Summer camp can mean fun, friendship and fresh air, but some children are left out.

Rob Wilding, president of the Rotary Club of Huntsville-Lake of Bays, said his service club wants to help change that.

The club donated $1,500 to Family, Youth and Child Services for its summer camp program on Sept. 18. The donation is half of the club’s commitment to sending at least 10 children to camp next summer.

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“Without support from groups like Rotary, our program wouldn’t happen,” said camp co-ordinator Jocelyn Suddaby.

Suddaby said the agency sends about 40 kids to camp every year. The kids eligible for the program are either children in care or are connected with children’s mental health programs.

The agency works with a variety of day camps and overnight camps in the region to help give a camp experience to children between the ages of four and 16.

Suddaby said it costs the agency about $300 for one week of overnight camp, which is a substantial discount in most cases since some camps can cost more than $1,000 per week regularly.

And some camps provide spaces for free, she said.

“The camps have been great,” she said.

She said she sometimes drives kids to camp if the families are unable to get them there, which is when she gets to hear them talk excitedly about the experiences they had during the week.

She said there is an endless stream of chatter at the end of the week about new friends, inspiring camp counsellors, swimming lessons and other activities the kids may otherwise not have had access to.

Wilding smiled as he and his fellow club members presented the donation.

“This is why we raise money,” he said. “It’s great to be able to help kids.”