Summer Camp Offers Opportunities For Kids

POUGHKEEPSIE – Rebuilding Our Children and Community, Inc. (Rebuilding) is a non-profit that has a new summer home at 90 Market Street in Poughkeepsie. Satara Brown, a Harvard-schooled community activist who runs Rebuilding held the ribbon-cutting for the new location recently. Having moved from a one-room office at the Family Partnership Center, the new space has already impressed many of the fifty kids that will be attending Brown’s summer camp.

Brown explained that her seven-week summer camp is open and will have much more to offer this year with the new location. “We have more space, the playground is right next door, and Stitzel Field is right around the corner.” Brown also explained that the agency is now licensed through the county’s health department so the children will have more camp opportunities available to them.

The camp is open to all children who reside in Dutchess County, even if only for the summer months, such as children who spend summers here with relatives. The program has campers ranging in age from five to thirteen from several school districts in the county including Beacon, Arlington, Hyde Park, and Poughkeepsie. Brown said that Rebuilding has several community partners including the City of Poughkeepsie Police Athletic League, a local teachers’ union, and an art studio that will make more day trips possible for the attendees.

One of the counselors is a cheerleading instructor so camp kids will be able to take lessons in that sport as well. Additional funding has been secured through the City of Poughkeepsie Youth Grant program.

Satara and her staff are providing important educational activities to families and kids.
“We are lucky to have Ms. Brown’s dedication to children,” said Mayor Rob Rolison, who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Satara and her staff are providing important educational activities to families and kids.”

More information on Rebuilding can be found at www.roccpk.org.