In The News
The Bronx Times
July 7, 2002
Students take a vacation within a vacation
By Andrew Ragouzeos
Their bags were packed. Their bus arrived.
And their parents waved goodbye, as over 30 kids, aged7-14,
left the parking lot of Chancellor School 4, 1701 Fulton Avenue,
for the rural program of Duxbury, Massachusetts and the summer
camp experience.
Thanks to a scholarship fund from the New
York Department of Education’s Breakaways Program and
the host camp Crossroads For Kids, the Tuesday, July 9 departure
marked the 65th year that New York’s inner city youth
have been enjoying the New England wilderness.
Candize Byam, 14, is a return camper to
Crossroads. ‘It’s fun there," she said. "They
have a whole lot activities. Hiking is my favorite, because
of the outdoors. I’ve been waiting all year to go back."
Justin Mercado, 7 said he is looking forward
to his first summer at Crossraods. When asked if he will miss
his mother of the Bronx, Mercado smiled as he shook his head
vehemently.
"Oh yes he will!" his mother,
Yesina Mercado, objected. "He was crying last night and
this morning. He was very emotional. It’s his first
time away from home, and I just want him to have a nice time,
get out of the Bronx and make some new friends."
Xavier Jenkins, 9, was looking calm and
collected and completely within himself while he waited for
the bus that would take him away from home for the first time.
Jenkins said he was feeling "good and happy" about
the upcoming trip. The only thing he said he was nervous about
is "losing my stuff." Jenkins’ mother, Maggie
Wayneright, said, "I’ve been preparing him about
all the fun he’s going to have. He’ll be fine.
He likes the outdoors and he gets along with people well.
He’s a smart kid."
Aside from the traditional camp activities
– swimming, canoeing, and sports – campers will
also get to explore technology through a unique program called
WiredWoods where they will learn the complexities of image
editing and Web-development software. The focus of WiredWoods
is on creativity and putting computers in a light other than
for mere entertainment. The technology will be used for self-expression,
giving campers a newer perspective on opportunities that exist
beyond the limits of their under-served environment.
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