Kids have great time at day camp: ConocoPhillips steps up to fund annual event

HARTFORD, Jun 19, 2009 (The Telegraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- COP | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- "Splash" was the sound Assistant Hartford Fire Chief David Owens Jr. made Thursday after he fell into a tank filled with water.

"Ah-ha," Owens shouted as a boy threw a softball toward the target of the dunk tank and missed.

The boy threw again and missed, but on his third throw, he hit the mark, and down went Owens. The boy and dozens of other children started laughing.

Owens took part in the fourth annual children's day camp put on by 32 volunteers from the community and sponsored by ConocoPhillips.

"This is a wonderful event for kids," said Tamie Buehrer, the event's organizer and activity director. "The best part about it is that it's free."

Buehrer said more than 100 children attended this year's camp.

"We almost were unable to have it," she said.

Earlier this year, she said, the Hartford Village Board approved $5,000 in funding for the camp, which pays for transportation, materials, T-shirts, lunch and a variety of activities. But in late April, she was notified the village had pulled the money.

"I got a call saying that the village didn't have the money to sponsor the camp anymore," Buehrer said.

She said she pleaded, and village officials gave $1,000. However, if it weren't for the generous donation of $7,500 from the ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery, the children wouldn't be having "so much fun."

"For some of these kids, it's the only time they get to do anything," Buehrer said.

Different activities were planned for each day of the week. This year, the students took a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River, visited the Gateway Arch on the St. Louis riverfront, slid down the water slide at the Wood River Aquatic Center, played wacky sports, constructed arts and crafts, and took part in water sports.

The camp wraps up today with a carnival.

Besides getting dunked, Owens also brought the ConocoPhillips firetruck to the Hartford Community Center/Gymnasium, where the children spent the day. Owens also is a firefighter for the oil refinery in Roxana.

"(ConocoPhillips) thinks it's important to see these type of events that focus on kids and the community," said Melissa Erker, spokeswoman for ConocoPhillips.

Erker said it was enjoyable seeing the children interact with one another.

"This camp brings children in the community together," she said.

Others that donated toward the program were Kraft Foods Inc. in Granite City and RJ's in Hartford.

"We couldn't do what we do without the funding or the volunteers," Buehrer said. "We are praying that we will be able to do this again next year."

She said that many of the children have attended the camp before and look forward to it each year.

"It's exciting for them," she said. "There are so many single-parent homes and low-income families now that many children do not have the privilege of attending camp. There are a lot of us who like giving them this opportunity.

"We feel every child deserves it," Buehrer said.

Owens said he enjoyed helping out at the camp.

"I get to spend time with so many great kids," he said.

cynthia_ellis@thetelegraph.com

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