The crown jewel in RMM’s Youth Empowerment Program, our Summer Overnight Leadership Camp welcomed nearly 80 youth from across New York State, ages 8-17, for the week of Aug. 17-23. Our theme this year was Integrity, with campers exploring its meaning throughout their activities, art projects, performances and discussions.
For more than 35 years, Overnight Camp has been giving rural, migrant and underserved youth an incredible summer experience. Campers learn to express themselves through music, dance, art and activism, under the guidance of world-class artists. For many of these children, it’s a rare opportunity to simply be children — to laugh, sing, dance and play.
Never has Overnight Camp been more needed than in this time of oppression among our immigrant brothers and sisters. Our children live with the constant fear that they could lose family members to detention and deportation. With the generous support of our donors and allies, RMM was able to provide them with a chance to experience joy in a safe place, surrounded by love.
Campers worked each day with our nine artist-educators, preparing to perform for their families on the last day of Camp. Our youth also had daily swimming, Choice Times, Stoop Time, lively Evening Programs, including a performance by RMM ally Jen Chapin and her Trio (read story here), and Vespers. The annual Scavenger Hunt was crazy, messy and fun! And, campers enjoyed a mid-week Field Day, complete with boating, a planetarium show, challenging activities, and food trucks!
This was a truly unforgettable week — one we hope has inspired our children to return to school and their communities with a renewed sense of meaning, purpose and fun!
#WeAreRMM #ItsWeNotThey #LeadershipCamp #YouthEmpowerment #SolidarityNowMoreThanEver