Thanks to readers like you, Fresh Air Fund reaches goal
The charity helps thousands of children enjoy a variety of summer camp experiences
This summer, as part of a hectic schedule that includes figure skating lessons and late-night reading binges, Claire Radin also carved out some time to dissect a rat.
And while that may not be a traditional camp experience like canoeing or sleeping under the stars, it was certainly memorable for Radin, and came at a “Mini-Med” camp through the Science Explorations Program offered through the faculty of science at York University.
“We would all take turns finding organs and taking them out. After we were done we put them all back in and sutured it up,” said Radin, 12, describing her work with a coed team of three fellow science enthusiasts.
Her story is one of hundreds of unique experiences from children who attended camps supported by the Star’s Fresh Air Fund charity, which successfully reached, and surpassed, its fundraising goal of $650,000 on Friday.
Established in 1901, the Fund has raised millions of dollars and helps send at least 25,000 children to over 100 summer camps each year.
This summer, kids like Lucas and Chloe Harucki, ages 7 and 5, were able to improve their communication at the Silent Voice Sign Language Summer program this summer.
The fund has also supported camps where youth like 12-year-old Teissir Nouren Mahamat, a Sudanese refugee, got to experience Canada through outdoor learning for the first time. The fund strives to cover a wide range of needs, with camps to support special needs, physical conditions and disadvantaged youth.
“The generosity of the donors was amazing. It’s a statement about the quality of our community,” said John Boynton, president and CEO of Torstar and publisher of the Toronto Star.
“We are pleased that the Star is the means through which so many people have come forward to ensure that thousands of deserving young people have had a chance to enjoy a camp experience this summer.”
At the Mini-Med camp, most campers can attend for $280 for a week, but thanks to support from the Fresh Air Fund, the program is accessible to everybody.
The York camps aim to make science accessible and give all participants opportunities they might not get at their regular schools, offering 14 camps for kids in grades three to eight and14 camps for students who are high school age.
York professors also take part in the programs to add to the experience, said Cora Reist, program coordinator, Science Engagement Programs, at York. Campers who want to go, but might not have the money to do so, can apply to have from 25 to 95 per cent of their costs covered, Reist said.
Students can dabble in everything from astronomy and astrophysics, to coding for all ages, engineering and technology, and finding solutions to environmental problems. The dissections are for kids in the Grade 7-8 range and are set up so everybody gets a chance to participate, with three to four students working on one specimen, Reist said.
“We got to not just do dissections, but also do other experiments that I probably wouldn’t get to do, ever, if not at a university,” said 12-year-old Radin, who plans to be a surgeon.
Radin (who took part in July programming, but who did not receive support through the Fresh Air Fund) described the camp as an excellent learning opportunity for anybody interested in science.
“We got to not just do dissections, but other experiments that I probably wouldn’t get to do, ever, if not at a university.” CLAIRE, 12
She said making the program more accessible to more people will not only improve the experience for the rest of the participants, but will improve scientific research as well.
“I don’t think it should be limited to certain people in Toronto,” Radin said. “I think everybody should get a chance to, because, well, they might bring something new to the table and it could be really interesting.” With files from Vjosa Isai Goal: $650,000 To date: $683,728 How to donate: With your gift, the Fresh Air Fund can help send 25,000 disadvantaged and special needs children to camp. The experience gives these children much more than relief from summer heat: it gives them a break in life and memories to last a lifetime. Our target is $650,000. > By cheque: Mail to The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, One Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1E6 > By credit card: Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover, call 416-869-4847 > Online: For instant donations, use our secure form at: thestar.com/freshairfund The Star does not authorize anyone to solicit on its behalf. Tax receipts will be issued in September.