Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra
From Franciscan Wiki
June 17, 2008 Youngsters head to camp
By DAWN WITHERS The Salinas Californian SOLEDAD - Natividad Chavez has been to camp before, so he knows all about the campfires, sleeping in tents and hiking that go with it. He also knows that getting to camp usually involves a ride on a crowded bus. So it's no wonder that Natividad and 50 other youngsters were surprised Monday morning when two stretch white Hummer limousines arrived at the Jimenez and Camphora farm labor camps. Youngsters filed into the two limousines toting stuffed animals, brightly colored blankets and backpacks filled with clothes for the weeklong trip to Camp St. Francis, held at San Lorenzo Park in King City. The camp organizers, the Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra, secretly arranged the plush transportation in honor of the camp's 20th anniversary. Many shouted and laughed as they saw the two giant cars arrive. "It's a surprise!" said Amy Gasca, 14, who lives at the Jimenez Camp. Natividad, 14, is going to camp for the second year. He said he's a camp leader, so he gets to stay up later and supervise other kids. He also finds going to camp helps him perform better in school. "It's cool," he said about the camp and its activities. "I like that we get to talk in groups." Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra is a privately funded nonprofit that's been serving the poor and marginalized for 26 years. Camp St. Francis is part of the group's Youth Alive! program, which operates year-round to provide mentoring and homework assistance at the labor camps every week. It also encourages students to attend college. The camp runs through Thursday and will include swimming, arts and crafts, hiking, "bottomless boat races," dinosaur egg hunts, nightly campfires and a pizza party mid-week. Michelle Smith, a camp organizer, said the retreat is meant to build self-esteem and develop a sense of self-worth in the children. "A lot of the campers continue to come back and gain a sense of self," Smith said. Craig Avila, owner of Luxury Limousine Network, said he offered reduced rental prices on the limos because he said he wanted to make the camp feel more special for the kids. "It's for a good cause," Avila said. "(The kids) live such tough lives."
