 As we start the day of love, we take a look back at an enchanting love story that originated from our very own Camp Swift! In the summer of 2008, Ian and Rebecca were both students at Horizon High School and also a part of the same youth group. While they had already met before, it would take becoming co-camp counselors at Camp Swift for them to really get to know each other. Both sixteen at the time, Ian and Rebecca were both amazed by their experience at camp. Rebecca said that it was ‘pure fun’ and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to receive love from her community while also giving back love to the campers. She said looking back at it, her favorite activity was “paint the counselor,” in which she still has her splattered shirt. Ian said that camp was a unique experience that allowed him to have fun as a kid while learning the hard work and responsibility of an adult. He said that his experience at camp has helped him tremendously in his life now. While Ian and Rebecca were both seriously busy with their camp duties, they still found time to bond with each other. They said that activities with the campers, especially game nights, really sparked their relationship with each other. And even after the fun from Camp Swift, not much changed as Ian and Rebecca constantly kept in touch through their cell phones, school, and their youth group. Ian, who also stayed for the second session of camp, said that he often found himself trying to find cell signal at camp to try and talk with Rebecca! Fifteen years later, Ian and Rebecca Shore are currently married with one son! They are both ecstatic that Camp Swift is still doing so well and are major supporters of what Camp Swift stands for. They said that they will always be thankful for Camp Swift and for the experiences that ignited their charming relationship! Happy Valentine’s Day! Interested in sharing your Swift story? Email us at info@swiftyouth.org.SWIFT CARNIVAL IS THIS MONTH |
 | In celebration of the holidays, our most recent Swift Saturday was a winter wonderland! The kids honed in on their artistic skills with tie-dye snowflakes. They colored their coffee filters with markers, creating rainbow snowflakes, traditional blue snowflakes, and everything in between! After spraying the filters with water and watching the colors swirl, they cut small pieces out of them to design intricate patterns. |
It’s always amazing to see all the creativity that sparks from these activities. Then, they got their hands dirty with one of their all time favorite science projects: slime! They mixed together glue and their activating agents to observe the reaction that occurred as the glue turned into slime. With the winter spirit in mind, they mixed in glitter to decorate their snowy slime. Finally, everyone was energized for a game of campers vs. counselors freeze tag. It was an intense game, but after their close win, the kids were hungry and ready for the delicious lunch waiting for them. Once it was time to go, everyone said goodbye for the holidays and headed home. We’re excited to see everyone again at more Swift Saturdays as we ring in the New Year!
Claire's Experience at Camp Swift!
By: Andrew Pitts
By: Andrew Pitts
 | Recently I had the opportunity to interview Claire Cabianca, a counselor and teen leader at Swift. Claire is currently a sophomore at PCDS. She mentioned that she was first introduced to Camp Swift by a friend at her school and never looked back. Claire is heavily involved in Swift, as she is a member of the Swift club at her school and she also attended multiple Swift Saturdays, |
helped in the Swift Carnival, volunteers at Swift After School every Tuesday, and was a counselor at the second session of camp this year.
Claire reflected fondly on her time at Camp Swift. As a part of the “MGB” cabin, she and her other co-counselors were responsible for 5 campers. Claire said that she loved the counselor-to-camper ratio because it allowed an abundance of one-on-one experiences and contributed to some unforgettable bonds made at Camp Swift. She noted that her favorite activities were the campfire and the night hike. She mentioned that she loved the array of activities that the campfire setting provided and the way it brought the night to life. Claire also appreciated the night hike and brought up a bond she made with one of the campers. One of the campers in her group was scared of the darkness of the hike and Claire said she found a real connection between her and the camper as they ended up loving the activity.
Similar to my experience, Claire said that Camp Swift affected her in such a positive way. Between the relationships with her co-counselors and the memories she made with the campers, Claire felt that Camp was an awesome experience. Although she had to leave early, due to a broken ankle, Claire left feeling motivated to get more involved with Camp Swift and inspired to give the campers the best experience that she can give them.
