Camps are by definition youth development organizations and this grant builds on Coniston’s mission of producing well-rounded, fully developed, passionate leaders. Youth work rooted in both concrete supports such as academic assistance through our tutoring program and social and emotional competencies learned through our programs is central to Coniston’s mission.
A core tenet of Coniston’s philosophy is insuring access to any child which creates a broad community irrespective of economic means. We believe society benefits from the connections and understanding brought about by youth from all walks of life working and living side by side. In order to facilitate this, the Coniston Board of Directors has suppressed prices, keeping the camp a fraction of the cost of private camps. Since 2016, we have doubled the number of campers on financial assistance. Additionally, we subsidize the fee of every child attending camp by charging less than the camp spends on a cash basis. The subsidy has been as much as $237 in a given year and increases affordability for families not qualifying for assistance, but struggling to afford what many have learned is an unparalleled opportunity for their child to grow and explore in a developmentally appropriate manner. The result is a NH camper population that economically looks very similar to the state in which we are located.
YMCA Camp Coniston received a $40,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for unrestricted operating support, for work through 2022.
Receiving this multi-year grant will allow YMCA Camp Coniston to advance our key goals and strategies by providing us with the flexibility to create free programming for the greatest needs in our community.
GOAL 1:
Provide permanent funding for campers from underserved communities to attend Coniston including the 30 children from each of these demographics: Veterans and active military; the Concord, NH refugee community; and Sullivan County, NH. We believe every child needs a Camp opportunity regardless of financial means.
GOAL 2:
Renovate and construct facilities that serve Coniston’s increasing demand and provide welcoming spaces for campers to practice creativity and build community.
GOAL 3:
Ensure the future of YMCA Camp Coniston through an endowment that allows the Board to keep prices moderate ensuring more families can afford Camp, maintaining a well-trained staff, keeping facilities in good repair, and provide career opportunities and development to all alumni through Coniston Community connections.
A huge thanks to New Hampshire Charitable Foundation from the YMCA Camp Coniston Community!
About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of nearly 2,000 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards nearly $40 million in grants and more than $6 million in scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.