Passaic County highlights Camp Hope programs, youth leadership retreat and new offerings

County recreation officials presented an overview of Camp Hope’s history and current programming during the Passaic County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Recreation Division Director Carrie Klug summarized the camp’s origins and the county’s continuing effort to offer free summer camp experiences for underprivileged children. She said the county’s summer program dates to the 1930s and emphasized the camp’s role in serving community organizations and youth groups across Passaic County. Klug described multiple programs now offered at Camp Hope, including environmental education, meditation and yoga classes, a fire-safety/driver-education program introduced last year, and nighttime hikes and marshmallow roasts led by local partners.

Klug highlighted the county’s youth leadership retreat, now in its sixth year, which brings Passaic County high school students together with regional leaders for multi-day workshops on leadership and communication. She said the retreat has grown into an annual award-winning program; the recreation division received a New Jersey Recreation Park Association award for the program last year. The recreation report also noted smaller educational takeaways such as a first-grade packet program that supplies roughly 50 learning packets for children to take home.

Commissioners praised the work of the parks and recreation staff and Camp Hope partners, and County leadership thanked Passaic County Community College and Camp Hope staff for supporting the meeting venue and audiovisual needs. No formal action or funding decisions were recorded during the presentation.

The report closed with an acknowledgement of recent investments to expand recreational offerings countywide and a note that the Board will formally honor participants from the youth leadership program at an upcoming November meeting.