BASE Camp marks 20 years
By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News
Many parents take it for granted, but BASE Camp was not always available
in Larimer County. Like so many other worthwhile projects, the Before and
After School Enrichment program was started by people in the community
who saw a need and acted on it.
BASE Camp, now an established nonprofit organization, celebrated its 20th
anniversary on Oct. 16 with cake, balloons and speeches. The program, which
started with three schools as a pilot project, is now offered at 26 schools,
mostly in Poudre School District. BASE Camp also cares for children on
days when school is not in session.
In addition, BASE Camp runs three preschool programs outside Fort Collins,
in Red Feather Lakes, Stove Prairie and Wellington.
Another important component of BASE Camp is the summer program, which Larimer
County helped to get off the ground with a $10,000 grant. PSD offers important
assistance in the form of free space and custodial services for both the
school year and the summer months.
This year, Thompson School District asked the organization to open a center
in Loveland. St. Joseph's Elementary School in Fort Collins, a private
school, also has a BASE Camp program.
BASE Camp is not just a babysitting service, officials emphasized at the
October gathering. The program includes homework help, physical activity,
arts and crafts and games. Since BASE Camp is located at a child's school,
teachers can coordinate with camp staff about special help a child may
need after school.
Bob Bacon, president of the BASE Camp board, said an essential part of
the program is its inclusiveness. There's a sliding-scale tuition fee,
and scholarships are available so the program does not have to turn away
any child. Bacon pointed out that about one-third of BASE Camp children
pay reduced tuition fees.
"Otherwise, these families couldn't afford care," he said.
At the celebration, Bacon recounted a tale from the program's Eyestone
Elementary site in Wellington: "A young lady arrived at BASE Camp in her
nightgown and exclaimed, 'We almost missed the bus!'" The girl's parents
worked in Cheyenne and Denver, so they relied heavily on the program both
before and after school.
"This is the child the program is for," Bacon stated. "It's a place they
can feel secure and have activities that lead to further learning."
Social development is also an important benefit, he added.
Currently, BASE Camp serves about 2,700 children each year, according to
executive director Linda Preston. Preston received high praise at the birthday
celebration, with Bacon calling her "the glue that has kept us together
for these many years."
Barb Crawford, one of the program's founders, noted that BASE Camp grew
out of community concern for latchkey children. At the time, many were
interested in starting a YMCA in Fort Collins to address that concern.
When that didn't happen, parents took matters into their own hands and
came up with a unique solution.
"All the things that happen in our community happen because we work together,"
said founder Betty Moseley.
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