Mission of Camp DayDreams
Camp DayDreams develops, challenges, and empowers Rochester’s urban youth to serve themselves, family, and community as vibrant individuals and dynamic citizens. We accomplish this through our fun and unique year-round, multi-year, recreational, social, and educational program.
Our program is one week of residential summer camp and monthly family focused reunion events, all offered at a nominal cost, serving youth who would otherwise not have this opportunity.
The Vision of Camp DayDreams
Camp DayDreams is a nationally recognized program having visionary development initiatives that are proven to produce positive results with urban youth. Hundreds of Rochester's urban youth annually participate in our “6x6 Camp and Grow” program that includes several week-long summer camp sessions and monthly school year family focused events designed for reinforcement & reunion. Thanks to a generously supportive Rochester community we provide this opportunity at a nominal cost to our camp families.
Starting as early as age 8, children return to our camp year after year. At age 15 they participate in our three year leadership development program with added year round activities and responsibilities. After they complete the leadership program they are eligible to be volunteer staff members. Through our strong volunteer base we maintain a camp staff to camper ratio of at least 1 to 2. We have a full time Director, Assistant Director, seasonal part-time employees, and paid specialty staff at summer camp. We operate a central office facility in Rochester that serves as a year round meeting place for campers, parents, and staff as well as an administrative office and storage facility.
The Philosophy of Camp DayDreams (CDD)
CDD is a free education-based summer camp with year-round support
Offered to children who do not have an opportunity to go to summer camp.
Summer Camp is powerful education for children.
Summer Camp has a lasting positive impact on children.
CDD gives children a multiple-years commitment.
CDD is structured by addressing the 40 Developmental Assets for youth.
CDD addresses personal youth development in each camper
CDD develops children as positives members of a community.
CDD provides a structured and safe summer environment during idle summer days.
CDD encourages kids to be children and have lots of fun while they are at camp.
CDD gives kids the opportunity to develop new skills in recreational activity areas.
The Camp DayDreams Guiding Principles
●SAFETY
●FUN
●COMMUNITY
●LEARNING
●SERVICE
●NATURE
●DREAMING
The Camp DayDreams Motto
RESPECT
R Relationships R Recreation
E Education E Empowerment
S Safety S Service
P Participation P Positive
E Experiences E Energy
C Community C Communication
T Teamwork T Trust
The History of Camp DayDreams Inc.
Camp DayDreams (CDD) is inspired by the magic of children learning, growing and playing at summer camps. The mission of Camp DayDreams is to give children, who would not ordinarily have the opportunity, a residential summer camp experience and year-round support programs.
Camp DayDreams (CDD) is modeled on Morry’s Camp - a free youth development program located near New York City. CDD brings underprivileged inner-city and at-risk children from Rochester, New York to a free residential summer camp. CDD has had a waiting list each year since the camp started.
Camp DayDreams is a 501(c3) Not-For-Profit Organization. In 2000, CDD was born at Camp Chateaugay located in the North-Eastern Adirondacks. The initial support for CDD was provided by ‘Friends of CDD’ and the greater Camp Chateaugay Family - including alum and camper families.
The Camp DayDreams program includes year-round support provided to the participants in the summer program. This support is twofold: the children connect directly with CDD at family-style reunions and special events and the children participate in one of the year-round programs of our partnering agencies.
Camp DayDreams partners with a number of local youth development agencies in Rochester including: The United Academic Athletic Program (UAAP), The James Madison School of Excellence (JMSE), Lifetime Assistance, The Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC), Catholic Family Center(CFC), Inner City Boy and Girl Scouts, Quad A for Kids, The Southwest Area Neighborhood (S.W.A.N.), The City of Rochester Parks and Recreation Leaders Program, The Rochester After School Academy (RASA) at School 39, Camp NaCOAra, The Wilson Commencement Park, ArtsReach, St. Joseph’s Villa, ASC, and others.
The Camp DayDreams summer camp experience is free. The CDD Sponsors generously give monetary support. The CDD staff are volunteers, many of whom are in educational and child-care related fields, who freely give their time and talents for the children.
