Hillside Strong: Stories of Hillside
“The #1 rule of Camp is ‘Have Fun’”: For nine months of each year, Dave Tinnes works as a teacher at a public school in our community. But every summer, he returns to a seasonal role at Hillside’s Camp Possibilities in Henrietta—and it’s not hard to understand why. Tinnes and his fellow Hillsiders are committed to providing unforgettable summertime experiences at this unique setting, the only day camp in Monroe County with programming designed for children with developmental as well as emotional and behavioral challenges.
A day at Camp Possibilities can include fishing and kayaking in the private pond; music lessons and arts-and-crafts fun in the dedicated cabins; basketball and hiking; and even singing songs and telling the occasional ghost story around a well-tended campfire. For youth in Hillside’s residential treatment and community-based programs, Camp is a place to decompress, relax and “just be a kid,” Tinnes says.
“Play is a critical part of life,” adds David Fluellen, Hillside’s Vice President of Residential Treatment Services, and Camp Possibilities helps youth at Hillside experience that essential aspect of childhood. “I hope that Camp is one of their fond childhood memories,” he says, “and that they carry it with them.”
Stronger Futures Together: How You Can Help
The successes behind these Stories of Hillside are the result of partnerships—among youth, families and staff; community partners committing time, expertise and resources; and donors whose support empowers key programs and drives our innovation. Your support for our work can take many forms, and will help countless young people and adults achieve the stronger futures they deserve.
Become a Foster Parent at Hillside
The need for stable, loving foster homes has never been greater. Hillside provides training and support to ensure your success.
Work at Hillside
As a member of the Hillside team, you’ll advance your career while making a difference every day.
Donate to Hillside
Your generosity ensures the strength of our programs today, and helps us reach more youth, adults and families tomorrow.
Stronger Futures Together: How You Can Help
The successes behind these Stories of Hillside are the result of partnerships—among youth, families and staff; community partners committing time, expertise and resources; and donors whose support empowers key programs and drives our innovation. Your support for our work can take many forms, and will help countless young people and adults achieve the stronger futures they deserve.
Become a Foster Parent at Hillside
The need for stable, loving foster homes has never been greater. Hillside provides training and support to ensure your success.
Donate to Hillside
Your generosity ensures the strength of our programs today, and helps us reach more youth, adults and families tomorrow.
Work at Hillside
As a member of the Hillside team, you’ll advance your career while making a difference every day.
About Camp Possibilities
Occupying 240 picturesque acres in Henrietta, NY, Hillside’s Camp Possibilities provides eight one-week sessions every summer, and additional off-season programming in the spring and fall months, for youth served in Hillside residential and community-based programs.
Recreational activities are carefully curated around the specific therapeutic plans for youth in Hillside programs, whose personal situations can include social/emotional challenges, conditions related to trauma, and developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Research shows that a well-planned youth camp experience improves self-esteem, environmental awareness and peer relationships, and offers many other measurable positive outcomes.
LEARN MORE
- Camp Possibilities is completely funded by philanthropic contributions from the communities we serve. Click here to learn more about how your support makes Camp possible every year; and to make a donation today, click here.
- Hillside’s monthly Conversations with the CEO podcast dedicated a recent episode to how Camp Possibilities creates one-of-a-kind memories for children in our care. Click here to review podcast topics and join the conversation.