For close to 100 years, Ramapo for Children has operated a variety of direct service and professional development programs for youth; their mission being “to keep young people from being relegated to the margins of their schools, programs, families, or communities because of challenging behaviors, cognitive disabilities, or other differences.” Two of Ramapo’s summer programs, Camp Ramapo and Summer Sensations, were at the focus of their grant application to the Ascienzo Family Foundation. Camp Ramapo is an overnight summer camp that serves over 500 children ages six to twenty-one, providing a wide range of kids with the opportunity “to experience success.” Summer Sensations is an inclusive day camp for local children ages five to twelve years old, and similarly provides engaging, meaningful skill-building experiences for campers. The programs are staffed primarily by college students through a summer internship program, particularly of interest to young adults interested in pursuing education, special education, psychology, social work, and other human services fields. With the help of a $25,000 grant from the Ascienzo Family Foundation, Ramapo will create a Hudson Valley Fellows program, providing the opportunity for 10 students to receive exceptional leadership training and coaching as summer staff members. The program is especially important in order to make sure the staff experience is available to students from historically marginalized and under-resourced communities, who would not be able to accept a summer position with a low stipend (the program will provide a special stipend match in addition to the advanced training provided).
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