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Hernando Today

Pastors Host Free Camp For Low-Income Boys

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By LINNEA BROWN

Published: May 22, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

That's the motto of two local pastors who are offering a unique, free overnight summer camp experience to local at-risk youth, in the hopes of getting young men off the street and teaching them life skills.

Rev. Clarence Clarke and Associate Rev. William Robinson, both of the nondenominational Shiloh New Beginnings Pillar of Truth Ministries in Brooksville, will host three sessions of sleepaway camp at Lakewood Retreat, a camp north of Tampa.

It will include canoeing, fishing, court sports, hiking and swimming, as well as numerous team building and age-appropriate activities, led by two adults and two peer counselors.

Transportation will be provided to and from camp via bus, with only basic clothing and toiletries required for the week.

Since January, Clarke and Robinson have operated the Brooksville-based nonprofit organization Shiloh Problem Solvers, a mentoring program in which they visit local high schools and middle schools once a week and spend time with low-income youth.

They said their outreach mission began with hearing local residents complain about problems in schools, and believing those issues could be eliminated through the presence of effective volunteers.

"It's not about having teachable material," Clarke said. "It's about how you present yourself and are able to (be there) for these kids."

The idea of hosting a free summer camp came from the concept of the one thing the men have to give — time.

"We're just trying to eliminate the excuse of 'We don't have any money,'" Robinson said. "We want to show people that they don't have to wait until they have money. The most important thing is just to get started. We didn't wait; we just started with time."

The camp will consist of three weeklong sessions in June and July for 15 boys per session, with each session dedicated to several age groups: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-11.

While the men said they'd like to eventually make the camping program co-ed, they decided against it, for now, to head off any potential problems.

"The goal is to teach young men how to be problem solvers, and teaching them the balance between relationships and authority," Robinson said. "We don't make men. We just make them better."

But the more immediate goal is to simply get kids off the streets of Brooksville, Clarke said.

"Our kids get home from school and have nowhere to go," he said. "Instead of talking about whose fault it is, let's get together and provide a safe haven for our kids."

Most of their mission consists of simply listening and building trust, he added.

"We act as a sounding board," Clarke said. "It's an appropriate release for them. They won't listen to you until you spend time with them. Why should they?"

Both men have quit their jobs to focus on their mentoring venture fulltime, which they started in January.

While Shiloh Problem Solvers is paying for 10 kids' camp fees, Clarke and Robinson are currently calling on other local churches and individuals to help sponsor the other 35 children. The cost of sponsoring a child for the week is $50.

They are also always on the lookout for responsible adult volunteers, Clarke said.

To sponsor a child or volunteer, call 561-799-4633.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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