YOUTH Springfield Youth Gain Camp Experience through Aventura! Program This spring the Gándara Center launched a new initiative in celebration of agency’s 40th anniversary. Wanting to give back to the community where our roots were first planted, and to help support Springfield youth, the Aventura! Summer Camp Scholarship Program was created. Together with State Representatives Jose Tosado (D-Springfield) and Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) Gándara partnered with the Springfield Department of Parks and Recreation to offer Springfield youth the opportunity to attend one summer camp session for free. In the program’s inaugural year, the Gándara Center awarded 105 scholarships to Springfield youth. The Aventura! Summer Camp Scholarship Program provided youth (ages 5–18) with the chance to participate in safe, healthy, fun, and educational camp activities. Summer vacation is often the most difficult time for parents to find affordable opportunities for their children when school is out of session. Providing children with the summer camp experience gave them a chance to be outside, socializing with peers and making friendships to last a lifetime. It also provided them with an opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that help them gain valuable skills and breed self-confidence. The Aventura! scholarship program was available to all Springfield residents. Parents completed a short application form and spaces were awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis. Campers were given an opportunity to participate in either the Springfield Department of Parks and Recreation’s Summer Enrichment Programs or Camp STAR Angelina. 105 Scholarships Awarded A kick-off celebration of the Aventura! Summer Camp Scholarship Program was held for community partners and donors on April 28 at the Forest Park Carriage House. The Aventura! program would not have been possible without the generosity and financial support from Hispanic Resources, Inc; Baystate Health; The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation; and MassLive. After seeing the need in the community for a program like Aventura!, and a successful launch thanks to the support of our business sponsors and individual donors, the Gándara Center has made the commitment to offer the Aventura! program again next year. Our hope is to expand scholarship opportunities like Aventura! so we can provide a variety of healthy, educational, and recreational opportunities to the families in our community. Support for events like our annual Frozen Yogurt 5K Run/Walk and your donations help to make these programs a reality.
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