All pictures provided by Joan Barker
The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Each summer, 3,000 children attend five Fresh Air Fund camps on a 2,000-acre site in Fishkill, NY. Close to 2,000 young people participate in year-round educational programs at camp and in New York City. Michelle Gottlieb has been a great friend to IENA/3 Adventures for many years initially at Camp Kinder Ring, Inter Exchange and now at Fresh Air Fund as their Placement Coordinator. The work done at the Fresh Air Fund is a testament to the amazing efforts by Alicia Skovera the Director of Camping and her dedicated team. We are delighted to be able to work so closely with the Fresh Air Fund. Below are some questions I asked Michelle.
What makes international staff important to your camp?
Our international staff provide a window to the world for our camp community. They teach our campers and US staff members about the traditions and culture of their home country while learning about life in the United States. International staff bring unique skills and life experiences to our camps and our campers love learning about the different countries that our staff come from. Through this cultural exchange, our campers and staff learn about the importance of cross-cultural understanding and diversity.
Are there any specific skills you generally hire international staff for?
The Fresh Air Fund is always looking for staff to teach specialized activities at camp. Activities include but are not limited to: ceramics, culinary arts, fashion, model farm, outdoor adventure, robotics, science and technology (STEM/STEAM), teen workshops, waterfront and yoga.