Celebrating 50 years of fun in the sun

For the past 50 years the New York District Kiwanis Foundation has operated Kamp Kiwanis in upstate Taberg. Every year roughly 800 children and developmentally disabled adults gather for a week of summer fun.

The schedule is divided into eight sessions of nearly 100 attendees each, the first two weeks are for adults and the next six are for the children. The 102-acre property serves to give children, many who may come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, have special needs or have parents serving in the military, the opportunity for an enjoyable sleep-away camp experience.

Tuition is $465 plus a $150 transportation cost, but according to Anthony Merendino, a member of the Peninsula Kiwanis and a board member of the New York foundation, 98 percent of children are sponsored with “camper-ships” and don’t pay any fee.

“It’s pretty amazing that this has been able to go on for 50 years,” Merendino said. “It becomes sort of addicting seeing the results of what you’re doing for the children.”

Once upstate, campers take part in a variety of camp activities such as canoeing, hiking, fishing, arts and crafts and non-competitive sporting events. They’re guided by a staff of about 50 counselors, most of which are college-aged students. With Kiwanis being an international organization roughly half the staff comes from other countries.

Many of the children would otherwise never be able to spend a week at camp for either monetary or health reasons. “The Kamp is an amazing place for children and young adults,” said Tom Cohen of the Five Town Kiwanis. “It’s nice to know that children from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to experience a summer holiday away from home, and it has been gratifying to be able to provide those funds.”

Merendino said they’ll take any child with a disability as long as being at the camp for a week won’t be hazardous to their health. In case anything does happen, he said, the Peninsula Kiwanis was able to donate $50,000 for a newly built infirmary.

Peninsula Kiwanis member Kevin Cooney said that last year the club was able to send 47 children to the camp. He said the camp is a great opportunity for the children. “It is non-competitive with emphasis on group and team building,” Cooney said. “No activity is forced, but all are encouraged.”

The Kiwanis of Rome, New York, sold the camp to the New York District Kiwanis Foundation in 1968 for $1 because they couldn’t care for the property. To celebrate and raise money for the camp, the foundation is hosting a gala on Sunday at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Members, former staff members, campers and supportive community members will attend. Cohen said that the Five Towns group holds pancake breakfasts and wine nights to help fund their charitable giving.

Executive Director Rebecca Clemence, said the money raised at the gala will go towards repaving the blacktop around the camp, and ensuring that it remains handicap accessible. “Kamp Kiwanis is truly a special place that’s impacted thousands of lives across New York,” she said. “The future looks bright as it ever has and I look forward to helping to build a lasting legacy of helping people.”