Youth Eastside Services (YES) is the recipient of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary’s major grant for 2011-2012 which will be directed to the Explorers Therapeutic Summer Camp Program. The $12,000 grant enables YES to increase the camp size to host 30 youth this summer, which is the fourth year of the program.

The free camp targets low-income, elementary school youth who have significant mental health and behavioral problems and receive counseling at school from YES counselors.

“The camp contributes to a significant improvement in the health and well-being of these troubled youth,” explained Debbi Halela, YES director of youth and family counseling. “This experience serves as a key part of their therapy, contributing to successfully meeting treatment goals and to becoming healthy, happy, productive youth,” she added.

Many of the kids who attend the camp are managing serious issues including physical and sexual abuse, learning disabilities and major trauma such as deceased parents or family substance abuse. Most would not be able to participate in a summer camp experience because they either don’t have the financial means or lack the necessary social skills.

“The camp matched almost exactly the goals we wanted to achieve with this year’s grant, including serving children on the Eastside,” said Lee Smith, major grand committee chair for the Rotary club.