Dear Adirondack family,
Linda and I have an important message for you. For years we have talked about providing a special trip abroad for our oldest campers – one that would combine some high adventure with immersion into an old culture that would, still, be new to our kids -- but importantly, a journey like no other that would take those campers, who are selected, beyond the realm of instant gratification and into a serious, meaningful commitment to extend themselves intensively on behalf of others less fortunate in their time of need.
If your son or daughter turns 16 or 17 prior to the opening of Camp this coming summer of ’08, he or she is invited to apply for what very well may turn out to be a life changing two weeks in the heart of Peru – where your child (no longer a child) will be asked to work long days helping to care for children who lost their homes in a major, devastating earthquake this past summer or else doing hard labor helping to reconstruct a town that was 95% demolished in the calamity.
In between their work week relief efforts, participating campers will have an opportunity to experience the lure of desert dunes and high, craggy mountains, first hand, in structured, challenging and educational adventure treks scheduled over the two weekends of their stay. During the work week, our campers will live with Peruvian families and/or in school dormitories. Late afternoons and evenings will be spent with new-found Peruvian friends and their families, playing music, attending special sporting and cultural events and generally immersing themselves in the colorful local culture. While an understanding of Spanish is not essential, some familiarity is bound to make the experience all the more special.
The dates for this once in a lifetime trip will be from July 25 to August 7, ’08. The trip will be supervised by Adirondack staff. Our partner on the ground will be a great volunteers organization -- Volunteer Visions, which has experience in a number of different countries organizing volunteer relief activities. The trip is open to no more than 12 campers, with a minimum requirement of six.
To qualify, your camper must either be enrolled in the CIT program (age 17) or the Senior Ranger program (age 16), or be a part of our existing Adirondack family in that age range. Admission will be selective (We are looking, for instance for a level of maturity and serious commitment often lacking in adults!); and selected participants will enter into “contracts” with Camp to commit, in turn, to: (1) be good ambassadors for their family, friends, country and camp; (2) place the needs of their local “clients” above their own; and (3) in general, demonstrate in their daily tasks and pleasures the principles of the Ten Commitments upon which Adirondack stands.
As for fees, the program cost is the same as our normal two week program -- $2800 (to be charged in addition to any other tuition, which might be due for normal Camp sessions, which your son or daughter will be attending --unless he/s will be enrolling as a Senior Ranger and wishes to substitute the Peru trip for two weeks of hi/r existing four week or longer session, in which case the incremental tuition for Peru will be $950. Either tuition will be all-inclusive (land, air, adventure, customs, taxes, insurance, etc.).
Please read the accompanying descriptive links to the right carefully and complete and return your application and deposit as soon as you can. The selection process will be ongoing on a first come first served basis. Your deposit will be fully refundable until February 15, ‘08, and will insure your qualified son or daughter a place on this once in a lifetime adventure. Once the trip fills, that will be it for ’08. Needless to say, call or email with any questions, but if this offer pertains to your family, act now!
Sincerely,
Alex Levitch and Linda Goodwin
Camp Owners
