North Shore Holiday House

North Shore Holiday House (nshh), founded in 1914, is a charity that provides a tuition-free, two-week summer sleep-away camp experience for 200 girls ages seven through eleven each year. Nshh is accredited by the american camp association. Campers are at poverty level and come from nassau and suffolk counties. Nshh offers a recreational and educational "girl power" focused program. Many of the campers return year-to-year to enjoy fresh air, renew friendships and learn valuable skills. Nshh campers sleep in traditional cabins. Campers learn about nature and wildlife. They participate in art & crafts, yoga, dance, swimming and sports. Educators, artists and recreational specialists teach the campers new skills and expose them to new ideas. Nshh focuses on healthy eating habits providing three nutritious meals per day. Campers learn about nutritions and food by harvesting produce from the on-site garden. All campers meet the requirements of the usda guidelines for free and reduced school lunch. Campers come from varied circumstances; some are homeless, some have parents who are incarcerated, many are foster children or are raised by single parents or grandparents. All are poor. Fundraising for the program is a year-round endeavor which has provided this unique opportunity to thousands of girls over the years. An on-site thrift shop, fundraisers, an annual membership drive, private donations and corporate grants provide funding for operating expenses. Nshh maintains operations with seasonal staff, two full-time employees, many volunteers, and a dedicated board of directors.