Putnam Valley Offers Camp Respite for City's Foster Youth

From Camp Felix:

Tucked away in Putnam Valley is a safe haven for New York City’s children in foster care and the child welfare system. Every summer, the team at The New York Foundling, along with our partners at The Felix Organization, provide a carefree experience to hundreds of children who many never have had the opportunity to travel outside of the city or even out of their borough.

At Camp Felix, campers experience structure and routine. This provides a sense of stability and security, which many of our campers so often lack in their lives, and allows them the opportunity to safely take risks to grow and succeed. Kids from some of our nation's poorest communities - many of whom have never been in a pool - learn how to swim and participate in activities that build self-confidence, resilience and feelings of community. The campers connect with each other through our principles of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and the concepts of leadership and dedication: respect for self and others; engage in positive decision-making; support each other at camp; peaceful conflict resolution; experience something new; care for your environment and tolerance for others despite differences.

Camp Felix is specially designed to meet the needs of this under-served group of children. Many of the staff are interested in careers in education and social work, and for years, the camp was run with administrators with backgrounds in social work and psychology or something along those lines. Staff and counselors receive extensive training in order to work at Camp Felix. They create clear expectations and a sense of routine for campers. Kids who’ve had the experience of being awakened at night and told to pack and move to a new home now have a predictable schedule and a routine they can count on. Staff are trained to use consistent positive language; misbehavior results in consequences which are logical, not punitive. Campers are encouraged to reflect on their own actions and make any necessary changes to keep on growing.

One of the empowering activities is arts and crafts. In the arts and crafts cabin, campers are encouraged to express their individuality and creativity. Our arts and crafts director carefully develops activities that promote creativity and community. For example, campers compete in teams to create a boat from recycled materials and then walk to the river to race the boats. Through this and other carefully-constructed activities, children and teens learn to be confident in themselves, to communicate with their peers and to value their contributions to the project.

Campers learn that they can succeed through life – something that, sadly, they may not have realized before Camp Felix. They learn that they can overcome challenges, that there is more to life than their current experience. They learn the concepts of community (brotherhood and sisterhood), of leadership and dedication. From learning healthy habits through exercise and nutrition to forming lifelong friendships, campers are always learning and having fun. Our kids build self-confidence by participating in the annual talent show and have the option to tackle the camp's 50-foot tall rock-climbing wall!

Further information is available through the The New York Foundling website.

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