Camp Wildcat encourages growth among Tucson kids

Eric M. Jukelevics Arizona Daily Wildcat Camp Wildcat Star Camp Director Chad Campbell (right) speaks with ex-camper Ashly Larson about how much fun she had at the reunion Friday at Duffy Elementary School.

The 11-year-old Duffy Elementary School student would rather play outside than watch television, thanks to her Camp Wildcat counselors.

"Most kids, they sit and watch TV, and Camp Wildcat lets you express that there is more than TV," said Sly, a fifth-grader. "They let you go outside. I like being with my counselors."

Tamara Weissman, Sly's counselor from last month's three-day "Star Camp," said she also has benefited from her involvement in Camp Wildcat, a University of Arizona club that conducts camps for underprivileged Tucson children.

"You grow in so many ways," said Weissman, a speech and hearing and elementary education sophomore who has been involved in the club for about 18 months. "You'll learn how to interact with campers, how to get them to do things. It is the best college experience you can have in so many ways."

Camp Wildcat chairman Aaron Hadley, a family studies senior, said part of the camp's purpose is to make children see higher education as an attainable goal.

"We provide kids with opportunities to expand horizons, experience the outdoors and meet good role models," Hadley said.

In October, about 60 UA students helped about 72 students from Duffy Elementary School, 5145 E. Fifth St., have a stellar time at a camp in Oracle.

Star Camp's astronomy theme is aimed to encourage children to "reach for the stars," Hadley said.

At Star Camp, Duffy students made constellations out of hangers during arts and crafts, sang a song about the night sky and learned about astronomy, Hadley said.

On the camp's second day, community members including a martial arts instructor, firefighter, police officer, pilot and lawyer spoke to the children to encourage them to strive for excellence, Hadley said.

By the end of the camp, most children could pick out the constellation in the sky that their cabin was named after, Hadley said.

On Friday, the counselors and children reunited to "strengthen our relationship," said Chad Campbell, a molecular and cellular biology senior and Star Camp director.

Friday's event started out with campers and counselors practicing the "funky chicken." Other activities during the 90-minute reunion included playing trivia tag, singing songs and eating Popsicles.

Camp Wildcat has worked with disadvantaged Tucson children for the past 35 years, Campbell said.

Typically, children are chosen to attend the camps on a first-come, first-serve basis, he said.

Camp Wildcat tries to have a 1-to-1 ratio of children to UA students during camps, Campbell said.

Hadley said no studies have been conducted to determine how many children who participate in Camp Wildcat go on to higher education, compared with those who are not involved in the club. Still, he would be interested in finding out the results of such a study.

"We encourage counselors to be open about what is good about college," Hadley said.

This year, Camp Wildcat has already worked with five different Tucson schools, Campbell said.

One camp session typically costs Camp Wildcat about $2,500, Hadley said. Some campgrounds, however, deduct $1,000 from the cost in exchange for Camp Wildcat counselors' manual labor, Hadley said.

The counselors sometimes pull weeds, repaint buildings, clear hike paths or repave dirt roads with dirt, Campbell said.

"They (club members) understand with the opportunity to go to camp you also have to do something," he said. "It is something that we assume as a responsibility being in the club."

Camp Wildcat receives $3,500 from ASUA, in addition to grants from various Arizona corporations and foundations. The club also holds fund-raisers to cover the rest of its expenses, Hadley said.

Camp Wildcat counselors are fingerprinted to ensure they are not suspects for crimes involving children, Campbell said. Before each activity, parents must sign a permission slip to allow UA students to interact with their children.

From the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, Camp Wildcat members will wrap gifts in exchange for donations at Borders Books Music & Cafe, 4235 N. Oracle Road, during store hours - more than 400 hours total, Hadley said.

Last year, Camp Wildcat completed more than 23,497 hours of community service working with Tucson children, Hadley said.

Rachael Myer can be reached via e-mail at Rachael.Myer@wildcat.arizona.edu.