Osceola’s T.T.T. EL chapter is sending two, fifth graders to the Y-Camp in Boone this week: Aurora Weaklend and Taryn Halbert-Taggart. The camp began on Aug. 7, and runs through Aug. 13.
T.T.T. EL hosted a camp shower for Aurora and Taryn on Aug. 1 at East Lake Park, where the girls received several gift bags full of items they could take and use at camp.
About T.T.T.
T.T.T. is a national organization that was founded in Mt. Pleasant in 1911 by two women with the goal of providing a positive summer camp experience for young girls. The three T’s stand for time, talent, and treasure. There are T.T.T. chapters across 10 states, including Washington D.C., and 3,000 members nationwide; Osceola has two chapters.
T.T.T. is a nonprofit, philanthropic organization comprised of women who donate their time and efforts to send young girls to camp who might not otherwise have a chance to go. The goal of the camping experience is to provide an educational experience as well as life experiences in being away from home to gain independence and make new friends. Smaller chapters usually send two girls per year, while larger chapters may send up to 20. On average across all T.T.T. chapters, 410 to 450 girls are sent to camp.
T.T.T. EL
T.T.T. EL was chartered in February 1966 in Osceola. The eight charter members were Glayne Adamson, Virginia Ogan, Shirley Pennock, Pat (Frey) Reynoldson, Dorothy DeHaan, Beverly Edwards, Alverda Goeldner, and Ruby Johnson. DeHaan, Edwards, Goeldner, and Johnson have all passed.
In its 56 years, T.T.T. EL has been able to send 98 girls from Osceola to camp. One of the group’s members, Terrie Horton Davenport, was a camper chosen by T.T.T. EL in 1979.
In addition to sending girls to camp, T.T.T. EL keeps up with them in the years following. They host a summer swim party, take the girls to school plays and musicals, get them Christmas gifts, and cards for birthdays and holidays. Scholarships are also available for those who chose to continue their education post high school.
Camp
The Y-Camp is a week away from home for campers, and is stated to be “an opportunity to grow…we are building confident, caring, independent young people.”
Everyone is eligible to open enroll up for the camp, but there is a special section set aside for T.T.T. chapters.
In Osceola, four girls are nominated in the fourth grade by their teachers. T.T.T. EL selects two to send on to camp. The chapter meets throughout the year to raise money to use towards sending the girls to camp, including purchasing the camp supplies they shower the girls with.
Some fun activities at camp that Aurora and Taryn will get to participate in are canoeing, zip lining, crafts, and horseback riding.
The Y-Camp’s website says that “campers are strengthened by the sense of confidence gained by learning new skills and making choices throughout their time at camp, all of which allow them to learn more about themselves.”