September 05, 2025 Category: Our Programs Fresh Air Fun

Summer 2025 Highlights: Friendships, Connections and Adventures

Looking back on Summer 2025, we have so many highlights to share! Over 1,750 campers attended our six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley.

From archery to the ropes course and kayaking, campers stepped out of their comfort zone. Surrounded by new friends and supportive counselors, campers had new experiences and made incredible memories.

Join us in looking back on some inspiring moments from summer 2025!

Outdoor Adventures with Camp ABC

Camp ABC campers had an unforgettable summer outdoors, rowing boats across the lake, exploring nature and making s’mores.

**Campers at ABC enjoy boating on the lake. (Lindsey Lolkema/The Fresh Air Fund)**

**Campers enjoy roasting marshmallows to make s’mores at Camp ABC. (Lindsey Lolkema/The Fresh Air Fund)**

Camp Hayden-Marks: In the Trees and on the Basketball Court

Camp Hayden-Marks highlights included building confidence surrounded by the trees on the ropes course and friendly games of basketball during cabin time.

**A camper builds confidence on the ropes course. (Jenna Bascom)**

Several children playing basketball outside. — **A counselor joins in the fun, playing an energetic game of basketball with campers. (Jenna Bascom)**

Gaga Ball and Archery at Camp Hidden Valley

Campers, aged 8–12, learned new chants, tried archery, played sports and more. They also spent the summer diving into Gaga Ball, a Fresh Air favorite!

**Gaga Ball is a favorite activity at all camps but especially loved at Camp Hidden Valley.** **(Tiye Rose/The Fresh Air Fund)**

Campers learning how to hold a bow and arrow in the forest. — **A camper focuses on his target as he tries archery for the first time! (Olivia Gloffke/The Fresh Air Fund)**

Camp Junior: Community, Art and Nature

Camp Junior serves Bronx youth ages 8-15. Campers explore nature, learn how to kayak and make art surrounded by nature.

**Campers at Camp Junior kayaking in the lake. (Jack Hyland/The Fresh Air Fund)**

**Out in the fresh air, campers get creative and design and paint their own benches. (Sneyder Curipoma)**

The New Leadership Program at Camp Tommy

Camp Tommy launched the new Learning to Lead program this summer, creating a home for our Counselors-in-Training and Leaders-in-Training, aged 15-17, to build community, engaging the outdoors as a learning environment with a focus on leadership development, teamwork, collaboration and mentorship. Through the Design to Thrive Program, a partnership with with PennPraxis and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, teens learned about architecture and gardening through hands-on projects.

**Campers master the skill of archery.** **(Sneyder Curipoma)**

**Campers work together to plant flowers and plants at Camp Tommy as part of the Design to Thrive program. (Sneyder Curipoma)**

Skill-Building and Discovering New Talents at Camp Mariah

Camp Mariah, the summer component of The Fund’s year-round Career Awareness Program, offered a variety of classes to campers from robotics to fashion and dance. Campers developed strong friendships with each other while building new skills and exploring new talents.