10 local kids spend week at camp in Penn Yan

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Bethany Zeiner of Medina gives her son Mateo, 7, a hug on his return from Camp Long Pond. (Right) Wyatt Purnell, 10, and his brother Levi, 7, are greeted by their mother on their return from The Salvation Army’s Camp Long Pond near Penn Yan on Friday morning.

Ten local youth enjoyed a week of camping last week at Camp Long Point in Penn Yan. Andrew Szatkowski of Medina led an effort to secure scholarships and fundraising so the kids could go to camp.

Szatkowski began soliciting donations earlier in the year to pay the $2,000 needed for a bus to transport campers to and from the camp.

On Friday morning, they returned from camp, bursting with stories of camp activities.

As Ryan Howes of Lyndonville sat in his car waiting for their bus to arrive, he said four of his kids were on the bus. He said this was the first time for his son, Alex, but he wanted to do it. His children are 11, 11 (twins), 10 and 9.

He said they learned of the camp when the superintendent of Lyndonville schools put out a memo stating there was a camping opportunity.

“It was really cool that there were scholarships available,” Howes said.

One of his children had previously gone to a sheriff’s camp next door to Camp Long Pond, and came home and told everyone how much fun it was.

“She went again July 5,” Howes said. “We go to Jellystone every summer, so they are used to camping, but this was the first time on their own. Gavin, one of the twins, hesitated on the morning they left, and didn’t know if he wanted to go. Then he said, ‘OK, I’m going.’”

Bethany Zeiner of Medina greeted her son her son Matteo, 7, with open arms and a big hug as he stepped down from the bus. He attended the camp last year and liked Penn Yan, he told his mother.

This was the second year of camping for Wyatt Purnell, 10, of Medina and his brother Levi, 7, said their mother Alexandria. Wyatt’s favorite activities were Gaga ball and 9 Square. Levi also liked Gaga ball and sleeping in a cabin.

“That was really cool,” he said.

Szatkowski was grateful for the community support when he was raising money for the transportation.

“When I was in Hoag Library to sign kids up, people were coming up to me with checks. Community Action also helped, he said.

He stressed the importance of giving to The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign in Orleans County.

“Those donations all stay in Orleans County and help fund programs like this,” Szatkowski said.

Szatkowski added he hopes more children will take advantage of the camping opportunity next year.