On the morning of Aug. 13, two buses pulled up to the La Jolla YMCA. They were filled with youth campers — but not the regular campers that fill the Y’s various summer camps. These buses carried roughly 130 students from downtown’s Monarch School, a nonprofit catering to students affected by homelessness. Campers ranging in age from 5 to 18 participated in a variety of camps, from sports and specialty camps to unique experiences like junkyard drumming and water park camp. For many of the students, who have come from housing situations that have involved shelters, motels, cars and the streets, this would be their first camp experience. “At first, some were really shy and would only talk to each other,” said Akeem Miller of Rookie Sports. “You have to understand where they’re coming from. We’ve really worked to include everybody and they’ve gotten more and more comfortable. When we won the spirit assembly, they went crazy! You just have to earn their trust.” The campers returned every day for one week, from Aug. 13-17, checking off experiences that many had never had before, like swimming. A number of the visiting teens were enrolled in a specialized leadership camp designed specifically for them and led by Michelle Grindle, unit leader for La Jolla’s Leader In Training program. The week included visits to the University of San Diego, Solid Rock Gym, The Wave Waterpark and La Jolla Shores with a curriculum designed to integrate the fun of camp with teamwork and leadership exercises. “The kids are great,” said Grindle. “I’d love to see them back here next year.” The camp was made possible through fundraising contributions of the Y’s Annual Giving Program, a campaign that provides assistance for single parents, low-income families, adults and seniors, and helps the organization keep program costs low, as well as contributing to the development of new programs. The result of the weeklong experience, said Miller, was palpable. “A lot of the kids that come to our Y, sometimes they take it for granted, he said. “These Monarch kids are going to remember their experience in camp. They’ll hold that with them.” For more information on the Annual Giving Program, visit www.lajolla.ymca.org/giving/annual-giving-program.html.
