HO IS ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, a child must have lost a parent in the September 11th tragedy. There is no means test associated with this program.

HAT CAMPS ARE INVOLVED?

Summer camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association are eligible to participate in HEAL THE CHILDREN. These are day camps as well as overnight camps and they are located throughout the United States, but concentrated in the northeast. See the list of participating camps.

OW WILL THIS BE DONE?

Both private and not-for-profit accredited camps are designating spaces for as many years as each child wishes to attend. Camps are individually choosing how many spaces they will donate and are asked to hold these spaces for up to 17 years, when the youngest participants in HEAL THE CHILDREN will age out of camping. The hope is that, during the 17 years of this program, when one eligible child leaves a camp, that space will be available for another eligible child.

Camps designate spaces for a specific period of the summer (e.g. 2nd session) or for the entire summer. Camps may designate the specific gender of the campers or any other criteria the camp wants to be met. If a camp feels that a specific child is inappropriate for that camp, the child will be referred to another camp. Once a camp accepts a child, the camp's commitment is for the camp-life of the child, assuming appropriate behavior on the part of the camper.

ILL CAMPS PROVIDE SPECIAL PROGRAMMING?

The intent is to give each child as normal an experience as possible. Camps are not required to provide special programming for these campers.

AY CAMPS REACH OUT TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN?

If a camp knows of an eligible child, we encourage the camp to enroll that child. Camps will inform the Project Administrator about enrolled campers.

OW DOES THE PROJECT WORK?

Eligible families should complete an application for Heal the Children. Using the list of available HEAL THE CHILDREN spaces, the Project Administrator will match the family's preference with the participating camps. Up to three camps will be informed about a specific child and camps will be asked to send promotional information to the family and follow-up (in-person contact is recommended). Families will select a camp based upon this information.

If a camp accepts a child, the camp will notify the Project Administrator. If a camp does not accept a child, the family's second choice will be notified and a similar process, as above, will follow.

Once a child attends a camp, it is expected that re-enrollment will be handled in the same way as all campers. Each year, camps will provide to the Project Administrator a list of campers whom they are serving in HEAL THE CHILDREN.