Another Amazing Year at Camp Lots-of-Fun!

It was another joyful year at Camp Lots-of-Fun, Family Promise’s annual camp program that provides unforgettable summer experiences for children whose families have experienced homelessness. In addition to welcoming boys and girls ages 5-12 from our own housing and support programs, children from the Center for Hope & Safety were also invited to attend.

Our campers enjoyed two weeks of exploration, adventures, and fun, including trips to Pony Power Therapies, Veolia North America’s outdoor classroom, and visits to local pools. There was also plenty to do back at Camp Lots-of-Fun’s home base, the beautiful St. Catharine Church in Glen Rock. Our fabulous Camp Director Tara Brannan curated exciting, themed days with special activities to match, such as a Circus Day that included performances by the National Circus Project and a Barnyard Bash that featured a visit from Jack’s Petting Farm. Therapy dogs, a carnival day, a movie party, ceramics, a magician, and much more rounded out the activities. There were daily STEAM projects and literacy activities so that campers learned while they played.

Thank you to longtime Family Promise volunteer Fran Robertson and a roster of amazing young counselors, many of whom are members of the Family Promise Youth Council. For the fifth consecutive year, we offered stipends to the teens, to provide job opportunities to students who must earn an income during summer break. Over the two-week session, our staff and counselors formed special bonds with our campers, providing them with the individualized attention needed to flourish and thrive.

Healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks were provided for our campers each day, thanks to the generosity of First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Ridgewood, St Catharine Church of Glen Rock, Wyckoff Reformed Church, Kathy Emr and Our Lady of the Visitation Church of Paramus, Carner Bros., Geraldine Brennan, Bill Hansen, and the Temple Sinai Early Childhood Center.

We are so grateful to the many individuals, businesses, congregations, and foundations who made Camp Lots-of-Fun 2025 possible, including sponsors Veolia North America and Sharp Electronics USA, and BMW of Woodcliff Lake, who again donated brand-new backpacks and supplies to get our campers ready for the year ahead. We greatly appreciate the support of the Ellis A. Gimbel Trust, PNC, and the Allendale Women’s Club.

Finally, we would like to extend our appreciation to the parishioners of St. Catharine Church for their support. In addition to providing several lunches, St Catharine also donated over $2,000 towards activities and supplies. Our deepest gratitude to our friend Pam Biggs, for once again leading and coordinating St. Catharine’s involvement, as well as arranging all the meal donations for camp this year.

Thank you to everyone who supported Camp Lots-of-Fun 2025 and helped to give our campers a summer of friendship and happy memories!