Ensure The Future Of Ballooning And Get A Tax Deduction

The Ballooning Federation of America (BFA) will be holding two Youth Summer Camps in 2013, one in Dubuque, IA, (June 23-27) and the other in Reno, NV, (Dates TBA). The camps are organized and run by volunteers and volunteer counselors donate their time to the camps. Donations provide the scholarships for campers to attend and goes towards the campers expenses for the week. Most campers attend the camps every year for free thanks to donations from the ballooning community.

The 2012 Camps in Dubuque, IA and Albion, MI were a huge success. Check out the summary of the Dubuque camp in the September/October issue of BALLOONING and the Albion camp summary in the current issue of BALLOONING (November/December).

Cori Clemons, who attended the Dubuque camp thanks to the support of the Nebraska Balloon Club, spoke highly of her experience at balloon camp to her local balloon club. Her experience led the Iowa Balloonists Association to create a Jr. Balloonist camp scholarship to award every year.
 
“Thanks to Nebraska Balloon Club I was able to go to the BFA Dubuque balloon camp," Clemons wrote in a thank-you note. "I learned a lot about things I already knew about and I learned a lot about stuff I know little to nothing about. I got to learn first aid, weather, mapping and plotting, how to relight a pilot light, and home building.

"The first day we signed in, unpacked and got settled in are rooms and met our roommates. We then were introduced to the counselors. There was Adam Magee, Kim Wooge, Scott Wooge, Ryan Carlton, Jeanne Anson, Kay West, and Craig Stephens. The campers introduced themselves to everyone. All the counselors taught us weather, and how to relight a pilot light. Special guest speakers taught us home building (Ron Cassidy), first aid (Caleb Melton), mapping and plotting (Scott and Matt McClinton).

"We got to go to Lindstrand. At Lindstrand we learned about building balloons and baskets. We learned about the shelf that is in the racers, and about all balloons. We got to ride in the cloud hopper basket. During the whole time we got to do different baggie tosses. Like maximum distance, to the center of the X.

"In our free time we would play pool, ping pong, and go outside. One night we had half an hour before bed and we played man hunt. I was hiding behind a pile of gravel and I was surrounded so I ran for it and straight through some mud and lost one of my shoes. Ryan had to help me find it. The shoe I didn't lose tripled in size.

"I had a great time at camp," she concluded. "Thanks to the Nebraska Balloon Club I was able to go. Thank you for awarding me the scholarship.”

Balloon camp is an enjoyable experience for teens to learn about hot air ballooning. MSN.com put balloon camp in its top 10 list of Amazing Camps. 2013 looks to be another successful year of BFA Youth Summer Camps, registration forms will be out soon for both camps. Donations made to the Balloon Federation of America Youth Summer Camps made by December 31 are deductible from the contributor's 2012 taxes.

FMI: www.bfa.net