Temple Shalom is proud to be coordinating our 10th annual Camp Hooray Program.  Camp Hooray is a non-religious camp for underprivileged 5th grade children from RISD Academy and Bukhair Elementary. The overnight camp is three days and two nights at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, just south of Waco and will take place this March during Richardson and Plano Spring Break.

The majority of RISD Academy students are immigrants or first generation Americans. These children are from families without sufficient income to provide their children with a camp experience.  We are thrilled to be able to offer this fun-filled camp experience to nearly 80 students each year!

The purpose of this camp is to provide underprivileged children with a fun, enriching camp experience, to build relationships, and to foster self-esteem. Features of the camp include a low counselor to camper ratio. Activities include tower climbing , ropes course, theatre workshop, paddle boating, canoeing, song sessions, arts and crafts, a karate demonstration and participation, silly Olympics, and motivational speakers who are successful, positive role models.

There are many ways for Temple members to become involved in this meaningful project; from serving as a teen counselor, to an adult coordinator.  From helping to collect supplies and prepare goody bags to working with the school and developing programming.  There are many projects that are limited in time and scope, yet still have a great impact on the overall program and help to touch the lives of our campers. 

Please contact Adam Kaplan at akaplan12@gmail.com or Julie Gothard at jrgothard@verizon.net if you are interested in helping out with this extremely rewarding project.