“I never realized how much of an impact one person can have in a child’s life.” ~ Claire
Claire reflected fondly on her time at Camp Swift. As a part of the “MGB” cabin, she and her other co-counselors were responsible for 5 campers. Claire said that she loved the counselor-to-camper ratio because it allowed an abundance of one-on-one experiences and contributed to some unforgettable bonds made at Camp Swift. She noted that her favorite activities were the campfire and the night hike. She mentioned that she loved the array of activities that the campfire setting provided and the way it brought the night to life. Claire also appreciated the night hike and brought up a bond she made with one of the campers. One of the campers in her group was scared of the darkness of the hike and Claire said she found a real connection between her and the camper as they ended up loving the activity.
Similar to my experience, Claire said that Camp Swift affected her in such a positive way. Between the relationships with her co-counselors and the memories she made with the campers, Claire felt that Camp was an awesome experience. Although she had to leave early, due to a broken ankle, Claire left feeling motivated to get more involved with Camp Swift and inspired to give the campers the best experience that she can give them.
“I never realized how much of an impact one person can have in a child’s life.” ~ Claire
Carnival is Almost HERE!
Mark your calendars, February 25th will be here before you know it! We will be back for our 21st annual Carnival! Participant, volunteer, or sponsor, we are excited to have you there!
Wear a Piece of Swift
Teen Board Member, Julia Black, has created a line of t-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags with camper's art from Camp Swift. All of the proceeds benefit Swift. Go get yours now at JDesigns!
Mentorship Corner
"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself."
-Oprah Winfrey
-Oprah Winfrey
It's the most wonderful time of the year... Swift Holiday parties are almost here!
Mark your calendars, Holiday parties are almost here! This year, thanks to Synergy Physical Therapy and Axway Inc, we will be adopting three classrooms which means we will have three opportunities for you to get in the holiday spirit, build gingerbread houses with the kids, and watch them open gifts from their wish lists. These events are truly some of the most magical programs Swift offers, you don't want to miss them!
12/16/22 at Palomino Intermediate
12:25-1:25 - 5th grade - Sign up HERE
12/16/22 at Palomino Intermediate
1:05-2:05 - 4th grade - Sign up HERE
12/23/22 at Wilson Elementary
9:00-10:00 - 5th grade - Sign up HERE
Musicians in the Making
By: Manya Madala & Jessica Berman
Recently, Horizon High School student Inkeri Holappa led an after-school program at Palomino Primary! We had the chance to talk with her about what the whole process looked like. Inkeri is passionate about music and is the president of the choir at her high school. She felt inspired to share her passion for music with Swift, in hopes that some of the kids would be able to connect with it as well. In the planning process, she brainstormed many ideas for projects and activities. Ultimately, she settled on making maracas! She tailored this project for the kids, making it straightforward and easy to follow. The maracas were made of plastic easter eggs filled with beads with two spoons taped around them. The kids loved this! After everyone finished their maracas, Inkeri played some music for them and demonstrated shaking the maracas to the tempo of each song. The kids immediately picked up on this. They split into groups and each group created its own song. The kids had the most fun with this creative aspect, and everyone enjoyed performing their songs for one another at the end. Inkeri loved planning and leading this program. She looks forward to doing it again and would recommend that other teens try coming up with their own programs as well! Thanks, Inkeri!
Camp Swift’s Impact on Me!
By: Andrew Pitts
This past summer I had the privilege of volunteering as a counselor in the first session of Camp Swift. I was a co-counselor in the Youngest Boys ‘A’ Cabin (YBA for short). My co-counselor and I were responsible for eight campers' safety, from ages 7 to 9. We had our hands full, for sure, but it was one of the best and most exciting times of my life. I learned a great deal from camp including communication and leadership skills. My time with campers definitely had a huge impact on me. I felt like I really became a more thoughtful person, as being in charge of eight kids really helped me to think about the safety and spirit of the campers and not just myself. I also felt that my time at camp really helped me feel the importance of community. I felt welcomed by everyone at Swift and that made me want to give the same feeling of welcomeness to the campers and make sure they have a great time through a community that really cares about them.
