There is a new study out by the Corporation for National Service that looks at all youth as volunteers. Click here to view the complete study, Leveling the Path to Participation: Volunteering and Civic Engagement among Youth from Disadvantaged Circumstances.
The following is a letter from Chris, regarding the Work Day at Bear Hill. Please feel free to distribute to any and all that may be able to attend. You may also use it as a press release.
Bear Hill Camp Green Up Days
Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, 8am - 3 pm
Dear Friends of 4-H Camps,
Despite the April snow showers, rain, and cool weather, our 4-H Camp staff is preparing for opening day at Camp on July 1, 2007.
I need your help to ready Camp Bear Hill for another great summer season. I am looking for volunteers on the workdays, May 5 and 6, 2007. Both general help, as well as folks with construction skills are needed.
Bring your tool belt, cleaning supplies and bug spray, of course! Cabins must be cleaned, walking paths raked, docks put in, and general repairs made, following a New Hampshire winter. If your talents include carpentry, plumbing or landscaping, your expertise is greatly needed. We will be tackling some construction projects this year, including plumbing, electrical, and construction improvements.
Work gloves, cleaning materials, paint and garden tools necessary for the days' work will be provided for you. And to sustain our hard working friends, we will have our experienced culinary staff preparing a great BBQ lunch, lots of iced tea and lemonade. Our office can also provide the inspiration of 4-H campers and parents:
"My child had an easier time making friends at camp--Danny says there aren't bullies at camp." Camp Parent
" I love camp because if you don't know anyone you talk to everyone" Camper Bear Hill
University of New Hampshire 4-H Camps believe summer camping experiences provide children of all backgrounds the opportunity to learn and interact with other children and the outdoors. How many of you have a special memory from a camp experience you had? These remembrances have a lasting positive impact on a child's development: social, physical, intellectual and emotional.
With your generous gift of time, our camp will be ready when we open the doors to over 850 campers in July.
Please join us! To help us plan for lunch please call 603-862-2184 or you can email me at chris.conlon@unh.edu. I look forward to seeing you there.
With Warm Regards,
Chris Conlon
4-H Bear Hill Camp Director
Per your request here is the second UNH 4-H Camps newsrelease. Please feel free to add your county information and distribute to all your local media sources. If you have specific county information that you want to add about scholarships etc, please put a paragraph in before the last paragraph. All newsreleases will have the same last paragraph to direct them to the website to register.
Summer Camp Opportunities
Abound for New Hampshire Teens
For immediate release
Contact: NAME, PHONE, EMAIL
Parents, have your teenagers outgrown the traditional summer camps they enjoyed as youngsters? Do they enjoying hanging out with other teens who share their interests? Do they want to explore some exciting career options?
There are some great opportunities coming up this summer at UNH 4-H Camps. The camps, operated by UNH Cooperative Extension, have special programs designed for Teen Adventure campers, who can also participate in regular camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking and crafts. UNH 4-H Camps is located at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. Cost of the Teen Adventure Series is $495/week, all inclusive. Just look at the options below:
Healthy Athlete: July 15-20 This session includes interactive workshops conducted by professionals in sports conditioning and injury prevention, sports nutrition for optimum performance and sports psychology. This is a great camp to get ready for fall sports. Participants will enjoy a Red Sox game at Fenway Park!
Baaa Hill at Bear Hill: July 22-27 This session is a great start for those interested in a career in veterinary medicine or animal science, as they become the caretakers of a goat (provided for the week). Participants will construct goat packs, and take a trek with their animal in Bear Brook State Park.
Take to the Skies: July 29-August 3 An exciting opportunity for teens interested in aviation and astronomy. Teens will tour Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, spending time in the flight simulator. There will be a late night trip to the UNH Observatory for some quality star gazing.
NH Expedition: August 5- 10 Teens explore the varied terrain of the Granite State, as the group travels north to the NH Fish and Game Fish Hatchery at Barry Conservation Camp where they will spend the night. After a guided adventure through the caverns of Lost River, teens will take a two-hour adventure through the tree tops of Lincoln, with Alpine Adventures.
Island Adventure I and II : August 12-17 Participants spend three days on the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire. Campers attend programs using the Shoals Marine Lab (jointly run by UNH and Cornell University). Group I has a focus of natural history/island legend, while Group II will concentrate on oceanography and marine science.
The Teen Adventure Series is filling fast, but opportunities are still available. To learn more or to register, visit our website at extension.unh.edu. You can also call (603) 862-2184. Both camps are licensed by New Hampshire and accredited by the American Camp Association.
UNH 4-H CAMPS / 180 Main St., Moiles House, UNH Durham, NH 03824-2536
Phone:603/862-2184 Fax: 603/862-2157
4hcamps@unh.edu extension.unh.edu
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
University of New Hampshire, U.S. Department of Agriculture and N.H. Counties cooperating
The Independent Sector has released the new report about the increase in the value of volunteering. For this information and other facts related to the volunteer efforts click here.
The value of volunteer time is based on the average hourly earnings of all production and non-supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls (as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Independent Sector takes this figure and increases it by 12 percent to estimate for fringe benefits.