Senator Murphy goes to Camp

There is a line from a classic popular song about summer that goes, "summertime and the living is easy." For underprivileged kids, summertime can be a stressful period of loneliness and boredom that can steer a child toward delinquency. For the past ten years, Camp Morty, located in the heart of the 1,081-acre Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem, has been reversing that trend, providing kids from homeless shelters and the foster care system with a fun-filled summer camp experience. Campers enjoy swimming, canoeing, boating on a freshwater lake, hike on the camp's many trails, participate in sports, arts and crafts and enjoy movies.
 
Senator Terrence Murphy has his own fond memories from his days at summer camp and recently visited Camp Morty to tour the facility and trade stories with the kids. "The positive impact summer camp can have on a kid cannot be understated," said Senator Murphy. "For many of these kids, this is the first time they have been able to enjoy a forest or a lake. The kids learn cooperation, sportsmanship, and develop friendships and an appreciation of nature at Camp Morty. They can relax and be kids, because they know they are in a safe environment they can trust."
 
Westchester County Legislator Francis Corcoran said, "Many of the kids that come to Camp Morty have not had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors or have someone in their life who can act as a mentor. Camp Morty focuses on building kid's confidence and giving them the skills they need to succeed in life, while not losing sight of the fact that they like to have fun."

North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas, "Camp Morty in beautiful Mountain Lakes Camp in  North Salem provides a camping experience for our County's foster children that they will not soon forget. We thank the Westchester County Parks Foundation for their help in funding the Camp and we very much appreciate Senator Murphy's interest in this wonderful program."
 
Supported by the Westchester Parks Foundation (formerly the Friends of Westchester County Parks), the camp is named in honor of Morton Hyman, who served as Supervisor of Camping for county parks for 20 years. Educators, social workers, and health professionals who specialize in working with children of all ages staff the camp. The staff also includes former campers and counselors-in-training who have benefitted from their experience and can serves as mentors for the children.