On August 21st, friends and family gathered to mark the end of this summer’s Royal By Nature camp. Royal By Nature is a dynamic program that enables Southwest youth to connect to their royal future with nature and technology while discovering who they are and how they can use their skills to contribute to society. The free camp is run in partnership between Bartram’s Garden and the ECO Foundation, and serves youth ages 6 through 12.
Last year, the camp welcomed about 20 young people to enjoy biking, boating, gardening, arts and crafts, and more in the natural oasis of Bartram’s Garden. Enrollment more than doubled this year: 50 young people spent their summer in the Garden. Of those 50, many were teenagers who took on stipend-paid positions to help mentor younger campers and gain leadership experience facilitating day-to-day operations.
Organizers hope to find more funding in order to continue providing this summer retreat for Southwest youth. For more information, please contact the Education Culture Opportunities Foundation, also known as the ECO Foundation, at 267-999-9901.
