ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Leaders at the St. Pete nonprofit S.T.O.R.Y. 727 say the organization needs extra community support this year to put on its annual summer camp after other funding fell through.

What You Need To Know

  • S.T.O.R.Y 727 Exposure Impact Camp is a six-week camp for kids aged 5-17

  • After funding fell through, S.T.O.R.Y 727 is looking to raise $15,000 to support the summer program this year

  • S.T.O.R.Y 727 also runs programs for students throughout the school year

The camp is for kids aged 5 to 17 and it’s not your typical camp — they do fun things, but they also focus on education and making sure students are ready for school in the fall. The organizers say without it, a lot of the kids won’t have anywhere else to go this summer and could fall behind.

Eric Jackson, one of the founders of S.T.O.R.Y. 727 — which stands for “Stringing Together Obviously Remarkable Youth” — says their summer program does just that.

“We expose them to robotics, engineering, computers, financial literacy and we engage in multiple, multiple field trips," he said. "And most of all, we extend major love and mentorship to the kids throughout the six weeks."

It’s a six-week camp that will hopefully start on June 9, if the group can raise $15,000 after other funding fell through.

“Now we’re in the position where we have to gather, re-design our program a little bit during the summer," Jackson said. "We have to tweak some stuff, take some stuff away, to still have a successful program for the kids."

After funding fell through, S.T.O.R.Y 727 is looking to raise $15,000 to support the summer program this year. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Fallon Silcox)
After funding fell through, S.T.O.R.Y 727 is looking to raise $15,000 to support the summer program this year. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Fallon Silcox)

Even if they have to scale back, Jackson said it's the people who make the camp so special.

“Everybody here wants to help you. Everybody here just wants to see you be a better you,” said Jordan Hall, who was in the camp his freshman year of high school.

Hall just graduated from Boca Ciega High School and will be attending Bethune Cookman University in the fall.

He says S.T.O.R.Y. 727 helped shape him into the man he is today, and his mom, Jacquelyn Hall, agrees.

“I saw my son thrive in the program," she said. "He got more interested in going off to college, he got more interested in doing things, they taught them so much, life fundamentals."

Jackson says he has faith in the community to come through for these kids. 

“Our investment today is really going to make an impact for change tomorrow," he said.

S.T.O.R.Y. 727 also offers programs for students during the school year. If you would like to learn more, visit the organization's website.