NAPERVILLE – Marquette Companies, of the Water Street District, was recently recognized by the Naperville YMCAs for their generous support of the Fry Family YMCA’s Camp E.D.G.E. Marquette supported the program with a $5,000 gift this past year.
In appreciation of the gift, Naperville YMCAs Senior Executive Director, R.J. Bartels, presented Nick Ryan, of Marquette, with a replica statue of the Century Walk piece, “The Spirit of the Y” which stands in front of the Fry Family YMCA.
Camp E.D.G.E. is “a camp that makes a difference in our community,” states Bartels. E.D.G.E. stands for Educate, Develop, Give, and Experience and is for 6th-8th graders looking for a unique Y day camp experience during the summer months. The program is designed to help prepare adolescents for real world challenges emphasizing the Y core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. Campers practice teamwork, leadership, goal setting, problem-solving, conflict resolution and the rewards of giving to others.
Camp E.D.G.E. campers participate in supervised volunteer activities at area agencies like Feed My Starving Children, DuPage Children’s Museum, Naper Settlement, DuPage PADS, Green Earth Institute, senior living centers and more. At each site they learn about the mission of the agency and the impact it makes on the community.
In addition to service projects, the Camp E.D.G.E. campers also take part in experiential learning activities at high ropes and challenge courses and embark on adventure-based field trips canoeing, hiking, fishing and visiting YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, IL. Campers emerge from the session with a sense of accomplishment, increased self-esteem and have developed skills that will enrich their lives for years to come.
Registration for Camp E.D.G.E. is open at early bird rates through April 30th. Scholarships are available. Visit napervilleymcas.org for more information.
About the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
The Fry Family YMCA is part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. The Y is focused on exercising the potential of each one of us to make healthy choices at every stage of our lives. We’re a non-profit well-known for our 23 centers, camps, and health and fitness programs. But we’ve also moved wellness beyond the gym to prepare our next generation with the physical, academic and social skills they need to thrive. Our neighborhood base helps strengthen communities through programs offered at hundreds of sites citywide. This work promotes academic readiness, character development, violence prevention, fitness and healthy living. Come to the Y for personal fitness, sign up for a family program, or play a more active role in our community service mission. When you join the Y, you’re part of something big.
