Community Partners
Bar-T is proud to be engaged with many organizations that serve our communities. While our involvement extends to organizations beyond the following list, here are a few key partners:
American Camp Association
The American Camp Association (ACA) is a community of camp professionals who come together to share knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs across the country. Through ACA, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else.
- Bar-T Summer Camps are ACA Accredited
- Mark Orens, Director of School Year Programs, is the Co-Chair for the Chesapeake Section of American Camp Association.
- The Summer Camp Leadership Team attends the ACA Tri-State Camp Conference every March.
Caring Matters
Bar-T supports Caring Matters, formerly Hospice Caring, through Camp Erin, an overnight weekend camp for children who are grieving the death of a loved one. Not only do we refer our campers/students to Camp Erin, many of our staff members are Big Buddy volunteers for the camp.
- Nancy Richardson, Owner of Bar-T, is the Immediate Past President of the Board for Caring Matters. She was recognized as a Washingtonian of the Year for her leadership and volunteerism with the organization.
Friends of the Family Justice Center/Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation
The Montgomery County FJC provides a kit that includes a new Teddy Bear or stuffed animal, age-appropriate books and learning materials, and school supplies to each child who comes to the FJC for services. Depending on the needs of the Center, we collect stuffed animals, books, or school supplies. for the Center. Click here to read more about our partnership.
- Rory Richardson, Director of Communications and Community Outreach, is on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery FJC Foundation.
- Bar-T was recognized by the MCFJCF with the Community Partnership Award in 2017.
Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Frederick
Our team is committed to being active leaders in the communities that we serve. Part of fulfilling this commitment is engaging with organizations like Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Frederick that educates and connects area executives.
- Leadership Montgomery CORE Program Participants:Joe Richardson, CEO, Class of 2017 Rory Richardson, Director of Communications, Class of 2019
- Leadership Frederick Participants:
Tyler Cureton, CFO, Class of 2018
Mark Orens, Director of School Year Programs, Class of 2020 - In February 2019, Leadership Montgomery recognized Bar-T at their Corporate Volunteer Awards Luncheon. The annual event recognizes local businesses for their support to the Montgomery County community through employee volunteer engagement. Bar-T received the Innovative Employee Volunteer Program Award for their commitment to engaging children in community service.
Montgomery County Commission on Child Care
The Montgomery County Commission on Childcare exists to advise the County Executive and County Council on the development, implementation, and effectiveness of government policies, programs, and services that enhance community support for quality, affordable and accessible child care. As leaders in the industry, we are actively engaged with the Commission.
- Greg Smith, Director of Kids Club Programs, is a Provider Representative on the Commission on Child Care and has previously served as Chairman.
The City of Rockville
Bar-T supports the City of Rockville’s Annual Food Drive and Annual Toy Drive through collection efforts in November and December.
Toys for Tots
As we want to ensure a happy holiday for all children, every November and December you can find a toy collection box for Toys for Tots at every Bar-T program.
Rotary
Rotary International has been active for over a hundred years and we are proud to do our part as business leaders in creating positive change in our communities.
- Joe Richardson Sr., Owner of Bar-T, is the current President of the Southern Frederick Rotary Club
Mountainside Education and Enrichment (MEE)
Mountainside Education and Enrichment (MEE)was founded in 2008 to broaden environmental and scientific educational programs, provide community engagement opportunities, and attract grant funding and donations for sponsoring low-income youth in MEE educational activities and Bar-T summer camps. Since its creation, MEE has offered Earth Day Spring Fests (2010 – 2015) and educational programs and experiments for K-12 students in Montgomery and Frederick Counties. They have grown over time to include Harvest Clubs for after-school centers, In-Classroom and On-Site Field Trips, and Overnight Retreats. Science-focused, interactive lessons and experiments educate youth about watersheds, stream ecology, agriculture, and energy. MEE’s most recent initiative, Lunch Out Of Landfills, was launched to tackle the issue of food waste in local schools.
- Joe Richardson, Sr. founded MEE in 2008, is currently on the Advisory Council, and is a School Composting Facilitator and Educator
- Shannon Richardson, Director of Mountainside Events at Bar-T, is also the Director of Environmental Education for MEE.
