A Glorious Week of Fun and Learning

It was a glorious week on the eastern edge of the Catskills where a group of 96 kids aged 12 to 15 attended The Floating Hospital’s Camp Rise Up. The campers arrived in Rhinebeck for a week of classes and traditional and modern camp activities on August 26.

For seven years, The Floating Hospital’s Camp Rise Up has provided teens living in temporary housing a week of respite from the city and their often turbulent lives. Research shows that unhoused teens are at greater risk of unhealthy behaviors, and the camp, for ages 12 to 15, provides an opportunity to learn about themselves, test their capabilities and see hope in their future.

The kids who joined us are grateful to those who have made their week so extraordinary and perhaps life changing. Generous donors provided clothing, gear and personal care items, and stocked our camp “store,” where tickets for good behavior could be exchanged for treats, trinkets, toys and even valuable electronics. Our gracious and attentive volunteers, who sorted and assembled the gear, sent the campers off on Sunday with their backpacks full and ready for the week ahead. The dedicated and tireless Floating Hospital staff members, who served as instructors and counselors, provided indispensable lessons and a week of unforgettable activities. Camp Rise Up could not have happened without all of their invaluable contributions.

Camp Rise Up is generously supported by an anonymous donor through Arabella Advisors and The Hollister Confidence Fund.