This summer marks our 32nd year reuniting siblings split up in the foster care system, giving them time to be together at Camp Erutan
We have an amazing adventure planned this season and we’re not only excited about all the fun in store for our campers, but we’re thrilled to have the help of one of our former campers who is returning again as a counselor this year. Peter, who is now 31, is a former camper who has been involved with Camp Erutan since he was 2 years old!
In August, a group of repeat campers from NY ages 12 – 15 will meet in East Hampton, NY for one week of camp and then we’ll all fly together to Kauai for a second week of camp in Hawaii. A family foundation that only recently heard about Camp Erutan from one of our supporters, made a very generous donation that will pay for our flights between NY and Kauai. We also received donations from several other family funds that not only allows us to schedule some very special activities throughout the session, but also to buy this year’s campers the clothes and supplies they’ll need during camp. Campers will return with the sleeping bags we gave them last summer but we decided to use some of the additional funds raised this summer to take the campers shopping on their first day of camp so they can get everything they’ll need for the 2 week session.
Activities planned for NY this year include surfing, stand up paddle boarding, horseback riding, arts & crafts and swimming. We’re also invited again to go out on a beautiful boat with the lovely family who hosted us last year. They’ve not only been generous by hosting us but their son, who turned 10 years old in May, asked his friends to donate to Camp Erutan in lieu of birthday presents. This generous spirit is sure to touch the campers deeply when they find out about his kindness.
Our time in East Hampton will also include celebrating the life of Mary Ryan, the wonderful woman who welcomed Camp Erutan on her property for 25 years. Mary passed away after camp ended last year and the campers returning this summer all felt very close to her since they’ve been coming to camp for the past 5 years.
After our time in East Hampton, we’re off to Kauai where we will be camping on the North Shore on Hanalei Bay thanks to WAIPA, a foundation teaching kids Hawaiian values and respect for the land. The activities scheduled for our time on Kauai include surf lessons, stand up paddle board lessons, a zodiac boat ride and snorkeling on the Na Pali coast, making poi from taro as part of a regular community project at WAIPA, and an inner tube adventure down an old sugar plantation irrigation system that was hand dug in the 1800’s! We also expect to beach comb, swim, paint, draw, count rainbows, enjoy waterfalls AND have shave ice (snow cones) on a daily basis! Star gazing, great food and lots of laughter will be a part of camp both on Kauai and in East Hampton.
As always, none of this would be possible without your support. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for Camp Erutan.
With love and appreciation,
Lisa Tanzman & Elaine Mermelstein
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