Summer camps are a transformative experience for so many young people. Kids often experience a surge of confidence and a sense of belonging and growth. Let's help our newly arrived Ukrainian neighbors have a summer camp opportunity this year! Campfund4ukraine is a fund that will sponsor Ukrainian kids wanting to attend Texas summer camps.

WHAT CAMPS WILL THEY ATTEND?

Rocky River Ranch (www.rockyriverranch.com/) in Wimberley, Texas has agreed to set aside two spots in their session one for two rising 8th graders sponsored by campfund4ukraine. I am also working with Camp Young Judaea (www.cyjtexas.org/) to place kids in their camp this summer. I will bring other camps on board as funds permit.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SEND A KID TO CAMP?

Rocky River Ranch's one-week session cost $1,125 per camper. Other camps have longer sessions, like Camp Young Judeae, that cost up to $5,000 per session.

HOW MANY UKRAINIAN REFUGEES ARE IN TEXAS?

The US has admitted over 271,000 Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. According to Axios, many Ukrainians have arrived through the "Uniting for Ukraine" program, which offers two-years of humanitarian parole to Ukrainians sponsored by family, friends or total strangers. Other Ukrainians took a chance, flying to Mexico and crossed the border into the U.S. to seek asylum last spring. Others arrived with previously obtained short-term visas or were granted official refugee resettlement. Texas alone has seen over 6,351 applicants filed with the federal government to sponsor Ukrainians.

HOW ARE WE FINDING UKRAINIAN KIDS TO SPONSOR?

We've already spoken to Ukrainian refugee families who have offered to spread the word among the community through the Ukrainian School of Austin and social media networks.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Summer camp has always been an exciting adventure that kids look forward to during the school year! Kids who attend camp feel a sense of community and an escape from the pressures of home and school. Summer camps can help working parents who are soon going to find themselves with kids out of school and with no summer plans.

WHO IS BEHIND THIS FUND?

I'm Sasha Konradi, a junior at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. I was born in Moscow Russia. Last year I worked with a team to raise funds to help feed Ukrainian refugees. I speak Russian and spent a week translating for incoming Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border last spring (https://macshieldonline.com/44559/features/between-the-borders/). We were able to raise over $85,000 that was donated to an organization we worked with in Poland, World Central Kitchen (https://www.gofundme.com/f/project-poland).