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Here we are in some uncharted waters. With your support, we are making a new map. 

• How do we learn and grow outside together when we can''t assemble at camp? 
• How can we keep our business afloat and our property maintained with no program revenue? 
• What will our campers need from us in the days, weeks and years to come?

How do we learn and grow outside together when we can''t assemble at camp? 

Wild at Home Explorer Kits

Thanks to your great ideas and support, we were able to connect with summer campers through Wild at Home Explorer Kits this July.

We distributed 202 kits in the community, each one with 10 camp activities: a friendship bracelet to make, a compass necklace to construct, a kazoo to build and customize from Makerspace, bug exploring tools, and a nature journal to record findings and apply mindfulness. Our partners at Amethyst Place, Jackson County CASA, Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund, and Learning Club distributed the kits and conducted activities through their volunteers and staff. 

We also sold 47 kits through our website, resulting in revenue of $1,420 and collected $900 in donations toward the kits for partners. 

Check out the "unboxing" video below from Ryker and Malaya at Amethyst Place!

How can we keep our business afloat and property maintained with no program revenue? 
PPP and Partnership

What will our campers need from us in the days, weeks and years to come? Supporting KC Kids'' Mental and Emotional Health

Dear Michael,

Won''t you be ready for a week at Wildwood when the stay-at-home orders are lifted? We know our summer campers will be extra excited to be back at camp as soon as it is possible! 

We hope that you and your family are healthy and adjusting to the challenges of "stay-at-home" and social distancing.

We''ve had to make the difficult decision to cancel our annual fundraiser, Take A Wild Guess, this year, and we''re saddened that we won''t be seeing students at Wildwood this spring. 

However, our staff is working to support our youth during this crisis and ensure that Wildwood will continue providing life-changing experiences for KC area kids. Last week, we provided online ideas for planting a small garden in recycled containers, reached out to our partner agencies to identify community needs, and continued to recruit and hire summer staff.

We''ll continue to offer online activities that help get kids learning and growing outside, and we will provide support to our community in any other capacity we are able.

We are planning a summer full of learning and growing for our campers--whatever the requirements for how it is delivered. 

If you''d like to support Wildwood campers, we''ve outlined three ways you can get involved below. 

We're incredibly thankful for you and your support during these unprecedented times. We're looking forward to songs around the campfire, fishing with friends, splashing at the pool, and all of the other activities you make possible.  

Until then, be well.
 

In gratitude,

Robyn Ratcliff

Michael

I''m writing to you today with an update I wish I didn''t have to make. After weeks of research and consultation with local and national experts, the American Camp Association, our staff, and the Wildwood board of directors, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our in-person summer camp for 2020.

We understand that as our supporters, you may be almost as disappointed as our campers and their parents. We are really disappointed, too. 

We tried so hard to find a way for campers to enjoy the Wildwood experience despite the presence of coronavirus in our communities.  We have been unable to make a plan that offers both the level of health and safety protection we require and the opportunities to learn and grow together in camping which we hold dear at Wildwood. 

We are working hard to make this summer count for our campers by: 

• Scheduling online video calls with our staff so campers can talk to each other safely
• Providing camp activity kits and support for our community partner organizations
• Using the "downtime" to complete property improvement projects and updates
• Seeking opportunities for our staff to learn new skills and develop new programming

Will you help us sustain Wildwood through this difficult time? We know there are many important needs in our community. And when it is safe to bring kids back to camp, they will need the connection, autonomy, and social and emotional learning we provide more than they''ve ever needed it before. 

Your donation to keep kids connected and improve Wildwood for the future can be DOUBLED through a Camps for Kids match. 

To donate online, visit Camps for Kids website. You can also mail donations designated for Wildwood to Camps for Kids at  5913 Woodson, Suite 211
Mission, KS 66202 .  

Thank you for your continued support. Check out our website for activities and ideas on how to enjoy the outdoors with your family this summer, too!   


Robyn
Robyn E. Ratcliff
Executive Director
Wildwood Outdoor Education Center