One experience from camp that really impacted me was with one of the YBA campers named Pete. Pete was nine years old at the time and he wanted me to teach him to swim. Pete wanted to pass the swim test so he could go into the deeper part of the pool. I spent forty-five minutes with him on the first swimming day teaching him the basics. On the second swimming day, he felt he was ready for the swimming test. I was amazed by the goals that he set for himself and his determination. He failed that attempt, however right after we went right back into practicing the basics. I was inspired by the spark that he had in his eyes and on the last swimming day, he passed the swimming test with ease and completed his goal. I was so proud of him and it really highlighted my time at Camp Swift!
Thank you for giving!
We thank everyone who donated to Swift during Giving Tuesday! We were blown away by the support of our community! All donations from the day will be directly returned to the kids through creative programming and impactful mentor relationships.
A very special congratulations and thank you goes out to the Teen Leadership Board for going above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. They set a goal of $10,000 and raised $14,171! We are so proud and grateful for you all! The Young Professional Board will now be pied in the face and complete the ice bucket challenge to acknowledge the TLB's achievement!
Mentorship Corner
“Set an example. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you-- not because they are nice, but because you are.” - Unknown
Swift After School is 20!
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Swift After School! Happy Birthday to you!
This year Swift After School celebrates its 20th year! Back in 2002 the first Swift After School program launched at Palomino Intermediate, today we still have a program there every Monday afternoon for 4th-6th graders. In addition to Swift After School at Palomino Intermediate, we now have programs at Homeward Bound on Tuesdays, at Wilson Elementary on Wednesdays, and Palomino Primary on Thursdays. Swift After School is the highlight of our week every week, we love being able to stay connected with our campers and participants all year long! This academic year we rotate every three weeks between arts and crafts, STEM experiments and activities, and games/sports.
If you are interested in volunteering at Swift After School please email us at info@swiftyouth.org
GIVING TUESDAY
It’s that time of year again, Giving Tuesday is nearly here! This year Giving Tuesday is on November 29th, 2022, that is just a little under three weeks away from today. This is a global day of unprecedented giving meant to encourage generosity and humanity all around the globe.
Swift’s goal is to bring in $50,000 between now and Giving Tuesday and we need your help! We will be having an event at our office on the evening of November 29th to celebrate the day and we’d love you to attend! We have some exciting games and plans for the evening including our own spin on the Jimmy Fallon special "Can You Feel This?". If you are interested in attending please email or call us! Donate HERE!
October Swift Saturday
On October 15th we hosted our first Swift Saturday event of the school year. We welcomed 59 kids to participate in Halloween and fall themed activities. We were thrilled to host another Swift Saturday just a week later at the Arizona Science Center. Our Teen Leadership Board and their teen board teamed up to provide a Spooky Science event! The kids had so much fun at both! We are excited to be back at Swift Saturday next weekend, November 19th!
Do you have a computer?
Is a new laptop on your holiday wishlist? Us too! We would love to take your old one off your hands! We are looking for a gently used, not too old laptop for volunteers to be able to work on when they come into our office. We only ask that you wipe the computer before it comes to us. Thank you so much!
Holiday Parties are right around the corner!
Mark your calendars, December 16th we have two Holiday parties at Palomino Intermediate and December 23rd we have a third party at Wilson Elementary. Keep an eye out for signups coming soon to volunteer at one of the most magical programs Swift has!
Mentor Corner
“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” – Phil Collins
Online community
The Grilled Cheese Gazette features blog posts from Swift staff, volunteers, and community members! Contact Us if you're interested in contributing to our blog!
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