“Freezin’ for a Reason” –that’s the tagline for this Saturday’s POLAR LEAP event, a fundraiser for camper scholarships hosted by the Camp Ernst Junior Board.
I have been mentally preparing for (dreading?) this year’s Polar Leap.
My parents love to remind me that I was born during the blizzard of 1977 (when the Ohio River froze all the way across). However, being “born for the cold” in this way
has not made me relish the opportunity to run into the freezing cold lake later this month.
This past January’s record cold temps added to my nerves.
I’m not ashamed to say that I have been greatly relieved in looking at this week’s weather forecast. A few more days in the 50s and 60s should melt the remaining ice and snow, and Saturday’s low of 34 degrees seems do-able, though don’t get me wrong–the lake will still be COLD.
^^so that’s the “freezin” part. Here’s a few of the “reasons:”
–Requests for camp fee assistance are about double what they were this time last year.
–Families all over Greater Cincinnati are strengthened when their kids get to connect across differences at summer camp.
–At camp, kids get to experience friend-making and navigating challenging situations in the nurturing environment created by their camp counselors.
–The resilience kids learn at camp will carry them through the rest of their lives.
–Unplugged experiences at camp cultivate belonging and connection like no other place can.
While the waters of Camp Ernst Lake will undoubtedly be cold, I’ll be warmed by the enthusiasm of the Junior Board members who are organizing the event.
And you can count on me doing this all over again next year, warmed by the reminder that every kid deserves to have the life changing experience that a week of camp offers!
Ernstlove, |
