The Rotary Club of North Conway Sponsors Bartlett Student’s Kismet Experience
The Rotary Club of North Conway has awarded a $2,000.00 grant to Kismet Rock Foundation, which will fully fund one Bartlett student’s experience at Kismet this summer!
Kismet Rock Foundation enhances the physical, intellectual, and emotional development of well-functioning but economically disadvantaged children by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive and multi-dimensional education in technical rock climbing. Kismet was selected because of its focus on providing technical rock climbing instruction to economically under-served youth from Bartlett, NH.
“The Rotary Club of North Conway’s focus on offering opportunities right here in the Valley fits well with Kismet’s mission. Kismet is grateful to the Rotary Club of North Conway for making it possible for a student from Bartlett to participate in our program this summer,” says Brian Post, Chair of Kismet’s Board of Directors.
Kismet Rock Foundation emerged out of a desire of founder/program director Mike Jewell to offer the same climbing instruction to economically disadvantaged children as he had given to many children with greater resources throughout his guiding career. He thus arranged for four children from southern New Jersey to travel to New Hampshire during the summer of 1999 for one week of technical climbing instruction. The project received media attention and as a result, Mike was approached by community members about starting a nonprofit organization. Because there is not necessarily a direct relationship between quantity and quality, program growth has been carefully measured. Kismet’s seven one-week programs of instruction now offer the immense value of a climbing education to 70 children each summer. Kismet accepts an equal number of girls and boys from Bartlett, Berlin, Gorham, and Manchester, NH; Portland, ME; and Boston, MA.
Kismet’s summer season launches on July 8, 2012.
Download Press Release – North Conway Rotary Club PR – June 2012 (.docx file)