A New Year, An Expanded Mission
To wrap up an incredible second year, over 400 Camp Harbor View staff, campers and their families gathered in December for the 2nd Annual Holiday Party at UMass Boston. It is really wonderful to see these families from all around Boston come together in celebration of their children and the holidays. Everyone enjoyed taking a few hours off from their busy lives to enjoy music and refreshments while the kids re-connected with some of their counselors and fellow campers, most of whom they do not get to see often outside of their summers out on Long Island.
The definition of community is: “a unified body of individuals” and in just two years I have watched Camp Harbor View become exactly that. Over half of our campers in 2008 were returning campers and in these first weeks of January our phones were busy with calls from parents looking for applications for the 2009 season. All year round they are in contact with each other and the staff and families reach out to us for help we are eager to give. When Mayor Menino and I first had a vision for this camp it was easy to imagine giving these children a unique and inspiring summer experience. Now, it is wonderful to see the community of campers, families, and staff that has been united; Camp Harbor View has become so much more than a summer camp.
I hope you will join me in our mission for 2009 which is to strengthen the Camp Harbor View community. Together we can push through the hardships and challenges this year might bring to our campers and be a consistent source of optimism and confidence in their lives, especially in these off season of camp. Now more than ever, I want campers and their families to know that we are working for them and for their success.
Jack Connors, Jr