Camp DayDreams provides the children with an opportunity to participate in six activity areas: Waterfront, Athletics, Creative Crafts (A&C), Adventure, The Arts (Music & Dance), and Education. Camp DayDreams is organized to foster a sense of community among the children. We stress the importance of community both within the cabin groups and as a camp as a whole. Each night one cabin has a chance to present the Camp DayDreams Town Meeting, addressing a specific community issue.
In 2004 Camp DayDreams formed a partnership with staff from a summer camp for children from alcoholic and drug dependent families (Camp NaCOAra 1984-2003). We have additional campers to serve and we have welcomed many experienced summer camp staff members to the CDD Family.
Thanks to The Camp DayDreams Family, hundreds of Rochester area youth have had this unique opportunity to participate in an educational youth development program that combines year round support over multiple years, with an excellent residential summer camp experience. And because of people like you; the program is completely free to the children and their families.
Camp DayDreams Through The Years: 2000-2009 Celebrating 10 Years!
Camp DayDreams 2000
•47 children ages 11-15.
•48 Volunteer Staff Members.
•Camp Chateaugay near Lake Placid, NY
The United Academic Athletic Program (U.A.A.P.), James Madison School of Excellence Art Department (J.M.S.E.), Lifetime Assistance, The South West Area Neighborhood Association (S.W.A.N.)
Camp DayDreams 2001
•45 children ages 11-15 for our second summer
•43 Volunteer Staff Members
•Camp Chateaugay near Lake Placid, NY
U.A.A.P., J.M.S.E., Lifetime Assistance, S.W.A.N., and Alternatives for Battered Women (ABW)
Camp DayDreams 2002
•54 children ages 11-15
•47 Volunteer Staff Members
•Camp Chateaugay near Lake Placid, NY
U.A.A.P., J.M.S.E., Lifetime Assistance, S.W.A.N. and ABW
Camp DayDreams 2003
•57 children ages 11-15
•66 Volunteer Staff Members
•Camp Chateaugay near Lake Placid, NY
U.A.A.P., Society for the Protection & Care of Children (SPCC), YWCA/Stepping Stones Program and Catholic Family Center Youth Program - including Boy Scouts of Otetiana Council, Lifetime Assistance, and S.W.A.N.
Camp DayDreams 2004 (Chateaugay)
•67 children ages 11-15
•74 Volunteer Staff Members
•Camp Chateaugay near Lake Placid, NY
The City of Rochester Parks and Recreation Rec Leaders Program, The Prep Program of the Catholic Family Center at School #17 together with the Onieanta Inner-City Boy Scouts, SPCC, U.A.A.P., YWCA/Stepping Stones Program, Lifetime Assistance, and S.W.A.N.
Camp DayDreams 2004 (Rochester)
•70 children ages 7-17
•45 Staff volunteers
•Camp Pinewood in Dansville, NY The Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley Camp
The Wilson Commencement Park, The Artsreach Program of Henrietta, St. Joseph’s Villa and Hillside Children’s Center, The Schuyler County ARC, and former Camp NaCOAra campers.
Camp DayDreams 2005
•81 children
•65 staff volunteers.
•Camp Covenant Acres in Pike, NY near Letchworth State Park.
The Rochester After School Academy (RASA) at School 39, CFC: School #17 and The Holy Family School, St. Martins on Ontario Street and former Camp NaCOAra campers.
Camp DayDreams 2006
•91 children
•63 staff volunteers.
•Camp Cutler Boy Scout Camp near Naples, NY
(RASA) at School 39, CFC: School #17 and The Holy Family School, St. Martins on Ontario Street and former Camp NaCOAra campers.
Camp DayDreams 2007
•85 children
•61 staff volunteers.
•Camp Cutler Boy Scout Camp near Naples, NY
Camp DayDreams 2008
•95 children
•65 staff volunteers.
•Camp Cutler Boy Scout Camp near Naples, NY
Camp DayDreams 2009
•105 children
•80 staff volunteers.
•Camp Cutler Boy Scout Camp near Naples, NY