By Lauren Fuller
The summer is off to a “fresh” start for 65 children in Pontiac thanks to Camp Baldwin-Phoenix. The partnership between the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and the Baldwin Center, an area human service agency, is in its 3rd year, allowing underserved students in Pontiac the opportunity to attend a 7 week academic and enrichment program. Enter the doors of Camp Baldwin-Phoenix and you will be greeted with the sight of children discovering the joy of learning, working collaboratively, and engaging in a multitude of activities that are not available anywhere else in the community such as engineering, fine arts, cooking, creative writing, and sports skill-building. The growing partnership has allowed the Baldwin Center to hire qualified staff, support experiential learning days, and launch new academic and enrichment initiatives.
One of the highlights of the camp is the onsite garden and greenhouse and the nutritious meals that utilize produce from the garden whenever possible. Exceeding the requirements of the Summer Food Service Program, Camp Baldwin-Phoenix provides breakfast and lunch each day. Campers are nourished with innovative offerings like grilled chicken salad and whole-grain pita pizzas. Camper Jeremiah says, “I help get my younger siblings get ready in the morning to make sure we are here for breakfast. The blueberry muffins and oranges are my favorite.“
Healthy meals and a healthy partnership ensure that all children involved in the program will be fueled and able to be their best self, while alleviating the stress many families feel during the summer months when school feeding programs discontinue. In addition, this partnership allows for students to take part in cooking and CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Childhood Health) Nutrition lessons, where they learn how to utilize accessible foods to make healthy snacks alongside what foods help to fuel our body the best way!