Campers enjoy a day on the water. (Photos courtesy of Partners Health Explorers)
| Camp Harbor View participants immersed in learning. |
Nearly 800 campers will have the opportunity to participate in the Partners Health Explorers program as a part of the Camp Harbor View experience this summer.
Health Explorers began last year as a one-week experience for just 47 campers. This year, the science and health curriculum will be integrated into the camp’s entire eight weeks and available to all the campers. The program is designed to stimulate campers’ curiosity about science, introduce them to the educational connections between school and health careers and promote healthy choices and behaviors.
During each four-week camp session, campers participate in all the traditional summer camp activities like swimming, sailing, biking, music and arts, and the Health Explorers curriculum. Themes of the health and science program include: body systems, diagnosis and treatment, healthy living and nutrition. The healthy living theme offers campers many fun opportunities like learning how to make nutritious fruit smoothies from the camp’s on-site garden, working up a sweat in boot camp and building skills and strategies to help balance the stress of their busy lives. Additionally, the curriculum allows campers to hear from Partners’ health professionals about their careers and to ask questions.
“This new curriculum is providing opportunities for campers to enhance their learning and their summer camp experience,” said Cara Gould, Camp Harbor View executive director. “We are pleased to be able to offer the Health Explorers curriculum to all the campers this season.”
For the Boston teenagers who attend the camp, it is an island oasis from inner-city neighborhoods during the hot summer months, a place to connect to caring adults, develop new friendships and enhance learning and leadership skills — all during days filled with sunshine and ocean breezes.
“Camp Harbor View provides young people from Boston opportunities to have fun and learn in a safe place during the summer months,” said Matt Fishman, vice president for Partners Community Health. “By integrating the Health Explorers curriculum throughout the eight weeks of camp, we hope that young people will learn exciting and interesting things about science and health, and maybe we’ll even engage their interests in exploring careers in health care.”
“One of the ways we strive to improve the health of the communities we serve is to provide educational and economic opportunities. If we can do some of that with the Health Explorers curriculum during this wonderful summer camp, that’s another step forward.”
The camp’s reach extends far beyond the summer months. During the off-season, staff members keep in close touch with the campers and their families. They continue to be supportive mentors and help young people make positive, healthy choices. Throughout the winter, the staff coordinates ski trips, holiday get-togethers and workshop series for parents. These workshops enable parents to connect with other parents and experts to discuss the challenges of family life.
Camp Harbor View is located on Long Island in Boston Harbor and was created by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Jack Connors, philanthropist and chairman of the board for Partners HealthCare. It is run by the Boys and Girls Club of Boston and funded through the Camp Harbor View Foundation, a nonprofit organization.
For more information, visit: http://chvf.org/.
