With summer months away, parents came to an event on Saturday where their kids got to play while they learned about summer camps, including Camp Junior.
Camp Junior was named in honor of Junior Guzman-Feliz, a 15-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed outside of a Bronx bodega. The camp pays tribute to his love of community and is geared toward Bronx children who live in low-income housing.
“Last summer we served 312 children and this year we are doubling it, we are going to serve over 660 children,” said Tara Gardner, the director of community outreach.
Camp Junior was among the camps made completely free by the Fresh Air Fund, an organization dedicated to providing New York’s underserved communities with a chance to go to upstate New York summer camps.
One parent who grew up in Brooklyn told News 12 that he went to Pennsylvania for camp. There he rode bikes and horses, and got the chance to go swimming.
“Being here in the city, you don’t get those things,” Earnest Welcome told News 12. Now, he says he is looking forward to letting his kids experience summer camp for themselves.
“It’s just going to help the Bronx and more importantly give these children an opportunity to grow and succeed and learn and have a fantastic summer,” said state Assemblyman Victor M. Pichardo.