60 City Kids Head For The Unknown

Rafael Ramos was explaining camping to 9‑year-old Paola Cordero, who had never really been away from home, let alone slept under the stars. No, Ramos assured her, there really are no wolves or werewolves to worry about.

The consultation took place Monday morning across from JUNTA for Progressive Action on Grand Avenue, in the sleeping-bag strewn parking lot of the Fair Haven branch library.

Nervous kids clutched more nervous parents’ hands as Ramos packed up 60 city children for what for many will be their first outdoor camping experience: four days of hiking, nature walks, swimming, games and fun at Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam.

It’s the 10th year that Ramos, the chief enforcement officer at New Haven government’s Livable City Initiative, has raised the money — nearly $11,000 this year for a record number 60 kids — for the memorable outdoor experience and volunteered his time to run it..

(Click here for a previous story of how intrepid reporter Melinda Tuhus accompanied the kids on a walk to experience how it feels to be a predator, and how it feels to be prey.)

“There are only two rules,” Ramos explained Monday as yellow buses pulled up and parents gave Ramos their kids’ allergy medicines: ​“Rule number one: Have fun. Rule number two: Have even more fun than you think you can.”

Actually there was a third rule: no cell phones or electronics.

The idea is to have a dramatically different experience from what kids have within the boundaries of the city of New Haven.

There will be a bit of a dramatic experience too for Lamont Bethea. Bethea Monday morning consoled his 9‑year old daughter Kristall, for whom this will be the first overnight camp experience as well. While Kristall was quite cool about the whole wild animal situation at Big Turtle, her dad was visibly nervous as the kids lined up and were told how to place their rolls and backpacks under the seats.

Bethea’s dilemma: ​“It’s going to be tough. She’s my top helper. She does [lots of] chores around the house.”

Helping Ramos are seven counselors such as Amistad High freshman Alexis Christmas, whose summer job with Youth at Work includes the tough stint at camp; and 11 adult volunteers, including Gloribell Lopez.

Lopez, who works nearby on Grand Avenue with Neighborhood Housing Services (one of the camp’s sponsors), has volunteered for all 10 years. Alexis was a camper for two years before she graduated to counselor.

These veterans explained what the crew of 60 8- to 12 year-olds have to look forward to:.Already some of the counselors were on site setting up the large open-sided tents where the kids will sleep, rain or shine, for the next four days.

Day One: During the camp set-up, the kids were to hike, go to the water hole to swim, play games, and get to know each other.

As the light fades in the west, they were to gather around the great fire pit and each introduce herself or himself to each other. Each kid would be assigned a counselor; the ratio is one adult to four kids.

Day Two: Lopez said that’s nature day, big time, including a trip to Mystic and lots of involvement with wildlife.

Yuzo Pigott, who comes back from Seattle every year to volunteer (he was a camper for 10 of his 26 years), said that it’s likely on this day that Ramos will deliberately lead the kids off on a long hike and pretend to get lost.

“It’s to get people to stop complaining about bugs” and other soft cityfolk complaints, and to enjoy the forest. ​“Those who have come back know the scenario,” he said.

Day Three: The big excursion is Hammonasset State Park in Madison. Not only are the kids to enjoy swimming in the Sound; they have their big opportunity to shower. Bring your soap.

Later, back at the campgrounds, Yale Forestry School students will conduct workshops. And as in past years, Dave Heiser, who runs education programs at the Peabody Museum, will be on hand to imitate the calls of various owls so the kids can learn to enjoy the forest at night.

It’s well known that owls help keep away werewolves.

Day Four: More hikes, camp games, the nightly talent shows, which are Alexis Christmas’s favorite activity, and then a huge meal and final hoopla.

Tracey Massey was delighted her daughter Trayonna was about to board the bus. She said this is the first summer Trayonna is not attending summer school at Amistad Middle. (The school is moving into its new building on Edgewood.) So she has been in search of activities, and wandered into JUNTA’s Grand Avenue offices, not far from where the family lives.

Now here Trayonna was off, as the 9‑year-old said, ​“to meet new people and learn how to go night-gazing.”

Ramos said the campers hail from all over the city, with many recommended by organizations that work with kids, like youth programs at Church Street South, the Department of Social Services, Housing Authority of New Haven, and the police department.