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Area Service Clubs Collaborate to Send Students to Camp

May 17, 2023 – With the help of community partners, the Shelby Rotary Club and the Oceana Community Foundation are thrilled to announce $5,745 in campership grants! 29 Oceana students received a scholarship to attend the camp of their choice this summer. Every student who applied for a campership was awarded a grant ranging from $100 to $250. Awards were determined based on campers’ financial needs and a preference for first-time applicants.

This year’s campers will attend camps across the country, including Wyoming, Illinois, and northern Michigan. Over a third will attend local camps, including Oceana Conservation District, Camp Ao-Wa-Kiya, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Grace Adventures. The annual campership program supports local students attending athletic training, pre-college programs, musical and artistic instruction, and overnight and day camps. The annual campership program supports Oceana kids and teens interested in any camping focus – arts, sports, scouts, church, general, and leadership experiences.

Support for this summer’s campership comes from community donations and Foundation funds, including the Shelby Rotary Club Fund, Hart Rotary Club, David P. Markiewicz Memorial Fund, Pentwater Service Club Fund, the J.T. Sackett Memorial Fund, and the Shelby Optimists Club. Since 2015, the longstanding partnership between Shelby Rotary Club, Foundation, and their community partners is built upon the shared belief that students of all financial backgrounds should have the opportunity to explore their interests. Attending camp offers many students the chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and gain confidence.

“Camp is more than an activity,” CFOC CEO Tammy Carey explained. “It is a chance for students to explore and learn more about the world and themselves. It can inspire lifelong friendships and interests and provide students with a place to decompress and enjoy the summer.” The Foundation provides administration for the program, paying out all the camperships directly to the camps. Shelby Rotarian and Shelby Library Director, Tiffany Haight, is the program’s key contact person, distributing & collecting all the applications, and assists families with any questions. “The value of camp is often taken for granted. Students of all backgrounds should be able to relax, play, and grow. We are so pleased with the collaboration amongst all the funders this year to help send 29 students to camp,” said Haight.

Questions regarding the campership program can be directed to Tiffany Haight at the Shelby Area District Library. To support future campership awards, please contact CFOC CEO Tammy Carey at tammy@oceanafoundation.org or 231.869.3377.