The Summer of a lifetime

BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — Ah, summer camp. Swimming, hiking, canoeing, campfires, arts and crafts, singing. Making memories with people you’ve ever met before.

For 90 years, Camp Vacamas, which is located right here in West Milford, has provided the whole camp experience and much more to kids near and far. This non-profit organization has undergone a comprehensive review and is now Hands In 4 Youth, with a new mission and vision.

New directionFelix Urrutia is the executive director of Hands In 4 Youth. He has a hard time tempering his passion for his work and is proud of the camp and what it provides. This past Sunday, 200 overnight campers, from first graders through high school age, arrived at the camp on Macopin Road. These kids and young adults will spend the next 16 days on the 200-acre property. No electronics, no technology. And while the experience is geared toward fun, Urrutia’s goal is more than that. Social intelligence, self-efficacy and educational ability are the primary developmental goals for the young people who come to Hands In 4 Youth (HI4Y). According to Urrutia, they will maintain the best traditions of camp while adding a modern day youth development program.

How is that done? Well, the mission for HI4Y is to inspire kids to be fully engaged in both school and life so they have opportunity and choice to pursue their dreams.

Summer learningOne way is by encouraging learning even through the summer. Many kids backslide with two months off from school. One way HI4Y is helping to keep that from happening is through their literacy program.

On Thursday, July 9, Urrutia is holding a ceremony to thank donors who contributed to the camp's literacy center. They include The Victoria Foundation, Michael Labadorf, the immediate past president of the group, and the Charles Rosen family.

“They helped us revitalize the literacy center,” said Urrutia.

Even more important than the newly painted, brightly colored building that will be filled with books, are the four teachers from Wayne who will volunteer each Monday throughout the summer to work with the kids.

“These are licensed teachers who know how to structure the program,” said Urrutia. “They will provide an academic environment in a beautiful space. They know what they're doing. ”

Fresh air, fresh foodLast Monday, the first full day of camp, the place was buzzing. A large group of kids was swimming in the lake, boisterously jumping off the dock into the cool water below. Mountains surrounded them. Shortly after, all of the campers headed to lunch in the four-armed building where their freshly cooked lunches awaited. Salad and fresh fruit were plentiful and two kids from each table walked with their table’s tray into the kitchen only to emerge with hot lunch for their group.

The staff has an international flair. It’s like a cultural exchange program, Urrutia said. Young adults from England, Scotland, Poland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Australia and many other places, including the local area, are working here. The flags of all the nations represented hang inside the building.

DonationsBecause most of the campers at HI4Y - and Vacamas before that - receive some sort of scholarship, donations are vital to the organization. Urrutia said they receive donations from Union 1199, a healthcare workers union in New York City, as well as other private donors. While there is a sliding scale for payment, each camper pays something toward the program.

The messageUrrutia is a kid from the Lower East Side of Manhattan himself. His partner in this rebranding of the camp and its new mission is a familiar face. Kristin Nevin, born and raised in West Milford, is the program’s director of development. Her enthusiasm for the program is evident. And the message they want to get out to the residents of West Milford, as well as the township leaders and business leaders, is that they are open and want to be a part of the community.

The camp has had an agreement for many years with the township of Bloomingdale to provide day camp for its children; part of the camp property is actually in Bloomingdale. Urrutia would be interested in a similar agreement with the township of West Milford, if that would work on both ends. Parents in West Milford and surrounding areas can send their kids to sleep-away camp right in their own backyard.

“We would like to have a relationship with the town,” Urrutia said.

The facility is available for private parties. Businesses, too, would benefit from the camp. Urrutia said team building excursions are great in the camp setting. Local firefighters even use the camp to train in the winter.

“We are open for business,” said Urrutia. “Come look at the magic we're working with the kids.”

For more about Hands In 4 Youth, go to www.hi4y.org or call 973-838-0942.

For more photos from the camp, go to westmilfordmessenger.com.