This is a place where leaders are formed, relationships built, and, most significantly, where walls come down. My two summers with HUH were filled with moments of joy and beauty and with breakthroughs in self-understanding. The camp brings together folks who might not ordinarily meet yet who find themselves sharing and celebrating ample common ground. The mentors are terrific and participants' lives are transformed. A precious jewel of a place.
My experience with Heads Up Hartford is as a parent whose kids attended as campers. I was always glad my children chose to join in the HUH experience and make a difference in our community. I have also attended as a volunteer and have seen first hand how the camp brings together teenagers to provide service to the surrounding communities.
HUH does amazing work with getting teens involved with different charities! They make a difference both through their charity work and through engaging teens in a wonderful summer camp.
Heads Up Hartford is an amazing organization! I had the opportunity to attend the summer camp for several years while in high school and it was great experience. I loved being able to make a difference by volunteering at different job sites while having fun with friends. It definitely made an impact on my life and I would recommend it to anyone.
I'm proud to serve as a board member for Heads Up! Hartford (HUH). I've been with the organization for over five years and am still amazed by the passion, dedication, and enthusiasm of our board, operations team, campers, and their parents.
This past summer, we touched the lives of 60 campers and their families.
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Heads Up! Hartford is all about the three Ps. The ps stand for passion (to serve others in the community), purpose (finding meaning in community service work), and people (working with individuals in our community to build a better world).
I've been a board member for five years, and I'm extremely proud of the work of our volunteers, board members, campers, their parents, and our community partners. We are changing the lives of people one camper at a time. Serving over 1,100 campers in our 20 years of service to the greater Hartford community. This small camp brings a whole lot of passion and purpose to the people we serve!
HUH is such a great organization-- for campers, volunteers, and for the community! It's such a unique and special summer camp for teenagers who care about making a difference. Lots of camps and student groups claim they prioritize youth leadership, but it's unusual to find an organization that actually puts youth at the helm of building the community they envision. Campers benefit from HUH's 20+ years of excellence and service to the greater Hartford community as they learn through engaging in hands-on projects with local nonprofits. I highly recommend HUH for teens and their families!
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This organization provides high schoolers with leadership and service experiences far beyond anything they'd get elsewhere. The growth that campers experience over the course of only one week of camp is evident in the confidence, joy, and fulfillment they feel in joining together to serve the greater Hartford community.
I first attended Heads Up Hartford 8 years ago as a camper. I haven't been able to leave since, transitioning into roles as a counselor, ops team member, and now board member. There are a thousand great things to say about HUH's impact on my life, but the most important is way in which I view volunteering. Through the many positive experiences I had working with orgs all throughout the Hartford area, HUH has taught me community service is not something you should feel forced or compelled to do, but rather a fun and rewarding activity.
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I have been a member of the HUH community for 8 years now and can not say enough great things about the organization. My decision to go from camper to counselor to operations committee member speaks volumes to the impact HUH has had on my life. I can attribute my love of community service and many of my leadership skills to this camp. During the transformative teen years, this camp provided an environment for growth, self reflection, and connection. HUH is a wonderful experience for campers and volunteers alike.
Heads Up! Hartford is a wonderful organization that has shown how impactful and imperative bringing together youth from various backgrounds around a common goal of creating connections and serving the community can be. I came into the organization and immediately saw the impact that it has had on dozens of incredible individuals, all of whom have found ways to keep the mission of building connections with others regardless of background and serving the overall community a cornerstone of their day-to-day life!
It has been incredible to witness the wonderful impact that this organization has, and I look forward to seeing the continued impact in years to come!
Heads Up! Hartford changed my life. After difficult times in middle a school, it provided me with perspective and pushed me out of my comfort zone — exactly what I needed. I had grown up in an almost all-white town in Connecticut, and Heads Up! Hartford gave me the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and realize how much we had/have in common. Some of the people I met there are still my best friends.
Heads Up Hartford is an amazing organization. I had the privilege to volunteer for HUH for five years. HUH impresses me with its unwavering commitment to its cause. The organization brings people among the Great Hartford region and many places in the State of Connecticut, and make a difference in the community by providing free service. HUH is an inspiring example of nonprofit. It not only connects communities in need of help with volunteers, but it also educates the young adults of this organization about justice, peace, and inclusiveness.
I have been involved the Heads Up Hartford camp for more than a decade as a volunteer. This is a WONDERFUL youth experience in caring, sharing, games & activities, camaraderie, and FUN FUN FUN! I have seen children arrive on day-one acting shy and a bit withdrawn, and concluding camp on day-seven as outgoing, elated campers CRYING that camp has ended. Many campers trade contact info with each other and talk about "NEXT YEAR!" It's a greater experience for these children than words can describe.
