Global Camps Africa Meeting Thursday at NRHS

Philip Lilienthal runs Global Camps Africa and will be holding a meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at to inform parents and students about the camps.

The meeting is for those interested in learning about what goes on in camps outside of the United States. Global Camps Africa is dedicated to educating kids on life lessons and AIDS awareness. Most children know that AIDS can be contracted, but do not know how, Lilienthal said.

According to Lilienthal, the camp has most things you would expect in a summer camp: swimming, arts and crafts, theatre, a ropes course and more, but they tie life skills into those activities. They cover abusive behavior, gender bias, cooperating, self esteem and more.

"How powerful an instrument camp can be when there is a purpose behind it and it doesn’t take away from the fun," he said.

Global Camps Africa started eight and a half years ago, and since then they've had 38 camp sessions for 4,600 kids. The camps are mostly residential, but they have day camps as well. The sessions are typically eight to 10 days. After the camp is over, they have "kids clubs" so those who have been to the camp can come back for a refresher course.

Lilienthal says that by the end of the camp, kids are “ready to take the world by the tail.”

They have had four kids from the United States in their camps, and all kids are welcome, he said. They hold camps in September, December and April.

Some of Lilienthal's camp counselors traveled from Africa for the meeting at NRHS. They will also attend Harvard Law and the Raegon Institute while they are here in the Bay State. After they leave Boston, they will make their way to New York, Philadelphia and Washington. 

“We really want to spread the word among people who may want to support us,” Lilienthal said.

At the meeting tonight at NRHS, Lilienthal and some of his camp counselors will provide a short presentation about their camp, they will show a DVD and then have a Question and Answer session. It is a free meeting and all are welcome to attend.