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Hartford’s Camp Courant has provided free summer activities for city children since the summer of 1894. The Courant Free Excursion Fund was started with contributions from Hartford Courant employees, who encouraged the involvement of the entire Hartford community, along with editorials in the newspaper. Since then, Hartford’s Camp Courant has evolved into the largest free day camp in the nation. Today, Hartford’s Camp Courant provides approximately 2,500 Hartford children, between the ages of five and 12, with a wide range of recreational and educational programs for seven weeks during the summer. All of the services are free, due to support from corporations, foundations, individuals, community groups and government grants. In-kind support provided by The Hartford Courant and other organizations helps to keep administrative costs to a minimum, resulting in more services being available for the children. Each day, Hartford's Camp Courant transports children from Hartford to Farmington, where Camp Courant leases a 36-acre site from the city of Hartford. Sports, swimming, arts & crafts and playground games are just some of the activities provided. The low ropes challenge course teaches children to work together as a team and to trust one another. A computer lab and early learning program teach valuable skills for success in school. Special programs and presenters come to the camp each day to bring a variety of experiences to the children. Cultural programs, skill building, and discussions of health and social awareness issues all help to expand the knowledge of the campers in a non-traditional setting. Field trips to area museums and sports events are also planned for each age group. Programs for Junior Leadership campers allow 13-15 year old children an opportunity to remain involved in camp through a Counselor-In-Training Program. These programs are helping to provide positive youth development opportunities that will prepare them to become responsible members of our community. |
Hartford's Camp
Courant provides a range of health care services on-site, as well as
preventive medical care and intervention. The infirmary is staffed by a
full time nurse for minor injuries and illnesses. If more acute care is
required, referrals are made to area health providers and a shuttle bus is
available for emergency needs. Preventive educational programs are also
provided by area health providers. These collaborative relationships
expand the services available to children and result in Hartford’s Camp
Courant serving as a primary health care provider for nearly 2,500
children during the summer months.
The social worker at camp helps children and their families with social and emotional problems. On-site counseling is provided for the campers and the staff, to assist in making the camp experience a positive one. Referrals to other service providers are also made, resulting in the provision of more comprehensive services to the children. These services distinguish Hartford’s Camp Courant as an important provider of social services for children and their families during summer months, when such services are not available through the schools. It costs approximately $25 per day to send a child to Hartford’s Camp Courant. We employ 125 individuals over the course of the year and our operating budget is approximately $980,000. The mission of Hartford’s Camp Courant is to provide a summer sanctuary for Hartford's children, which enables them to develop positive relationships, learn and have fun.
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