Camp Alexander Director LeLan Dains will hold his last week-long summer camp, “Around the World Week,” beginning on Monday. Openings remain for the camp, which will include instruction by foreign students at Emporia State University.
Dains, who was hired to direct Camp Alexander’s summer programs, has accepted a job at Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskill Mountains of New York, according to board of directors president Kay Calvert.
“We’re not looking to replace him immediately,” Calvert said.
Programs centered around schools, “Adventure Ed” and “School’s Out” camp, will continue during the school year and will be based on the Emporia school district’s schedule.
Calvert said that the cost for School’s Out will be increased to at least $20 per day, and flyers will be released soon to provide full information. Calvert does not expect that meals will be provided, but an assortment of activities will.
“It’s more than babysitting,” she said.
The camps will be planned and organized by program coordinator Naomi Carmona, who will continue to work from the camp office at 501 Commercial St.
Money remains an issue for keeping the camp operating, and fundraisers are being discussed. The extent of future camp programs will depend on funds available. Calvert said that a $20,000 donation from Clint Bowyer’s 79 Fund was a lifesaver for the camp’s summer programs this year. The Emporia Community Foundation administers the 79 Fund for Bowyer, a native Emporian and top NASCAR racecar driver.
Sponsorships for a number of the weekly theme camps also came from local businesses and organizations. The camps and their sponsors were: Pioneer Week, Burnap Brothers; Kids Challenge, Putnam and Patton attorneys-at-law; Get Fit Week, Emporia Fitness; Wet N’ Wild Week, Altrusa Club; Wonders of Nature, Flatland Cruisers; MADD (Music, Art, Dance, Drama) Week, Cable One; Survivor Week, Spellman Plumbing; and Around the World Week, Brian McCracken and DeDe Throgmorton.
Funding is not yet secured long-term to replace the annual subsidies provided through the Hopkins Foundation, which stopped its donations this year because of the national economic downturn.
“It’s going to depend on what kind of community support we get,” Calvert said of Camp Alexander programs. “I would hope that anyone who is interested in helping us raise money will contact the office or contact me personally.”
The office number is 342-1386; Calvert’s number is 342-7104.
Parents of children who want to take part in next week’s camp may call the office to make arrangements. Calvert said the $90 fee for the week includes two meals a day and two snacks.
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Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
It's too bad Camp Alexander is in the financial struggle they are in. It is a loss to see LeLan go. Our kids spent a week there this summer and had a blast. He did an excellent job running camp. I hope the board can secure funding to keep Camp Alexander going. It is a bright spot for our community.
July 30, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )