Camp For Hoboken Kids Needs Final Donations After Productive Summer

HOBOKEN, NJ — A non-profit camp run to keep Hoboken kids busy in summer has had a productive season, with the children taking local trips, playing sports, and engaging in art projects.

But because of a funding cut — and the city charging non-profits to use their facilities for the first time this summer, according to organizers — they could use a few more donations to close out the year.

"It’s been a long 8 weeks!" said camp coordinator Louis Quinones on the eve of the last day this past Friday.

With few affordable options in town to keep kids and teens busy each day in summer, the camp — which uses numerous volunteers — has allowed some parents in town to continue working while their kids, ages 6-15, have new experiences.

The number of kids enrolled has grown each year, topping 90 this year.

The city of Hoboken has started charging non-profits to use their facilities, though the cost to Community Lifestyles — which uses the city's gym 1.5 hours per day and four days a week — has been only $300 a week.

Still, with other costs, including day trips, the amounts add up, Quinones says. He said the new cost was a surprise this year.

This year, government funding to the program was cut by 25 percent (see Quinones and other providers of Hoboken youth programs speak at the June 21 Hoboken City Council meeting, starting at 18:00).

"This year, we are supporting 90 children, which is a 30 percent growth year to year," Quinones wrote on a fundraising page this year. "Without our camp, these children would have little or no access to structured summer programming."

Among the kids' excursions and art projects, they recently made get-well cards for frequent volunteer Anel Laurens when she needed surgery. Laurens said she was touched by the artful cards (shown above).

This week, there's no camp as kids get ready for back-to-school. The public schools in Hoboken start next week (see the public school district school calendar and highlights here.)

You can find out more about the camp and donate here.