CINCINNATI — An area summer camp that helps kids in need, now needs help because of high gas prices.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Cincinnati Urban Promise provides child care and transportation to summer camp for kids in low-income families 

  • The executive director says they pick up most of the 150 kids they'll be serving this summer

  • The high gas prices mean they'll be considering cutting out field trips and trying for more grants and donations

 

 

It’s the start of summer camp and the lead preschool teacher, Katherine Harden, already has a class full.

“It’s been a little… crazy because we’re all learning our new routine,” said Harden. 

The backyard playground at Cincinnati Urban Promise might be as far as the kids go on a field trip this summer.

“We’ll let them have open play time, we’ll take them out as much as we can, get them outdoors and do activities outdoors… we always, we improvise,” said Harden. 

Gas prices are what might keep field trip buses parked.

Abe Brandyberry is the executive director at the center. He says field trips aren’t the only thing being affected. The buses pick up campers from home and this year they’ve hit a record need.

“We’re gonna be serving about 150 students this summer and many of those students need transportation to get here,” said Brandyberry. 

He says they’re trying to figure out how to keep picking up kids for camp and pay for the rising gas prices. 

“We’re predicting we’re gonna spend between $400 to $500 a week on gas, and so what used to be covered by our weekly fee and paying for gas is barely scratching the surface,” said Brandyberry.

He said he will not raise prices for families but they are looking into more grants, donations and possible budget cuts.

With more summer left and more kids coming in, they hope it doesn’t get to that point. 

For more information on Cincinnati Urban Promise, click here.