GOOD DAYS CAMPERS MAKE NEW FRIENDS

(PRLEAP.COM) Junior Campers from Camp Good Days visited the Teddy Bear Nursery in Skaneateles, NY to create new stuffed friends. The large tour bus nearly blocking traffic in tiny downtown Skaneateles, volunteers from the Syracuse chapter of Camp Good Days ushered their charges off the bus as quickly as possible. Lined up on the sidewalk, the Junior Campers chattered as the volunteers did a last head count.

"I don’t know who’s more excited," said Nancy Urban inside The Teddy Bear Nursery, "the kids or me!"

Camp Good Days is a not-for-profit organization providing programs to improve the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. This Junior Campers group of twenty 4 - 8 yr olds from the Syracuse area was waiting as patiently as possible to descend on Urban’s store.

"It’s a hands-on experience," explained Urban. "The children can pick from almost a hundred different creatures, which we customize for them. Then the children fill them by hand with hypo allergenic fluff. We give children the opportunity to literally make a new friend for themselves."

"It’s so soft," said one little boy, stroking the empty dog he held to his cheek. "See?" Judy Zdep, a volunteer with the organization for over 20 years, smiled down at the boy and patted the toy’s head.

"We only do this program once a year," explained Zdep. "Most of Camp Good Days’ campers are a little older, and they go to week-long programs at our facility on Keuka Lake. This is a day-camp program, so we take them around to different activities each day. We get a lot of local merchants and educational facilities that open their doors to us, like Nancy has done today."

Chris Root, another long time volunteer who, along with Zdep, acts as coordinator for the Junior Campers program, directed children to the fluff-covered stuffing station.

"The parents get some time to be with families who are in situations similar to their own," said Root, "and the children get a break of their own. It’s helpful to everyone."

Samantha Cattaneo is the only actual employee for Camp Good Days in Syracuse.

"We would be able to do very little if is wasn’t for dedicated volunteers like Judy and Chris," said Cattaneo during a phone interview. "All our programs - everything - is free to the children and their families. We want to brighten their lives. Even our local advisory group is made entirely of volunteers."

Those wanting to contribute to Camp Good Days can speak with Cattaneo at 315-434-9477, or visit the web site at http://www.CampGoodDays.org for more information.

"I love seeing their faces all lit up like this," said Urban. "I’m glad I could help make it happen."


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All pictures (C) 2007 Agile’ Marketing Services

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Nancy Urban 315-437-9417
Samantha Cattaneo 315-434-9477


Pictures:
http://www.agilemarketingservices.com/tbn/GoodDays_019a.jpg : Nancy Urban, proprietor of The Teddy Bear Nursery in Skaneateles, NY, surrounded by Junior Campers and their new friends.
http://www.agilemarketingservices.com/tbn/GoodDays_025a.jpg : Urban (R) and coordinator Judy Zdep confer before leading the children through stuffing their new friends.

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