The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey Gives Hundreds of Children Affected by Hurricane Sandy Summer Camp Scholarships

NEW YORK, April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, a not for profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of summer camps, is giving hundreds of camp scholarships to children affected by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy through the Heal the Children Program. 

Over 90 day and sleepaway camps are donating free summer camp sessions to children whose families have suffered from the massive October storm.  Going to summer camp will give these children the opportunity to have something to look forward to in the immediate future, a positive camp experience, while also giving their families the time and energy to focus on rebuilding their lives.  Andy Pritikin, Owner and Director of Liberty Lake Day Camp in Mansfield Township, New Jersey said, "In situations like this, we all wish that we could truly contribute in helping those in need and in our case, as Camp Operators, we actually can."

The Heal the Children program was created by The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey in response to the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Heal the Children was formed to provide free summer camp sessions to any child who lost a parent on September 11^th.  "In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we once again saw children in our own communities suffering great loss," says Scott Ralls, President of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey.  "And once again, the Summer Camp community responded by giving these children a safe and wonderful summer at camp, allowing them to leave their troubles behind, even if just for a short time."

The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey is working in conjunction with local relief agencies to identify children in the most devastated regions that would benefit from a summer camp experience through Heal the Children.

For further information about Heal the Children and the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, please contact Jess Michaels at the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey 212.391.5208.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION, NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey (ACA, NY and NJ) is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and enhancing the quality of the summer camp experience. Because of camp, children and adults have the opportunity to learn important lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy life lessons that can't be learned anywhere else.  For more information about the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, visit www.aca-nynj.org

SOURCE American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey