Throughout June and July, local children who are being raised by grandparents have been able to enjoy a variety of activities and programs as part of a Summer Kinship Camp hosted by Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio, Alta Care Group Head Start and Direction Home of Eastern Ohio.

Sophie Klase, summer camp leader, said the free summer kinship camp is a partnership with Direction Home, which provides activities for seven weeks to children ages 5 to 10 who are being raised by an older adult or guardian over age 55, such as grandparents.

“We want the children to have fun all summer. We offer a safe place where they can experience different activities and programs. It gives their caregivers a break,” Klase said.

She said the seven-week camp began in June and runs Monday to Thursday through July 31.

The camp is grant funded by Direction Home, she said.

Jody Klase, CEO for the local Easterseals, serving Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, said Direction Home assists caregivers and they approached her about a nontraditional way to support caregivers.

“There has been an increase of older adults caring for younger children and some were not always equipped to do so. Direction Home gets funding for the caregiver support program and we brainstormed with them on ideas and came up with a summer camp for the children. All the funding for the camp comes through Direction Home,” Jody Klase said.

She said the camp time allows for the older adults to get a break. Jody Klase said older adults are often thrust into situations of caring for a younger child.

Klase said camps are located at different places in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

She said this is the fourth year for the camp at the Eastseals location in Youngstown.

Sophie Klase said some children have attended the camp all four years and they look forward to it. The children are provided free transportation to the camp, free food, and receive backpacks and school supplies.

Klase said each week is a different theme, such as animals, sharks, superheroes, holidays and outer space. Operation Celebration will be the theme for the last week, which starts Monday. The last day will be a carnival 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 31.

Jody Klase said in addition to children having fun, there is a social and emotional curriculum fused into the activities such as art therapy, which provides therapeutic value. The children also engage in nature exploration, team-building challenges and workshops with special attention given to social-emotional development and peer connection.

Sophie Klase said efforts are to have many hands-on activities.

“I am a teacher so I look forward to seeing the children here each summer. The children look forward to this every day,” she said.

The Easterseals site has 20 children with many of the camp staff being teachers from local school districts.

Jody Klase said the caregivers say they appreciate having time to be able to do other things knowing their grandchildren are being taken care of at camp.

She said Easterseals partners with Sight For All United, which checks the children to see if they need glasses.

WHAT CHILDREN LIKE

Molaysia Talley, 8, of Youngstown, said she has learned to make special bracelets and paint. She attended the camp before, so she looks forward to the carnival.

Major Davis, 11, also of Youngstown, said he likes the arts and crafts. He is marking his second year at the camp and said he likes getting together with other children.

“I wish the camp was going to be longer because of all the fun,” Major said.

Direction Home also has other camp sites at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown and Alta Head Start in Warren. The Alta Care Group Head Start location hosted its camp Tuesday to Thursday. The JCC camp runs through August.

Gianna Pupino, Kinship Summer Camp coordinator at the Warren location, said the children come ready for activities and different learning activities.

“The children are very excited and love doing activities and taking part on local field trips to the library and parks,” she said.

Ny’Layah Stores, 9, of Warren, said she and her sister, Ny’Leyia Stores, 9, enjoy the time being together with other children.

“I liked how we got to go to the library to pick out books or go to Perkins Park to play,” Ny’Layah said.

DIRECTION HOME SUPPORT

Cassandra Valentini, chief of community development and public relations for Direction Home, said the partnership with Easterseals and the other locations has made the camp possible for the families.

She said there has been an increase in families where older adults are raising younger children.

Valentini said the camp is one way to help the families. She said one caregiver in her 70s is taking care of four young children.

“We have seen an increase in recent years with the number of families we are helping,” Valentini said.

She said in 2024, Direction Home helped 89 families. Direction Home helps older adults and people with disabilities maintain health and independence.

Christy Boone, director of special projects for Direction Home, said the summer camps are a lifeline for kinship families, supporting both the children and the caregivers.

She said the caregivers have stepped up to take care of the children and provide a loving home when biological parents are unable to do so.