May 23, 2020
In Response to the nationwide COVID crisis, the Rotary Youth Camp and Downtown Kansas City Rotary Club (Club 13) allocates $50,000 to aid the families and organizations they serve. Donations, both monetary and in-kind, will be sent to families and the 13 organizations who were signed up to use the camp over the summer.
Lee’s Summit, Missouri, May 2020 – In an effort to strengthen their camping community in these uncertain times, the Rotary Youth Camp launches the “Rotary Cares” assistance program for organizations using the camp and camper families. The goal of the program is to aid as many families as possible as well as the organizations that host summer camp at the Rotary Youth Camp. Organizations that were scheduled for the 2020 summer season will be targeted.
This year, the camp is in a position to serve the youth of Kansas City in a new way. Following the closure of the camp to traditional overnight camping through August 2020, the camp and Rotary Club 13 wish to aid families who are struggling due to income loss or financial strain occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Camping community is like a family, and the Rotary Youth Camp feels it is important to support each other when able.
The Rotary Youth Camp board will work with each organization to determine the best way to provide campers a little bit of the special experience they look forward to each year, while providing support to some of their families as well. There are 13 organizations that are being contacted regarding the “Rotary Cares” program, all of whom serve disabled or disadvantaged youth in the Greater Kansas City Area. The camp sees over 1000 campers every summer season and hopes to mitigate the loss of summer camp this year with this aid.
If you would like to support the “Rotary Cares” program, donations can be made online at www.rotaryyouthcamp.org or mailed to the camp: 22310 NE Colbern Rd. Lee’s Summit, MO 64086.
With a mission to provide life-changing camping experiences to disabled and disadvantaged youth, the Rotary Youth Camp has been serving the community since 1924. Since then, more than 300,000 children with disabilities and disadvantaged youth have enjoyed a unique camping experience, free of charge, at the Rotary Youth Camp. The camp was started by, and continues to be governed by Downtown Kansas City Rotary Club 13. Located at Lake Jacomo, the Rotary Youth Camp’s fully accessible grounds features cabins, tent camping, a mess hall, a nature trail and a wheelchair-accessible swimming pool that allows boys and girls with special needs to take part in outdoor activities. All services are available free of charge to campers and their sponsoring organizations.
