend the students for the camp based on their need and behavior, said Mr. Milman.
R&R hired 12 counselors and six teachers this summer. The staff serves as role models for the campers and encourages good behavior said Mr. Milman.
"The staff are so loving with the kids and give them so much attention," Mr. Milman said. "The kids and their families are so appreciative."
Regina Yakovleva, R&R nurse and a resident of West Windsor, said she enjoys the joyful atmosphere created by the campers and staff. "I see laughter, I see kindness, I see creativity, I see kids learning to work as a team," she said. "It’s just an amazing experience for everyone."
R&R is more than just fun, however.
"The kids learn to really enjoy reading," said Mr. Milman.
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SEVERAL OF THE CHILDREN expressed their opinions about and thanks for the camp experience in letters to the people of Hopewell Valley. They said:
Danasia "I’m grateful for this camp. I have never been here before. This is new to me, but I think it’s awesome, though. I am also grateful for pizza day, trips, counselors, swimming lessons, caps, making new friends, learning right from wrong, our art materials, programs, for the bus picking us up, because my mom has no car. I can’t wait until next year! I sure will be here. I can’t wait until Host Day."
Andrea "I like to go swimming. R&R camp helps us learn and teaches us how to read. R&R camp teaches us manners. The people at camp help learn how to do things. The music program teaches us how to sing. Host Day is a special day because you get to bring your family."
Sydney "This means a lot to me because if it wasn’t for you I would not be here. Thank you Hopewell Valley for donating money to this camp. Thanks, College of New Jersey for letting the R&R camp use your pool. It means a lot to us. And if it wasn’t for Ms. Etith we wouldn’t have lunch everyday. Thanks Mrs. (Dorothy) Katz for all the trips and the buses."
DeShawn "Thank you, Hopewell, for paying money to keep this camp running so we can play and have fun. R&R camp helps us learn and teaches us how to read. R&R camp teaches us manners. The people at camp help us learn how to do things. The music program teaches us how to sing. Host day is a special day because you get to bring your family. I like to go swimming. They feed us delicious food like pizza."
Paige "I love pizza day! We learn how to get along with others. We have our tasty lunches. They teach us right from wrong. Everybody is loyal and trustworthy. Counselors help us. We meet new people. We make new friends. We learn new words each day. Singing in music class is fun. We learn to play new exciting games. The counselors teach us how to swim and other nice things. But if it wasn’t for you we would not have had it. "
Clarissa "Thank you for pizza day. R&R camp helps us learn and teaches us how to read. The music program teaches us how to sing. Field trips are fun. We get to play and have fun. We learn how to get along. Singing in music class is fun. Thank you so much for this camp. I love this camp."
Jade "Thank you for the money you gave us. We get to go swimming, on trips, to have reading, and music programs, art class and gym. We get to have pizza day. And host day, the last day of camp. We have a lot of fun here. Host day is fun because we get to bring our family and friends. One of the trips we have been on is a bug museum. Some of us ate a bug. I am 9 years old. I have been here for three year. I love it here. And I would not be here if it wasn’t for you."