Every year we appreciate how lucky we are to spend our summers in Freedom, NH at Camp Robin Hood. We wanted to develop a program to remind us of our good fortune by sharing camp with others and learning from their stories. That is why Robin Hood Gives Back Day was created!
To begin our special day for summer 2019, a group of 16 campers and 9 staff members woke up early to travel to a neighboring town to participate in Tunnels to Towers 5k Run. All proceeds go to the Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation, a foundation that aids our military and first responders. The race honors Stephen, a firefighter that lost his life as a firefighter on September 11, 2001.
Today was a phenomenal day at camp as we celebrated Giving Back Day 2019 with Pam Landwirth, president and CEO of Give Kids The World (GKTW.) This amazing 86-acre non-profit resort in Central Florida provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their families with an unforgettable experience together away from hospitals and treatments. GKTW has impacted the lives of more than 175,000 families so far.
Pam began her visit last night by having dinner with the Scribes, where she got to know each camper individually and spoke with them about exploring their passion. This morning, Pam accompanied the Scribes to Story Land, where they had the opportunity to meet and engage with nine families from New Hampshire and Maine who had been served by GKTW. This was a very impactful experience, as the Scribes had the chance to hear their stories and learn about the impact GKTW had on their lives. The Scribes each partnered with all the children and enjoyed time together on the rides at the park, which is one of 16 parks around the U.S. that are participating in the Coasting For Kids fundraiser for GKTW.
Pam Landwirth, president and CEO of Give Kids The World (GKTW)
Back at camp, Pam spoke with campers about finding their passion and using their talents to help others. She challenged each of them to identify three things they excel at and think about how they can use those skills to give back and help others. Afterward, the senior campers made friendship bracelets to give to the families at GKTW, while the junior campers wrote notes to the families. Everyone then joined together for the Color Run as a fundraiser for GKTW.
From start to finish, this year’s Giving Back Day was an extraordinary, very meaningful opportunity for campers and staff to gain perspective on what is important in life, have empathy and compassion for those who are experiencing challenges, and remember how important it is to be kind and help others. We are grateful to Pam for making the day so memorable, and encourage anyone interested in learning more about GKTW to visit www.gktw.org.
Sweet Dreams from The RealmRobin
