Maple Springs Vineyard in Bechtelsville and the Boyertown and Pottstown YMCAs joined forces to send 15 area youth to Camp Speers, the YMCA’s overnight camp in the Pocono Mountains free of charge for one week each this summer.
Children were invited to submit an essay explaining what a week at Camp Speers would mean to them, and 15 children were selected. These children will experience a week of overnight camp thanks to Maple Springs Vineyard’s Owner, Marianne Lieberman, who graciously offered to sponsor each child.
“Thanks to the generosity of Marianne and her passion for the YMCA’s Youth Development programs, 15 deserving children will be able to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Scott Cusworth, executive director for the Boyertown YMCA. “After reading the essays each child submitted, it was apparent that a week at Camp Speers would prove to be a meaningful and impactful experience for each child.”
One of the children who submitted an essay wrote, “Camp Speers would be an amazing experience for me because I would be able to spend time in nature, experience new things, and have a chance to meet new people. I am very shy, so I would like to talk to people from different backgrounds and learn how to be more independent. Being away from my parents for a week would be hard, but I think it will help me grow and learn how to be more responsible.”
During their week at Camp Speers, the children can participate in a wide variety of experiences, including horseback riding, swimming, archery, kayaking, and other social activities to explore their potential, and connect with other campers.
“We at Maple Springs Vineyard are thrilled to be supporting children from the Boyertown and Pottstown communities with a week of overnight camp at the YMCA’s Camp Speers”, said Marianne Lieberman. “Fifteen deserving kids will have the opportunity to learn and grow in the most beautiful of natural settings in the Poconos. We can’t wait to hear how this experience has impacted each of their lives and opened new horizons for them in the future.”
Both the YMCAs and Maple Springs Vineyard are excited about the success of this partnership, and look forward to future sponsorships for more children in the overnight camp program at Camp Speers YMCA.
Camp Speers is located at 143 Nichecronk Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328
