The
Hilltop Fund
a d n e S p Help m a C o t d l i e! d i s Ch n i , w o h t ou d n i F
"Camp gave my daughter the opportunity to be away from home and experience independence and the outdoors. This has been a valuable experience for socializing, team building and the detox from electronics." -Camp Parent
MEETING MEGAN My three daughters have grown into wonderful mothers through the difficulties we faced when they were young. But I am here to tell you the story of my youngest and her daughter. Jennifer was diagnosed with diabetes in 4th grade. My husband had just left, leaving me to run my own business and raise three girls by myself. I was overwhelmed already when we found out Jennifer would be insulin dependent. I knew that I had to give her experiences that “normal” kids have in their childhood, but I also knew that we would have to modify for her. We found 4-H Camp Bristol Hills and set up a plan that allowed Jennifer to attend. We worked closely with the camp nurse and I was at camp every day to help with her insulin. Jennifer ended up attending camp for 4 years. She went from being completely dependent on me, to a strong, independent young woman. Camp allowed her to reach so many milestones. She was extremely proud of herself, and I was, too. Now my granddaughter, Gabby, is shy and nervous. She is in much the same place my daughter was when she began attending camp. I said, ‘It is time to send her to camp.’ My daughter was nervous about sending her daughter. It is hard as a parent to encourage a shy and nervous child to attend camp. I told my daughter to contact camp beforehand to help answer her questions and ease the transition. She was received with such graciousness that she no longer had any doubt that this would be right for Gabby. She said, ‘It feels like home.’ Gabby ended up loving camp. We have both seen how, since camp, she is a little bit stronger and a little more self-advocating. She is overcoming her fears and anxiety because camp has given her a chance to believe in herself. I have seen first-hand how camp changes lives. I have seen confidence and strength grow in my daughter and now in my granddaughter by attending camp. She already wants to be a counselor when she gets older. So thank you for what you do. I believe in what camp does for kids. I believe in what camp did for my family.
"Bristol Hills is such an amazing place with amazing people. The couselors were awesome! They were very supportive to one of my friends who was missing home." -Camper
The Need We at 4-H Camp Bristol Hills work to keep camp as affordable as possible for everyone, and provide assistance for financially limited families. Each year we receive over 175 requests for campership support, and we currently have the funds to support less than half of these requests. These requests come from families, school nurses, guidance counselors, and others who understand that the summer camp experience is important for their children, but are simply unable to afford the full camp fees. The Hilltop Fund enables families who are unable to pay the full cost of a summer campership to receive financial aid. Corporations, individuals, and former campers are encouraged to make tax exempt contributions to help provide underprivileged children with the opportunity to grow and benefit from the summer camp experience. Families requesting campership come from all walks of life, and they share their stories with us in their Campership Requests. Whether there is a recent divorce, or a death in the family, a military deployment overseas, or a serious injury resulting in unemployment and mounting medical bills, the stories are real. Without your support we will have to notify children deserving of financial aid that we are out of funds for this year. Will it be the child whose father has lost his job because his company is downsizing? Or will it be the little girl whose mom has been battling brain cancer? Who would you choose? There is a perception that donors are wealthy, retired people. The fact is, some may be but many are not. Our donors come from varied backgrounds. They may be the teacher, or the factory worker, the grandparent or the college student. However, they all understand that summer camp is an important part of the lives of our campers, and that their contributions, can make that a reality. With the Hilltop Fund, donors are invited to contribute any amount that they feel they can afford, be it ten dollars or ten thousand.
Photo: STEM campers building crystal radios under the direction of a Cornell Professor and several graduate students from the Physics Department.
How You Can Help Help us to help a child, by making a donation to the Hilltop Fund. Write a Check or Donate by Credit Card: Whether it’s $10, $50, $345 (the cost of a full resident campership), or $1,000, you can support children in need by completing our Pledge Card and sending it to 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, 480 N. Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424. United Way: If you are currently donating to the United Way, specify 4-H Camp Bristol Hills as your preferred charity by designating #2207 on your contribution form. Matching Gifts programs: Many companies want to support the causes that their employees care about, so they set up charitable giving programs through which they match employee donations to eligible non-profits. If your company offers matching gifts, and you donate $300 to 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, submit the proper matching gifts form to your employer’s HR department and they will match the donation, effectively doubling your contribution. Donating Appreciated Securities: One of the most common methods of non-cash giving is to transfer appreciated stock to a qualified charity. This saves you from paying the capital gains tax, while still giving you a deduction for the full amount of the gift (generally up to 30% of adjusted gross income, with a five-year carry-forward provision). For a person in the 35% tax bracket, a $10,000 gift of stock may mean a $3,500 income tax deduction. 100% of your gift will be used to send a child to 4-H Camp. All contributions are tax deductible as allowable by law. There are many ways to help. We invite you to contact us, by phone at (585) 394-3977, or by email at emm64@cornell.edu, to discuss your options.
