Coastie Camper program provides summer fun for Coast Guard kids
After a challenging school year, we are grateful for the opportunity to help Coast Guard children focus on the important work of play. The whole family benefits when kids have a chance to make friends, learn new skills, and build life experiences through sports, art, and camp programs.
The 2021 Coastie Camper program served 140 children in California, Hawaii, and Washington by providing summer camp grants and increasing access to technology for online learning and enrichment. A full 80% of the grants supported summer camps, academic enrichment programs, and fine art classes. In addition, with COVID-19 restrictions in place for some areas, families had the opportunity to use their grants to invest in new technology, like Chromebooks and tablets, to expand their access to devices that aided in summer learning and enrichment activities.
The return to in-person summer camps was a top priority for Coast Guard families. Virtual learning, limited social play, and extended restrictions caused some stress, and families focused on returning to outdoor recreation and hands-on academic support for children in need of a boost.
“The chance to socialize with other children after a year of COVID lockdowns in California has been a blessing for our son,” shared one Coast Guard member.
“Our child was home for over a year online because of the pandemic, and we wanted him to socialize and play this summer. He’s enjoyed being outside again and being with friends he hasn’t seen for most of last year. It’s been really good for him,” shared another.
For children who needed academic enrichment this summer, the grant allowed them to select programs that focused on their greatest needs.
“This allows continuity for our daughter between her 1st and 2nd grade years. She missed out on much of the curriculum last year because of the virtual schedule,” noted a Coast Guard parent.
“Our child showed great interest in building friendships and strengthening his problem-solving skills within the first few days of camp! Thank you for supporting Coast Guard families this summer!”
With gratitude to our 2021 youth enrichment program supporters:
Sahm Family Foundation | The Bradley Family Foundation | First Hawaiian Bank | Enterprise Holdings
