Camp Pawpaw is a Qualified Education Service Provider and can accept Ohio ACE vouchers!

We are very excited to announce at as of June 1st 2023, Camp Pawpaw is an official Qualified Education Service Provider (QESP) in the state of Ohio. That means that families who qualify for Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) funding will be able to send their children to Camp Pawpaw at NO COST TO YOU! That's right, families who qualify, can set up an Education Savings Account and each child will receive $1,000 in vouchers to spend on enriching programming at official QESPs.

What is Ohio ACE?

The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides qualifying families with a $1,000 credit per child. These funds can be used to pay for a variety of educational activities designed to help accelerate learning for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allowable activities include day camps, among others.

Eligible Students

The ACE Educational Savings Account program is available to any Ohio child ages 6 to 18 years old (who hasn’t graduated from high school) who meets at least one of the conditions below:

Residency: Children residing in districts identified as having a high rate of chronic absenteeism or have one or more schools identified as EdChoice eligible qualify for an ACE Educational Savings Account. View the full list of eligible districts.

Income: Children who reside in a household with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) at or below 400% of the federal poverty level based on the household’s most recent federal income tax return qualify for an ACE Educational Savings Account. Find the chart of qualifying income levels.

Government Social Program Participation: Children who are part of a family that participates in programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Ohio Works First (OWF) or other government social programs with eligibility at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, qualify for an ACE Educational Savings Account.

How to Apply

The ACE Application Step-by-Step Guide walks parents and guardians through the process of applying for ACE funds.

Step 1: Complete the Application

Parents and guardians must complete the ACE application to determine eligibility. To access the application, the parent or guardian must have an OH|ID account.

• I do not have an OH|ID: The ACE Application Step-by-Step Guide provides a walkthrough of the application process, including creating an OH|ID account.

• I have an OH|ID: Log in to your OH|ID account and follow the instructions beginning at Step 2 of the ACE Application Step-by-Step Guide.

Please Note: If you have requested the ACE app in OH|ID and the app will not display, please USE THIS LINK to apply for the ACE program. We are aware of this issue and are actively working to fix it.

Step 2: Sign up with Merit

After the ACE application is complete and eligibility has been determined (this entire process may take up to two weeks), qualifying parents and guardians will receive an email from Merit notifying them to sign up to receive access to their account funds. This will also provide a link to the Education Marketplace.

Step 3: Spend ACE Funds with Qualified Education Service Providers

Parents and guardians will be able to access the Education Marketplace to find providers in their areas after income verification has been established and sign-up with Merit on ACEOhio.org is complete.

We can't wait for camp!

We can't wait for summer! Our Directors are working hard to plan a great summer for your campers. Camp is so important, and we are believers in the benefits it provides every child. A summer camp program offers a safe environment for children to develop social skills, decision-making skills, and maybe even experience the great outdoors. In fact, socialization during childhood may accomplish more for growth and development than reading or eating vegetables!

For most of us, we look back on the seemingly endless, carefree summer days of our childhood with fondness and joy. However, now that we are parents, some of us may have mixed feelings about this season for our own kids. How will we manage childcare while working? How can we avoid the “I’m bored!” comments? Are there any educational summer activities we can get them involved in? Why is our grocery bill and electricity suddenly so much higher?

One of the best answers to these questions can be summed up in two words: SUMMER CAMP! Not only is summer camp fun, but did you know that there are a wide range of benefits of summer camp for children? Here are just a few.

Socializing and Friendship Building

One of the greatest benefits of summer camp for youth is that they get to socialize and meet new people. During summer break, kids often find it difficult to form or maintain friendships with peers their own age. Besides their siblings or cousins, most kids would say that they mainly interact with adults when they are not in school. Not only do kids develop important life skills through socializing – such as sharing, setting boundaries, and problem-solving – they also are learning how to develop strong, healthy relationships through interacting with their peers.

Eliminating Screen Time and Getting Exercise

In a world full of technology, sedentary-related conditions are on the rise. In fact, physical inactivity is currently the leading cause of disease and disabilities in the United States, and it all starts in childhood. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, doubles the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, and increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorders, depression and anxiety – which, for the most part, are entirely preventable. While some extra creativity to get your kids active and limit screen time at home during the summer is often required, summer camp is a perfect solution. Most of these programs are situated in the great outdoors and offer a number of physical activities for the children to partake in. Not only will the kids get out of the house and have some fun, but they are sure to get some solid exercise in as well – from activities such as hiking to archery, horseback riding, swimming, zip-lining, and team sports. Allowing your kids to explore the outdoors and interact with new children is an excellent way to broaden their perspective and experience a whole new world for their summer break.

Personal Growth, Learning, and Development

Most summer camps focus on a theme, or incorporate aspects of learning, exploring, character building, and personal growth. If you are looking for fun summer activities for your children, there are many different camp types to consider, such as sports camp, cooking camps, art camps, science camps and many more. You can be certain that your child will not only be entertained, but also educated and challenged. While they are having fun and exploring their own interests, they are also increasing their own capacities for learning, teamwork, problem solving, knowledge, and self-awareness. In fact, studies have shown that, of families who send their kids to summer camp, 70 percent of parents report that their child gained self-confidence while at camp. A strong sense of self is so important, and this is only one of the many ways that attending summer camp can positively impact your son or daughter. Learning about themselves and the world outside of the traditional classroom environment can do wonders for their growth and development.

Positive Role Models

Another benefit of summer camp is that it provides your child with the opportunity to interact with positive adult role models. Typically, camp counselors are younger adults who are choosing to volunteer or working part-time over their own summer break from college. Not only are these counselors energetic, but kids see them as “cool” and often a little more relatable than their own parents. This can be a tremendous asset in the lives of your children (and yours). Sometimes, it helps kids to see what their own lives could look like in just a few short years and, if the “cool camp counselor” has integrity and a good character, your child is likely to emulate them, too. It also gives our child a sense of community while working with others. The formation of these role model relationships can help kids to develop the confidence, self-esteem, and skills they need to be successful in school and in life. Overall, the more healthy, positive adult relationships that a child or youth has in their life, the more likely they are to thrive in all areas, long after summer camp has ended.

Making Memories

Many adults would say that some of their fondest memories were those sunny, summer camp experiences as they were growing up. Unfortunately, kids today are missing out on some of the simplicity of life before the technological era. While times have certainly changed and there is tremendous value in that, there is nothing quite like preserving those simple, unplugged, childhood memories. Aside from gaining decision-making skills, leadership skills, and social skills at a summer program, they also get plenty of physical activity as well!. Yes, your child may miss their phone, tablet, or gaming system at first, but once they start exploring, interacting with their peers, engaging in a variety of activities, and having new adventures, they are sure to leave summer camp with stories, photographs, friendships, life lessons, and memories that will last a lifetime.