The Magic Behind Summer Camp

How Marin Charitable Grants Create Life-Changing Experiences

Summer camp can be one of the most memorable, joyful and impactful experiences of a child’s life. Camps offer a break from the pressure and rigor of the school year and create an environment where kids can be kids and days can be spent purely in pursuit of fun!

Yet behind all that joy, children are gaining invaluable developmental benefits. Summer camps broaden social connections, foster teamwork, and help kids build positive relationships with trusted adults. Campers learn self-regulation, practice taking healthy risks, develop perseverance, and boost both physical and mental health. Perhaps most importantly, they build self-reliance and independence that serve them well beyond the summer months.

While Marin County offers exceptional summer camp opportunities, many families struggle to afford these programs, and some children need activities tailored to specific health or developmental needs. This is where Marin Charitable grants make the difference: supporting scholarships and free programming that make transformative summer experiences accessible to every child.

Here are some of the incredible programs your support makes possible:

Cazadero

• Cazadero Music Camp - https://www.cazadero.org – Set in a stunning redwood forest, this camp combines music and nature to help young musicians develop both community connections and a lifelong love of music.

Mt Camp Marin

• Mountain Camp Marin – https://mountaincampmarin.com  This day camp program offers a wide range of engaging activities, and purposefully facilitates personal development and social-emotional learning in a fun, technology-free format. 

AC Marin - North Bay Youth Soccer

• AC Marin – https://northbayysl.com The North Bay Youth Soccer League offers player-centered soccer clinics and camps that provide a positive, safe, and fun environment where kids can grow both on and off the field. The program creates a pathway for players to develop from beginner skill-building to competitive levels.

Okizu

• Okizu - https://okizu.org – This "summer home away from home" provides peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs for teens and families navigating childhood cancer.

Camp Canal

• Camp Canal – https://campcanal.org – Teens gain valuable work experience as camp tutors, learning to make math and reading engaging for younger campers while developing leadership skills.

These programs don't just fill summer hours; they build confidence, foster friendships, and create lasting memories while keeping kids engaged in positive, enriching activities. And it's all thanks to your generous support.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

“The Power of Camp” - This video from Dr. Denise Pope, Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University and Co-Founder of Challenge Success, details the importance and benefits of attending summer camps. You can watch it here: https://mountaincampmarin.com/video/

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