Moving summer from the Bronx to our backyards
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Olivia Wells, 5, and Regina Ashley Hallowell, 6, string beads to make watches at Well's Westminster home. This is Hallowell's first time participating in the Fresh Air program. JOURNAL PHOTO/KAREN MANN

For two weeks every summer, the Beaudoin family of Westminster has a fourth child.

"Josh makes it two and two, two boys and two girls, so Greg is not outnumbered," said Brian Beaudion.

Josh Hill visits the Beaudoin family every summer as part of the Fresh Air Fund's Friendly Town Program.

Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million children from New York City's toughest neighborhoods, according to its Web site. The program hosts about 6,000 kids per summer in rural and suburban communities.

"It is geared towards disadvantaged youth, to get them out of the city for a week or two, into a country household, to experience the things we experience. It is introducing them to new things and new lifestyles," said Sherry Berube, the area coordinator for the organization.

Greg Beaudoin and Josh Hill spend a lot of their two weeks together playing outside. The family took the photo on the left in 2002 and the boys pose in a similar position last week. COURTESY PHOTO AND JOURNAL PHOTO/KAREN MANN

In 2000, Berube became the volunteer coordinator for the 28 communities in the local division when the area was in jeopardy of losing the program. There were only six host families at the time so the national organization was considering eliminating the region as one of the host areas.

The Fresh Air Fund was a part of Berube's life long before she took on this role though.

"My 96-year-old grandmother still lives in Phillipston, she hosted a child," said Berube, who herself has hosted a child.

The Fresh Air Fund is also becoming a tradition with the Beaudoin family in Westminster.

Josh, who is now 15, has stayed with the Beaudoin's every year since he was nine.

"They treat me nice and it is fun over here," said Josh.

Older children, like Josh, can be invited back by former host families. To enter the program though, children must be between the ages of six and 12.

Last summer was the first time he did not come, because a summer job kept him in New York.

"It was strange not to have Josh here last year," said Brian. The Beaudoins say Josh is now a part of their family. Seventeen-year-old son Greg considers Josh to be like a brother.

"The first year, it took Josh three or four days to settle in. Now when he is here, he comes in as if he was here yesterday," said wife Mary beth.

She is impressed by how much trust Josh's parents and others have in the program to let their child go away for two weeks and be part of another family.

"You have to be ready to address any situation as if you are her mother," said Ashburnham resident Jennifer Wells. "Every child can bring a different experience."

The Wells family is hosting six-year-old Regina Ashley Hallowell for one week this summer.

"We are very fortunate, my kids are very fortunate. It's nice to teach them about different places and different people," Wells said.

The Wells family hosted a child three years ago. The following year, they invited that same child back, but at the last minute he did not come. The family decided to take a year off before hosting another child.

The family requested a six-year-old girl because they have a five-year-old daughter, Olivia.

Families can request to host a child of specific gender and in age range.

"It's like having a sister, I always wanted a sister. She is my shield (against my two older brothers)," said Olivia.

Ashley has been enjoying experiencing things that are new to her, such as walking barefoot in grass, swimming in area lakes and the ocean, as well as going out on a boat.

Both families said the kids seem to like doing everyday, routine things with the family.

"I like writing and reading books," said Ashley as her and Olivia made beaded watches.

"You don't have to embrace the new and different. You just have to be yourself and welcome the child as if they are your own," said Brian.

He remembers the first time Josh saw a butterfly in real life, not on the television screen.

"He still hates bugs," said Brian.

Josh's brother participates in the program, and his mother did when she was a child.

"I like to get away from the city. It is something new to do," said Josh.

Berube sees that as the main benefit for the children in the program.

"If generations of a family grow up in the same neighborhood with the same lifestyle, that is all they know. To break out of the cycle that the family is stuck in, they now realize that education is important to that, so they are aspiring to something new," said Berube.

The Wells and Beaudoin families believe they get just as much out of the program as Josh and Ashley.

"It really is a good program," said Wells. "It is nice to have someone to share your story with and maybe they will share their story with you."