Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/65046
living with kids relationships parenting life lessons family matters emotional growth teenage years growing up Good Vibrations Weston Grassroots Group Eases Camp Price Tag for City Youth CHERYL B. SCAPARROTTA writer ahhh…summer. While the sea- son conjures up sunshine-filled days, lemonade, and lots of leisure time, it also scorches a burning question into the minds of parents everywhere. "The dilemma we all face with our kids is that they have approximately three months off in the summertime," says Kathleen Katterhagen, a Weston parent of three school-aged children. "What will they do during that time?" "Finding something fulfilling for youngsters, particularly as they get older and more opin- ionated, is challenging," agrees Weston's Mary Ann Mattoon, a seasoned mother of four. For a large swath of American families, the answer is summer camp. But there's a price tag attached to that privilege, especially when more than one sibling attends. "Some parents have come to expect that they're going to have to invest more for the summer—but if you're a family on a budget, summer camp is not a given," says Alexandra Fuchs, chief advancement officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. "It can rise into multi-hundred dollar figures, which isn't affordable for everyone," Mattoon points out. Two years ago, Mattoon and Katterhagen collaborated with another Weston resident, Donna Hazard, who serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. "Donna wanted to build support in our community to make a difference in the lives of city youth, especially during summer, " Katterhagen recalls. After some brainstorming, and reaching out to others in their circle, a committee of ten joined forces to establish the Weston Friends of the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club. 138 Swimming in summer camp sun- shine at the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club in Boston. WellesleyWeston Magazine | summer 2012 COURTESY OF BLUE HILL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB