Barbara Colley
Born in Toronto, Ontario, the eldest of Cliff and Peggy Bennet's four children, Barbara Colley was educated at the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1963 and a Master of Arts (biology) in 1965.While doing summer graduate work, she met her husband David, whom she married in 1965. Relocating to Cincinnati, Barbara worked in research and taught in biology labs while David finished medical school and served in the submarine service. Their two daughters, Anne and Erin, were both born in Cincinnati; the family moved to Branford in 1981.
As the girls moved through Sliney School, into the Intermediate School, and on to Branford High School, Barbara became increasingly involved in PTA activities. During the four years she served as President of the Branford High School PTA (1992-96), a number of programs were initiated that still flourish today: the SAT Prep Course (1993), Honor Incentive cards (1994), and Project Graduation (1996). Also during this time Barbara served on various screening groups and subcommittees and arranged for such notable figures as Elizabeth Horton Scheff and Dr. Henry Lee to present programs at the high school.
Not limiting her interest in education to what goes on in classrooms; from 1982 to 1990 Barbara served on and chaired the Branford Woman's Club Education Committee. In 1990, she became active in Y-ME of Connecticut, the newly formed breast cancer support and information group, and has served as president of the Board since 1991. In addition, she has twice served as a consumer representative on scientific peer review committees of the U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program.
In 1995, while helping with artwork on a book about children orphaned as a result of AIDS, Barbara became increasingly aware of the special needs of children living with life-threatening illness in their families and also learned of a summer camp in Wisconsin devoted to children in this situation. Instead of simply wondering "Why not here?" Barbara jumped right in. She began working with Gary Smith of First Congregational Church and Janice Gruendel, author of the book on AIDS orphans, to organize what has become Camp Totoket. From its first year, with thirty-five campers and fifty volunteers, the project by last year had grown to seventy-five campers and an equal number of volunteers. The week-long camp held at Killam's Point (owned by First Congregational Church) gives a week of childhood back to a group of children not well served by other programs. In addition, the range of camp activities provides opportunities for the campers to learn about the seashore and nature, to read, to write, to sing, and to paint. The camp has its rewards for volunteers and well as campers and has resulted in the formation of many new relationships, particularly among young volunteers from Branford High School and New Haven, building bridges that might otherwise never have crossed the chasm. Both young people and adults are reaping the rewards of breaking down urban suburban barriers, and it is not uncommon for volunteers to come back for more than one year.
Happily, Barbara's work has not gone unnoticed beyond the Branford community. In 1996 she was recognized for her work with the Youth Advocate Award from the Planning for Children and Youth Committee of Region II and last year received the First for Children Volunteerism Award from Connecticut Voices for Children.
Although Barbara graciously shares the credit for the success of Camp Totoket with others, it clearly would not exist had it not been for her inspiration and effort. Interviewed for a feature article on Camp Totoket that appeared in The Sound last August, perhaps Barbara herself unwittingly best summed up her contributions to education in Branford from the schools to breast-cancer awareness to Camp Totoket: "You can't save the whole world, but you can do your part. I just had the feeling that it was a good thing to do." Barbara's part has certainly been significant, and the results have been very good indeed!
As the girls moved through Sliney School, into the Intermediate School, and on to Branford High School, Barbara became increasingly involved in PTA activities. During the four years she served as President of the Branford High School PTA (1992-96), a number of programs were initiated that still flourish today: the SAT Prep Course (1993), Honor Incentive cards (1994), and Project Graduation (1996). Also during this time Barbara served on various screening groups and subcommittees and arranged for such notable figures as Elizabeth Horton Scheff and Dr. Henry Lee to present programs at the high school.
Not limiting her interest in education to what goes on in classrooms; from 1982 to 1990 Barbara served on and chaired the Branford Woman's Club Education Committee. In 1990, she became active in Y-ME of Connecticut, the newly formed breast cancer support and information group, and has served as president of the Board since 1991. In addition, she has twice served as a consumer representative on scientific peer review committees of the U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program.
In 1995, while helping with artwork on a book about children orphaned as a result of AIDS, Barbara became increasingly aware of the special needs of children living with life-threatening illness in their families and also learned of a summer camp in Wisconsin devoted to children in this situation. Instead of simply wondering "Why not here?" Barbara jumped right in. She began working with Gary Smith of First Congregational Church and Janice Gruendel, author of the book on AIDS orphans, to organize what has become Camp Totoket. From its first year, with thirty-five campers and fifty volunteers, the project by last year had grown to seventy-five campers and an equal number of volunteers. The week-long camp held at Killam's Point (owned by First Congregational Church) gives a week of childhood back to a group of children not well served by other programs. In addition, the range of camp activities provides opportunities for the campers to learn about the seashore and nature, to read, to write, to sing, and to paint. The camp has its rewards for volunteers and well as campers and has resulted in the formation of many new relationships, particularly among young volunteers from Branford High School and New Haven, building bridges that might otherwise never have crossed the chasm. Both young people and adults are reaping the rewards of breaking down urban suburban barriers, and it is not uncommon for volunteers to come back for more than one year.
Happily, Barbara's work has not gone unnoticed beyond the Branford community. In 1996 she was recognized for her work with the Youth Advocate Award from the Planning for Children and Youth Committee of Region II and last year received the First for Children Volunteerism Award from Connecticut Voices for Children.
Although Barbara graciously shares the credit for the success of Camp Totoket with others, it clearly would not exist had it not been for her inspiration and effort. Interviewed for a feature article on Camp Totoket that appeared in The Sound last August, perhaps Barbara herself unwittingly best summed up her contributions to education in Branford from the schools to breast-cancer awareness to Camp Totoket: "You can't save the whole world, but you can do your part. I just had the feeling that it was a good thing to do." Barbara's part has certainly been significant, and the results have been very good indeed!