1925 124 96 8
The very first year of summer camp conducted by the Ontario County 4-H Program. Acres of hills, meadows, forests, creeks and ponds owned by 4-H Camp Bristol Hills. Percentage of camp parents who rated camp above average or excellent in providing a fun and positive experience for thier child. Number of unique names used for camp since 1925, including 4-H Club Camps, 4-H Victory Camp, and 4-H Camp Letchworth, among others.
"Camp fostered independence. She grew up a lot in those six days. I see the lasting impressions that you hope for when you send a child to camp." -Camp Parent
"4-H Camp is a place for me to be myself and not care about being 'cool'. I make lots of friends and we become really close. It's like my second family!" - Camper
Benefits of Your Gifts... • Enjoy an experience that would be otherwise out of reach • Gain a sense of belongingness, independence, generosity and mastery
For Campers
• Meet new friends and build social skills • Develop new hobbies that could last a lifetime
• Valuable alternative to traditional day-care and babysitting services • Relieves financial burden to provide a "normal" experience for their children
For Families
• Opportunity to see their child flourish in a new environment
• Make a difference in the life of a child • Hand written thank you notes from your camper/s
For Donors
• Recognition in monthly Newsletter, S’mores
• Positive youth development opportunity for over 1000 youth each summer • Valuable employment experience for over 60 young adults during each summer
For Community
Camp Classes Air Rifle Archery Cooking Crafts Critter Care Fishing Geocaching Nature Horseback Improv Comedy Outdoor Survival Ropes Course Sports Swim Lessons Water Sports
4-H Camp Bristol Hills Today We are proud to offer a variety of camp programs which focus on positive youth development under the supervision of exceptional role models in the natural world. Ranging from the very traditional Resident (overnight) and Day camp programs to unique targeted programs for older campers, we provide a spectrum of camps to meet the needs of our diverse campers. We are accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by the NYS Department of Health. Day Camp A chance for younger campers to experience camp. Resident Camp A traditional sleepover camp for children. Pregression Camp Resident Camp without the sleepover. Sprout Camp A chance for the youngest campers to enjoy a sleepover camp. 3 days, 2 nights. Adventure Camp Teens work to build teamwork, communication, problem solving and cooperative skills using elements of our high and low ropes courses. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Camp A blend of traditional camp and high-tech learning tailored for youth interested in careers in science related fields.
Young Women’s Adventure Camp Girls experience traditional camp activities, modified to stimulate discussion around topics that are important to girls transitioning into women. Young Men’s Adventure Camp At-Risk boys enjoy the traditional camp experience with additional support of dedicated Camp Mentor. Campers with Autism Professional recreation therapists from the Ontario ARC, in addition to our own camp staff, support campers on the autism spectrum throughout their camp experience. Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program Our oldest campers learn the skills needed to be the best counselors.
Boys Club Camp, 1925 4-H Club Campers at Onoka Point, 1926
Mission
The mission of 4-H Camp Bristol Hills is to provide youth with a unique, fun outdoor experience under the guidance of positive role models, emphasizing positive social interaction, environmental awareness and skill building. We extend our reach and impact by leveraging over 90 years of experience and our connections with Cornell University, our local county government, and our community partners to continually provide high level programs and services for our campers. Our connections with Cornell University have resulted in leading edge research in adolescent youth development, and dynamic programming in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
History
The “4-H Club Camp” originally opened its doors in 1925 as a camp for 4-H members enrolled in 4-H Club programs throughout Western New York. In its early years, the camp was held at Onoka Point (Torrey Beach) and Point Rochester (Ononda Park), before moving to its current location in the Bristol Hills in 1936. The camp has always featured the natural landscape and traditional camp activities such as hikes, archery, swimming and nature study. Camp was only open to 4-H members until 1960, but now accepts children from 5-15 years of age regardless of 4-H enrollment or county affiliation. Today, over 1000 campers enjoy the camp experience each summer. It is one of the largest employers of young adults in Ontario County, hiring over 60 staff each season. The property consists of 23 cabins, dining hall, swimming pool, crafts hall, and a variety of program buildings, nestled into 125 acres of rolling hills, meadows, ponds, and creeks. Campers enjoy ropes courses, archery, swimming, crafts, hikes and many other traditional camp activities. We are also continually evolving, connecting with Cornell University to offer unique programs in food science, geospatial science, renewable energy, physics, and providing research opportunities for Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Ecology.
4-H Camp Bristol Hills 480 N. Main St Canandaigua, NY 14424
www.4-HCampBristolHills.org (585) 394-3977 ext 435 emm64@cornell.edu