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June 2009

Send A Kid To Camp!

As summer approaches, you can be part of something big at Avary: helping to send a kid to Camp Avary. It can change a child's life.

Just listen to this story from Ezra, one of our graduates:

My whole life my dad has been in and out of jail.

I remember many a time my mom would sit me down and ask, You know your dad goes away sometimes. Where do you think he is? I knew he was locked up. He'd get out, and then go crazy and end up back in jail. I would ask myself, Why does this keep happening?

I felt abandoned. At school, there were no other kids to talk to. No one knew what I was dealing with.

In 2001 I started coming to Camp Avary, a place for kids with a parent in prison. I was 11. Camp was a different kind of place. There was so much to learn.

We could play sports, hike, swim, play ping pong, or even just talk in the cabin. We were all different but we all had this one thing in common. I remember my first counselor, Marcello. He was open and accepting of everyone. Even though at school I was always the kid to get into trouble, he was willing to give me a fresh start. Avary was a fork in the road for me.

It is for a lot of kids. As you go along your life path, Avary gives you a little talk before you make your choice and helps you plot out a course. Now I have come full circle. It's been a long time since I was that kid who was always in trouble. Now I work with troubled kids in a school in Pasadena. And I keep coming back to Camp as a counselor because I know other kids need guidance as they face their fork in the road.

Camp Avary is more than a camp. It's a family. Camp Avary gives kids something to look forward to, something to strive for. You feel a part of a community, a family. It can take a kid who's angry and having problems, and help them want to do better.

By sending a kid to Camp Avary, you can become part of this family. Your donation can make a difference in a child's life. I know it made a difference in mine.

Sincerely,

Ezra Erlenmeyer

We Want to Appreciate Marin Charitable Association!
by Antoine D., age 15

We want to put out a special thanks, to Marin Charitable Association who gave us a grant for teens in Marin to take special adventures with Avary.

I really like being a teen in the Avary program because we have a chance to do things we normally can't, like windsurfing, skiing, kayaking, and other special activities.

My favorite is skiing because it's exciting, and I get to push myself and try something new. Our last trip was kayaking in Tomales Bay. I felt like everyone really enjoyed themselves and had a blast. And everyone had a smile on their face. Thank you Marin Charitable for making this possible!

Project AVARY is a nonprofit, community-based program for youth with a parent in prison or jail.