This is a terrific organization that brings together urban and suburban teens, providing leadership skills, community building and diversity education, all while tackling projects that improve and benefit the City of Hartford.
My daughter loved this camp so much she continues to be involved as a counselor long after her time as a camper. She loved the inclusiveness of the camp as well as the community work. I have seen many shy children attend and gain confidence during the week long camp. The camp gives the kids skills in such areas as teamwork and leadership.
Always the highlight of my year and I can't wait to be back. Great place for preteens to get leadership and community service experience. I love it here!
Heads Up! Hartford is a wonderful, warm community that does so much to promote positive youth development through service.
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Heads Up! Hartford is a wonderful opportunity for young people to grow together in a supportive environment.
Heads Up! Hartford is an amazing organization that operates a week-long summer camp uniting urban and suburban teens to improve our communities and develop as leaders. They are creating leaders and inspiring our youth to make a difference in our communities.
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Heads Up! Hartford has been creating leaders through service in our communities for over 20 years! HUH continues to give back to the communities in and around Hartford, Connecticut. Each summer our campers collectively perform 3,000 hours of service at nonprofits in greater Hartford. High School age teens from a variety of geographic, economic, and racial backgrounds collaborate to serve the community during the day and engage with each other during a variety of educational and leisure activities at night. HUH continues to have a strong presence in our communities and provides life changing experiences for the teens and adults involved. I continue to be a proud sponsor of Heads Up! Hartford!
Heads up Hartford organization makes a difference in every child that attends the summer camp and their programs.
A great camp that brings young adults together from all walks of life for community service and fellowship!
Amazing camp that provides opportunities to develop leadership and community service skills!
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Read moreHeads Up! Hartford continues to be a strong presence in the Greater Hartford community, even in the midst of a pandemic. The camp prepares high school teens to be leaders, understanding diversity and the responsibility for helping our neighbors. Campers engage in conversation and work about how to be better citizens in a world that is hurting. In 2021 we had a hybrid camp with two in-person days and the rest via zoom--to keep all safe. Relationships were built, community service was accomplished, and new learning happened. Heads Up! Hartford is a camp like no other, given the lives that are changed and challenged. I am proud to be part of this camp for years and join those who have been changed by it.
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Heads Up! Hartford is a camp that brings together urban and suburban teens to learn how to be leaders, how to celebrate diversity, and how to serve the wider community by giving of themselves. With the coronavirus pandemic upon us, the youth leaders switched gears and said a resounding "yes" to make this year's camp a creative virtual experience via Zoom. During the week campers learned about some of the social injustices of our current time and how they might make a difference. They had engaging and difficult conversations on these topics in addition to having fun together. Their passionate counselors and youth leaders guided campers online to realize the difference they can each make wherever they are planted. I have volunteered with this camp for 15+ years and am continually amazed at the ways these young people teach me. These campers and youth leaders will be the future leaders of our communities! In one short week they deepened relationships and built new ones with the dream of returning next year for an in-person camp experience.
Me and my siblings have been going to Heads Up Hartford for years and feel that it has made a difference in our life. I not only learned how to care for the world and community around me, but I also acquired better social skills; which is a big help since I am socially unconfident. Through Heads Up Hartford, I have made many new friends that care so much about me. I love helping people and it has truly changed my life for the better.
This year I am going to be attending HUH! for my fourth year as a camper, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have met so many great people through this organization and the friendships last throughout the year. I love what we do during the week, helping out different charities, if only it lasted a month! I’m so excited to meet more new people and help more charities
I am a camper and it was one of the best experiences of my life. We got to help the community while creating life long friendships. It is one of the most inclusive places. I met amazing people and one of my best friends. It also helped me learn leaderships skills.
HU!H is like a second home for me in the summer. I always enjoy helping the community and feeling like I’m making an impact.
Great experince, helped the community. As a camper, it made a positive impact on my life as well as the lives of others. I learned a lot about other people and myself.
Heads Up Hartford! Is an amazing summer camp that has shaped who I am as a person! I went into this camp going into my sophomore and in the past 3 years I have made friends that will last a lifetime! Throughout this camp I have had opportunities that I would have never have had otherwise. Through community service, speakers, and fellowship this week is easily the highlight of my summer!!!
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I love this summer camp!! It gave me an opportunity to meet people who I otherwise would have never meant!! I have created lifelong friends who I will be friends with for a lifetime! I see people from heads up hartford around at fairs, football games, at the supermarket and all over and it brightens my day to see these people. It is even better that we all are doing gods work and making a difference in our community
Where do i begin. Heads Up Hartford has changed my life the amount of love, support, and fun you have throughout the week is just amazing. These people here are not my friends but my family and enjoy getting to know them and love them every second they live on this earth. Heads up Hartford is a great way to be yourself no matter what your background is you are welcome here. The second camp is over I am counting down to the next camp year. Much love to all my fellow campers, Yabs, Counselors, Directors and may more people. This camp also gave the pleasure to meet people I would never have imaged being my friends or in fact my family.
