For more than 15 years the Camp Colley Foundation has dreamt of engaging Phoenix children from city neighborhoods in year-round nature programs beyond the summer months at Camp Colley. The Foundation’s new role as the camp operator has allowed that vision to become a reality. Beginning in September 2020 the Camp Colley Foundation will launch its first program for campers to experience positive learning and growth in their communities and nearby nature settings throughout the school year.
The Camp Colley Foundation has secured two grants to launch this program expansion. Through the generosity of the Phoenix IDA and support from Fry’s Food Stores & Kroger’s ‘Zero Hunger Zero Waste’ sustainability initiative, hundreds of underserved Phoenix children will learn about critical environmental science issues that impact the health of wilderness in Arizona and beyond. Participants will also learn and practice key behaviors aimed to curb neighborhood litter and food waste and will have the opportunity to complete environmental stewardship projects in local parks and forests.
The intended outcomes of this program include increased environmental science learning, building foundational behaviors to care for the health of nature and the environment, and advancing the development of social-emotional skills learned at Camp Colley like leadership and self esteem. Outcomes will be evaluated annually to drive quality improvements to program content and design to maximize impact.
The Camp Colley Foundation has gotten a tremendous head start to fund this two-year project thanks to the Phoenix IDA and Fry’s Food Stores & Kroger’s ‘Zero Hunger Zero Waste’ and looks forward to continuously engaging Phoenix campers all year long.
Sincerely,
Richard Berg, Executive Director
Camp Colley Foundation