Celebrity Camps
Location: The Fresh Air Fund's Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, N.Y.
Founded in 1994, Camp Mariah is the centerpiece for The Fresh Air Fund's Career Awareness Program. In this three-and a-half week, co-ed summer camp, children ages 12-to-14 learn how to expand their educational and career options by enrolling in a curriculum that introduces career fields, such as science and technology, communications and health and fitness. Classes and workshops in creative writing, journalism, photography, television and video production, fashion design, dance, computer application and many more are available.
Camp Mariah at the Fresh Air Fund
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Camp Mariah (Carey Career Awareness Camp)
Location: The Fresh Air Fund's Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, N.Y.
Aside from the educational aspect, there are recreational activities available, such as hiking, swimming and singing. Mariah is a board member and makes regular appearances at the camp. Sometimes, she even invites industry friends to make an appearance and inspire campers.
Camp Mariah at the Fresh Air Fund
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (Paul Newman)
Location: The Fresh Air Fund's Sharpe Reservation in Ashford, Conn.
Paul Newman founded The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1988. Newman named the camp after the hiding-place from his film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp offers year-round programming.
The Camp caters to seriously ill children diagnosed with conditions such as cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and hemophilia. Recreational activities like archery, mini-golf, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, sports, theater and camping are offered for children to enjoy during their stay. The zero-entry pool and a special warming room are facilities that ensure no child is left out.
Hole in the Wall Gang (Paul Newman)
Location: The Fresh Air Fund's Sharpe Reservation in Ashford, Conn.
A young camper says, "I love it here. Sometimes, you think being so sick gives you limits, but the Camp helps you try anything."
The Camp's year-round Hospital Outreach Program brings that enthusiastic spirit to seriously ill hospitalized children in 16 hospitals from New York to Boston each year.
Usher's New Look Foundation
Founded in 1999, Usher Raymond IV started Usher's New Look, a non-profit organization that focuses on educating children from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds about the business side of the sports and entertainment industries. Camp New Look provides a free, two-week residential program, and many campers eventually take part in the Mogul VIP program, which enables children to venture through career exploration with internships, mentoring and shadowing opportunities.
"Through Usher's New Look, I have learned that I have the power to change my own life, my friends' lives and the lives of people halfway around the world. It's all about using my interests to discover problems and make plans to create change," -James Harris, UNL Youth Leader
Usher's New Look Foundation
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Usher's New Look Foundation
Usher emphasizes that young people are the key to successful communities, and established the New Look Foundation to draw attention to the importance of their ideas, hard work and success.
Usher's New Look has had incredible success. It is reported that 98 percent of New Look alumni graduate from high school, and 100 percent of those graduates go on to enroll in college. The alumni also serve as Congressional aides, sitting on non-profit Boards of Directors, starring in major motion pictures, interning at major media outlets, attending prestigious universities with academic and athletic scholarships, and even starting their own non-profits and businesses.
Usher's New Look Foundation
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Tyra Banks' TZONE
TZONE was founded in 1999 by Tyra Banks and her mother, Carolyn London. The two emphasized the importance of sisterhood, learning about yourself, and having the self-confidence to become successful and powerful young women. This camp offered "Tyra-style" leadership and empowerment program through a week-long overnight camp outside of LA, where she lived and bonded with the campers.
In 2005, TZONE became a public charity called the "Tyra Bands TZONE Foundation." The TZONE Foundation has provided resources to a network of community non-profits recognized for their impact on girls and young women.
Tyra Banks' TZONE
TZONE no longer runs as a camp, but remains committed to its cause. The Tyra Banks TZONE Foundation continues to "encourage girls to be leaders, not followers; in control, not out of control; powerful, not powerless."
Tyra Banks says of the effort, "TZONE is not a place -- it is a commitment to empower girls to be fierce, focused and in control of their futures."
Zac Brown's Camp Southern Ground
Location: Fayette County, Ga.
Founded by Grammy-Award winning musician Zac Brown (seen here with Zac Brown Band), Camp Southern Ground assists children with neurobehavioral and learning difficulties to reach their full potential, with the opportunity and tools to achieve success in their lives. Zac donated his 360-acre piece of property for this camp, and is currently developing it to become a state-of-the-art facility.
Zac Brown's Camp Southern Ground
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Zac Brown's Camp Southern Ground
Location: Fayette County, Ga.
According to the camp, "Zac Brown has recognized the importance for every child to have access to the best resources to develop and be able to grow and succeed. This camp will not only be a place where children come to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors but also learn how to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle through advanced program involving superior nutrition, physical exercise and advanced therapy conducted by knowledgeable staff."
Camp Southern Ground is currently in its development stage, and is seeking partnerships, volunteers and funding in order to bring the vision to fruition.
Zac Brown's Camp Southern Ground
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Michael Jordan Flight School
Location: Goleta, Calif.
Founded in 1995, the Michael Jordan Flight School is a basketball camp for youth. In this co-ed, five-day summer camp, children learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing and defense from the first-class coaching staff, and Michael Jackson himself. Children from ages 7 to 18 learn about the fundamentals of basketball and take part in competitions to develop their skills.
Michael Jordan Flight School
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Michael Jordan Flight School
Location: Goleta, Calif.
Founded in 1995, the Michael Jordan Flight School is a basketball camp for youth. In this co-ed, five-day summer camp, children learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing and defense from the first-class coaching staff, and Michael Jackson himself. Children from ages 7 to 18 learn about the fundamentals of basketball and take part in competitions to develop their skills.
Michael Jordan Flight School
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
(Britney Spears) Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts
Founded by Britney Spears in 1999 and named "Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts" until 2004, when she left, this 10-day summer program offers economically disadvantaged children the chance to discover themselves and reach their potential through the arts. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 develop essential character and life skills such as confidence, creativity, problem solving, leadership and team building. The camp is now known as The Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts.
Britney Spears' Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts
Special Section: Eye on Parenting
Britney Spears' Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts
The camp, formerly known as the Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts, includes unique classes in improvisational acting, dance, writing, oral interpretation, singing, set design, blues music, film making and drumming. More traditional camp activities, such as hiking, biking and basketball, are also offered. Campers not only live together, they're encouraged to work together in classes, workshops and daily "open mic" sessions. The camp is now known as The Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts.
Evenings are devoted to shows by a variety of professional performers, such as the Blue Man Group, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, magicians, and a group that creates sculptures live on stage with chainsaws.
The Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts
Special Section: Eye on Parenting