My church has been connected with HUH for over a decade and has made a significant impact on our teens. I love how this camp focuses on creating a diverse, supportive and loving community all while increasing teens faith in God.
Heads Up Hartford changed my life. I was a camper for a couple of years in high school and met some of my best friends at camp. It is so important for high-schoolers to have a week away from technology to give them a safe space to learn about themselves and others. HUH teaches campers that they can truly help people in their community, no matter how old they are or how small of an action. HUH does an amazing job.
This is a wonderfully run camp that provides an opportunity for youth from different backgrounds to come together in service to others. HUH's focus on youth leadership and youth empowerment has led to many of their campers maturing into leadership roles, at the camp and in the world. The community is so positive and welcoming that everyone - campers, volunteers, staff - feel welcomed.
Heads Up Hartford provides a remarkable and life changing experience for teens and the adult leaders as they navigate getting to know and work and play along side others, often unlike themselves. The world will benefit from every person who experiences Heads Up Hartford!
I have been a volunteer with this camp for over 16 years. Both of my daughters attended. There is no better group I know that brings together such dedicated counselors and staff, year after year, who are willing to donate their time to work hard to provide an amazing experience for the teens while serving the greater Hartford community at the same time. I've seen the experience change lives. Shy teens become leaders. Others find their life purpose in service. Some gain great confidence. All learn to take risks to become their best selves.
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I have been a counselor and member of the ops committee for over 10 years. Both of my daughters also attended camp. From day one of my involvement I was impressed with the warm and welcoming environment that the returning campers and staff created for the new folks. HUH is safe place that gives campers the opportunity to stretch out of their comfort zones and take risks such as assuming a leadership role or challenging their perceived limitations as they give 100% at a work site. Friendships are formed across the urban/suburban divide as everyone works for a common goal. Every year I am so impressed by all the people who are served in one short week by teens who pour their hearts and souls into serving others yet manage to have the time of their lives doing it. Being able to be a part of the magic of HUH is a gift.
Heads up Hartford isn’t just a camp; it’s a second home. The love, the energy, the kindness expressed by every person you interact with all week is amazing. This is a dedicated group of people who are building up our community, not only through service projects across the state, but by building relationships with peers and creating a larger and more interconnected community in CT. As I’ve gone through the camp as a camper, a YAB (youth leader), and a councilor, I’ve gotten to learn and strengthen my leadership skills in different situations, which has prepared me immensely for “the real world”.
A great camp, service, and learning experience for high school students. As a local church youth leader, I attended as a counselor for several years and highly recommended it to our church families.
This is an incredible organization that is making a difference in greater Hartford!
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I have attended HUH for 3 years now and I plan on returning for many years to come. Working with my team has never felt like work, yet we always make an impact. I love the community and mission at Heads Up!.
This place is easily the highlight of my year. I started off as a thirteen year-old who needed a faith revitalization and initiative, and this camp did it in such an amazing way! I can’t even begin to describe how much I love this place, the people, the HUH traditions (basketball tournament, talent show, etc.) the worksites, and the knowledge that we are serving our God make me hope that each and every one of you will join us!
I have had the privilege of being involved with this effort since it was an inspiration within the mind and heart of Denny Moon, the founder. When I first met him, sipping iced tea on a hot day, he vividly described his vision. I was deeply moved by his compelling picture of bringing together young people who were 'right across the river' from each other. He saw the opportunity for youth from different backgrounds and ethnicities and socioeconomic status to learn about one another, and build bridges across the many differences. He believed that while mission trips to serve the underprivileged in other parts of the country were worthy and useful, he also believed that there was plenty of work to be done 'in our own backyards.'
After year 15, and still actively involved with Heads Up! Hartford, I continue to be amazed at the transformational quality of a week of co-existence and co-creation. The leadership growth of the teenagers who attend, and the people who are touched as a result of the community outreach work, is immeasurable.
I am in awe of the power, strength and hope that the young adults bring to and take from this spirit-filled experience that happens year after year. Very grateful!
This is an excellent, faith-based service camp that bring teenagers together for worship, fellowship, service, fun and leadership. There are opportunities for participation for the whole family during the week while the teens are serving in various capacities throughout greater Hartford!
Heads Up! Hartford found me when I was a young 9th grade girl who wasn't sure who she was or who she wanted to be. After just one week at camp, I walked away wanting to make a bigger difference in the world around me, learn more about others who were different than I was, and to create a stronger relationship with God. Now, 9 years later I am on the Operations Committee and I work to help plan and create camp, bringing the opportunity for another young 9th grade camper to have the life changing experience that I once had.