Jerel

As a first-time camper, Jerel's experience at Camp Hidden Valley this summer was full of new and exciting experiences. "I met a lot of new people," explains the 12-year-old from Brooklyn, "and did a lot of things I've never done before!"

While he loved playing sports, swimming and dancing, Jerel most enjoyed getting creative in arts and crafts. He joined his friends in making pots from clay and painting pictures that he was able to proudly take home to his family. "Once, we painted a picture with things other than a paintbrush, like our fingers and toes!" Jerel recalls.

Jerel also enjoyed the overnight hike, where he had fun with his fellow campers catching frogs, making s'mores and camping out in the woods. He also learned a lot during nature classes, such as how to build a fire. But the most memorable part for Jerel of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city was spending time in the nature that surrounded him. "You get to see so many more beautiful trees," he says. "That was new to me."