Day Camp for Children ages 4 to 15

CHALLENGE CAMP SUCCEEDS IN BUSINESS

printed in the March 2011 issue of the Yonkers Progress

The Challenge Camp is celebrating its 31st year of offering unique enrichment learning opportunities to bright and curious children ages 4-15. The American Camping Association accredited summer day camp is located in Bronxville and offers two sessions: June 27 – July 22 & July 25 – August 12, 2011. The program provides over seventy academic courses and sports clinics throughout the summer: Astronomy, Magic, Chess, Lego, Art, Music, Law, Remote Control Cars/Airplanes, Video Production, Computer, Theatre, Robotics, Journalism and other exciting selections!

The business community should take note that we are most proud of our entrepreneurial and philanthropy course called "The Apprentice" taught by former Challenge camper Scott Pullman. Scott's comments follow:

Challenge Camp has had a special place in my heart and in the hearts of thousands of campers throughout the many years of its existence. While summer is a time for play for many youths, it can also be a time of learning and intellectual growth. As a camper, I learned about many different topics such as robotics, acting and history. This intellectual pursuit was very inspirational in my decision to become a teacher and challenge young minds.

The Apprentice Program is a class that relies solely on the student's intelligence and creativity to work. Modeled after the hit show, "The Apprentice," students are given a task, plan it, and execute it for an audience. Instead of marketing drinks or selling hot dogs, the students are running a carnival booth and donate the proceeds to charity. They create their booth, design it, build it and run it for the entire camp and their counselors. Their success is dependent on their ability to think creatively and problem-solve. What supplies do you need for this booth to work? Have you set the right price? How will you handle customers? The students work this out themselves, under my supervision. While no one receives a job with Trump International, the reward of handling a challenge and the value of charitable giving are great lessons for students.

This class also introduces the students to the basics of starting a business. Class activities include having an idea, making an idea feasible, marketing the idea, advertising your product, creating a budget and flexibility. By the end of the week the students are pros and running their activity with little guidance from their instructor. Just as law classes that I took as a camper inspired me towards the legal field, I hope that "The Apprentice" will lead many of these students to use their analytical skills to hear these words from their employer, "You're Hired."

The Challenge Camp Apprentice course over its five year history has proudly raised $14,605.00 for the following charities:

• The Children's Cancer Fund
• The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Food Allergy Initiative
• CURE – Cure Epilepsy Foundation
• Pulmonary Hypertension Association

The Challenge Camp has selected for 2011 the Children's Tumor Foundation, a disease that occurs in 1 of every 3000 births and effects children of all races and ethnic origins.

Every summer as part of the fundraising program, the campers look to the community for donations for a silent auction. Any Chamber member who would like to participate as a guest speaker or anyone interested in donating goods or services in aid of our 2011 Challenge Camp philanthropic effort, please contact Carole Berman at (914) 779-6024 or Carole@challengecamps.com. All charitable contributions are tax deductible. Learn more about all of the dynamic courses offered this summer at www.challengecamps.com.