On Monday, July 2, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz played head counselor when a group of first-time campers gathered around a tent in Borough Hall and enjoyed “bug juice” and other camp treats to kick off Camp Brooklyn. Matt Allen, aka “The Ice Cream Man,” who’s traveling around the country giving out free ice cream, also made an appearance.

Thanks to the generosity of the Verizon Foundation and big-hearted Brooklynites, over 200 campers will participate in Borough President Markowitz’s Camp Brooklyn initiative, which, along with the non-profit organization SCOPE, sends Brooklyn kids to the beautiful countryside for two weeks of outdoor fun and hands-on learning every summer.

But before they go off to camp, the lucky campers were celebrated in style and given camp survival packs—complete with flashlights, t-shirts, supplies for letters home, and cameras—at this special event. The campers also got a head-start on summer arts and crafts, thanks to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, whose staff was on hand.

“I’m quick to trumpet all that Brooklyn has to offer, but every child deserves a chance to get out of the city and experience the beauty and transformative quality of nature,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Camp Brooklyn is a fantastic opportunity for Brooklyn kids to experience the great outdoors and become self-reliant and responsible under caring, adult supervision.”