From left, Carolynn Wesp, Royal Family Kids’ Camp director; Betsy Shepherd, Lakewood Garden Tour participant; and Mary Phaneuf, Lakewood Garden Tour participant; in front of one of the eight gardens visitors will be able to see during Greater Jamestown AM Rotary’s Lakewood Garden Tour Saturday. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Royal Family Kids’ Camp. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

LAKEWOOD — Lakewood residents with a green thumb will be showing off their gardens Saturday to assist in giving local children a summer camp experience.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the second annual Greater Jamestown AM Rotary’s Lakewood Garden Tour will be held to benefit the Royal Family Kids’ Camp. The walking tour will include eight residential Lakewood lawns and gardens, including the Packard Estate and the former Lenna residence.

The tour will start at Ryders Cup Coffee Shop, located at 28 Chautauqua Ave., and is 1.3 miles long. The tour costs $8 for adults, with children under the age of 12 being free.

All proceeds from the tour will go toward the Royal Family Kids’ Camp, which is sponsored by the Bemus Point United Methodist Church. Carolynn Wesp, camp director, said the one-week camp, which runs from Aug. 7-11, is for local children ages 7 to 11 who have been neglected, abandoned or abused. She said local social workers recommend the children who are invited to the camp, with 28 being invited this year.

“Our job is to be a good role model and to play with them, have fun with them so they can leave their struggles at home,” Wesp said.

Wesp said the camp is entirely volunteer-run, with local people volunteering their time to help run the camp and area businesses donating funds to pay for the week-long camp.

“It is all because of the community. Without the volunteers and support, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” she said.

Wesp said at each of the eight locations on the garden tour, people will be able to see an example of gifts the children receive at camp. She said the items include a quilt made by volunteers in Chautauqua County, backpacks filled with school supplies, shoes, a beach towel, a photo album and a bible.

“I think it is awesome. We’re very appreciative,” Wesp said about the Lakewood gardeners who are participating in the walking tour. “We rely on area businesses and donations. Without that, we cannot have the camp.”

For more information on the camp, visit bemuspoint.royalfamilykids.org.