Send a Kid to Skateboard Camp

Dearborn County Citizens Against Substance Abuse is a 501(c)3 not for profit- The Mission of Dearborn County Citizens Against Substance Abuse is to provide an organization through which the community can support, plan, and implement efforts to address the problems of substance abuse and dependency in Dearborn County.

We are the Youth component of the CASA organization. In 2015 we held our very first "learn to skateboard " camp in partnership with our local skate shop Blacklist. We were able to obtain a grant to get the program started by purchasing equipment and get us through the learning curve of having a new program. It was so successful; every camp has been filled to capacity since. However, our grant funding has run out and 85% of the youth who participate in this program need financial assistance. Due to a lack of donations and budget losses we can no longer fund the camp ourselves.

We are asking for any help you can give towards the operation of skate camp. It costs $1,000 for one week of camp for 15 kids. This is for insurance, instruction fees and misc. (water, ice-there is no source at the park and almost no shade). The goal is to raise enough money for four weeks of camp hence our $4,000 goal. 

The cost per child is $67.00 -if you would like to sponsor a child or even make a small donation towards the whole camp cost that would be simply amazing! Even $5.00 would help!!!

When kids come to camp we provide all the equipment (board, helmet, knee and elbow pads, skate tools). They learn all the parts of the board and how to maintain the equipment. They are taught all the names of the various parts of the park. At the beginning of each day and the end they must clean the park- it's very important that we teach them to take care of the park and pay it forward by always leaving it clean. Kids learn stretching techniques and spend lots of time on park etiquette.

Teaching them park etiquette is extremely important. Skating is for the most part an individual sport but most head out with no guidance or instruction at all. Think about football, soccer, basketball--- these sports have coaches who teach you the rules of the game. If no one tells you what they are then you simply do not know. By teaching park etiquette-knowing when to wait your turn, being patient and cordial to others it gets passed along and that is something that had not been happening as much in our park before.

Once the basics are down-it’s time to skate! We have three levels of instruction. Beginner, intermediate and advanced.  During instruction, we take issues like bullying, peer pressure, drugs and give them a physical presence in the shape of wooden boxes used as obstacles in the skate lesson. This helps kids to visualize things in their life they need to overcome. Healthy behaviors and life choices are also discussed and parents are given a resource packet at the end of the week.

The kids have a great time-no question about that, but camp also has a positive effect on our instructors and volunteers as well.  Being able to help someone else with your time and gifts is priceless but unfortunately we still need money :(

Any help you can give will be appreciated so very much.
Thank you for your time.