for the kids

An upcoming golf tournament honors a former Kiwanis Club supporter by keeping kids in mind.

› By Cealia Athanason

Every year, school lets out and the weather heats up for another steamy Florida summer. And hundreds of kids from local schools pile onto buses and head out to Mill Dam Lake for five days of outdoor fun at Camp Kiwanis. Days are spent swimming, canoeing, playing field games, doing arts and crafts and practicing archery. At night, the kids enjoy skits, relay races, battle ball and even a special dance.

“[Camp Kiwanis] covers basic things like civility, playing and having fun together,” says Diana Williams, former president of the Kiwanis Club of Ocala and 26-year member. “It provides an opportunity for the less fortunate ones to have a great experience and be exposed to excellent mentors.”

Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Ocala hosts a few fundraisers for camp scholarships. This year, Ocala and Lake Weir’s Kiwanis Clubs got together to host The George Albright, Jr. Memorial Save Camp Kiwanis Golf Tournament, coming up on April 14. Besides golf, lunch will be provided, and there will be live and silent auctions, prizes and awards. The goal is to raise $30,000 for camp scholarships and maintenance of camp facilities. This golf tournament honors George Albright, Jr., who was a Kiwanis Club member and Camp Kiwanis supporter before passing away last year.

Camp Kiwanis is a residential camp with four five-day overnight sessions throughout the month of June for children ages 7 through 13. The camp has been around since 1948, as a cooperative e ort by the Marion County Public School System and the Kiwanis Club of Ocala. Up to 104 students can attend camp during each session. The camp is well-sta ed, maintaining a threeto-one and up to five-to-one camper-to-sta ratio.

Approximately 20 percent of campers receive scholarships from the Kiwanis Club of Ocala each year, and the Marion County School Board selects those scholarship students. At Camp Kiwanis, the counselors focus on bringing the kids together, and to illustrate that, Diana describes the camp dance at the social night each year. At that event, a video will play showing photos from the week, and the kids will stand arm-in-arm swaying to the music.

Days are spent swimming, canoeing, playing field games, doing arts and crafts and practicing archery. At night, the kids enjoy skits, relay races, battle ball and even a special dance.

“For most of the kids, this is the first dance they’ve ever had,” she says. “It’s such an innocent experience for them but also something they’ll never forget.”

› April 14 at 11am at Del Webb Eagle Ridge Golf Club › Call (352) 307-1668 for more information.