VENANGO CO., Pa. – On July 31, several buses were loaded with 129 Venango County youth as they said goodbye to their families for a week and headed to the annual Youth Alternatives Children’s Camp in Rock Creek, Ohio.

Youth were accompanied by 31 adult counselors (all volunteers) and 16 junior counselors to Camp Beaumont in Rock Creek where they had the opportunity to experience zip-lining, canoeing, archery, swimming, arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall, and more.

Youth Alternatives, Inc. is a local non-profit that provides an array of services to improve the lives of kids around the county at no cost to families, and this summer camp was no exception. Youth Alternatives is able to provide these types of trips for free to local youth through donations from the community in which they reside.

Every year caring local individuals, businesses, and private clubs come together to help Youth Alternatives raise the funds to ensure that Venango County youth have the chance to experience the camp.

Since the camp costs $210.00 per youth, Youth Alternatives would not be able to provide this experience to the local youth without the contributions they receive.

One business even ensured that every child attending Children’s Camp had a new pillow to use at night during the trip. Not only did the business provide the pillows, they, along with assistance from local volunteers, hand-crafted over 200 colorful pillowcases for the kids.

Youth Alternatives has two locations in Oil City and Franklin and offers various services to local school-age youth, free of charge.

The centers are open Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the summer and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the school year. In addition, the Oil City branch is open from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Children have access to homework assistance, a warm and nutritious snack, computers, game systems, board games, pool tables, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based activities, plus opportunities to go on skating, fishing, and movie outings.

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