More than 4,000 kids in need have benefitted from Camp Rosenbaum
Forty years ago, Fred Rosenbaum had an idea. At the time, the Brigadier General for the National Guard was also serving as chair of the Portland Housing Authority. Every day, he saw local kids in bad circumstances. He wanted to help. He wanted to give them each a chance to get away from the day to day struggles and have the opportunity to just be kids.
And so began Camp Rosenbaum.
It started small. A few kids spent a few days on the coast with volunteer counselors. But the idea was good and people believed in Rosenbaum’s mission. So it grew.
Today, forty years later, hundreds of kids get to shake off the city every summer and spend a week having fun. Horseback riding. Sports, Arts and Crafts. Typical summer-camp stuff. The camp does incorporate important messages about making good choices and teaches each kid that they control their own destiny.
As a special thank you, the camp is dedicating a Gratitude Garden in honor of Rosenbaum this week. For more info on visiting you can click here.
The camp itself is staffed by all volunteers, mainly drawing counselors from the National Guard, the Police and Fire Department. To date, more than 4,000 kids have been campers.
