Summer camp is like jumper cables for a car battery! Young girls at just the right age are stimulated to grow, learn about themselves, and expand their worldview at summer camp. The American Camp Association has studied the impact of summer camp. They found that the unrehearsed nature of camp provides the perfect setting to reimagine the future. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Selling pecans is a "sweet" way to raise money to pay for camp. Chapter members deliver chocolate-covered pecans to friends, neighbors, family and colleagues. As a group we have also sold pecans at local Holiday Markets. At the Markets we not only raise money but we also recruit new members.

We work with the staff of local elementary schools to identify 4th graders who will bloom in wonderful ways at summer camp. Yes, often the choice is based on the low probability that the family could afford summer camp for their daughter. However, in many cases our camper needs exposure to opportunities to discover herself: her leadership ability, adventurous imagination, and hidden confidence.

Ohio campers attend Camp Campbell Gard in Hamilton, Ohio. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes to drive to camp from our campers' neighborhoods. Members of Ohio N drive the girls to camp and pick them up at the end of the week. Often the girls are nervous when we arrive at camp. Meeting new people and sleeping in a strange bed in a new place can be scary.

•  The summer camp season begins in JANUARY when we decide how many campers we will sponsor.
• In FEBRUARY and MARCH we contact the schools and identify our campers.
• We meet with the campers and families in APRIL and MAY.
• Shopping is the best part of season and happens in MAY.
• JUNE is the pre-camp party and SUMMER CAMP.
• A camper reunion picnic takes place in JULY or AUGUST.
• We continue to contact campers through the year and years.

Ohio N members raise funds by selling amaretto chocolate covered pecans.
The funds are used to:
• Give money to the National Project to pay camp fees.
• Pay for clothes and camp gear for each camper.
• Give holiday gifts to the current campers and remember former campers with greeting cards.

Ohio N members have regular meetings from September to May. At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Kenwood Road in Kenwood.
• September and October, March, April and May meetings begin at 7 pm.
• November and January meetings begin at noon.
• December and February meetings are luncheon meetings at local restaurants.

Membership is available in two categories.
• ACTIVE members join Ohio N to help with camp and fundraising. Dues are $45.
• ASSOCIATE members join Ohio N to be involved in at least two activities. Dues are $20.
• CLICK the title to watch a short video about how camping works.

Membership is about more than charity and even "paying forward." Membership gives back to members more than what is given to the campers. Experience the friendship and caring of women of like-mind, devoted to supporting one another and our campers.
Recently, the chair of our fundraising project said, "All I did was ask and all the jobs were filled!"

To learn more about joining call Judy at 513-315-7199 or hernroyjudy@gmail.com or call or email Joyce at 513-791-8920 or rudowski@mac.com