You've probably heard of Fresh Air kids, New York City children who come to the north country to spend a few weeks of their summers away from the urban heat and noise. You might even have seen some of them biking, swimming or fishing around nearby roads and lakes.

But have you ever considered hosting one in your own home?

That's just what Audrey J. Davenport, Theresa, is asking people to do this summer. Mrs. Davenport, chairwoman for the Fresh Air Fund in Jefferson County, would like residents to take in children from July 7 through 21 or Aug. 7 through 18.

Last year, almost 5,000 disadvantaged inner-city children visited places as diverse as Virginia, Maine and Canada through the Fresh Air Fund, with nearly 1,500 traveling to New York state. The fund, a not-for-profit agency, has been providing city children with free summer vacations since 1877.

The children, who range in age from 6 to 18 and whose families are low-income or on public assistance, are given a chance to see what life is like in the country and experience simple new pleasures like running barefoot and hearing crickets chirp at night.

"It is exposing them to a different kind of life," said Mrs. Davenport, who has hosted children through Fresh Air for more years than she can recall. For her, the motivation is simple: "We need to do as much as we can to help the kids."

Jenny Morgenthau, executive director of the Fresh Air Fund, said in a prepared statement,"Host families enjoy the Fresh Air experience as much as the children who visit them.Hosts feel they gain a new appreciation for simple summertime pleasures in their community."

To qualify, each adult member of a household must be interviewed by a Fresh Air staff member in the home and pass a background check. It's not necessary to take time off from a job; the fund can approve day care or baby sitters for the children while host adults are working.

According to Mrs. Davenport, many host families have children of their own, but that is not a requirement. The Fresh Air Fund says single parents, same-sex couples and grandparents can be hosts.

There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child, and hosts can choose the age and gender of their visitors.

"We are looking for good homes with open-minded people," said Mrs. Davenport.

One host, Kelly M. Lamaree, spoke of her Fresh Air experiences. She and her husband, David F. Lamaree, have hosted a child at their Adams Center residence for the past three summers and last year welcomed two girls at the same time.

Mrs. Lamaree became interested in hosting a child because her own daughter, Hillary E., was bored in summer.

"We just felt that it would be cool," Mrs. Lamaree said.

Hillary, an only child, has enjoyed traveling to Old McDonald's Farm in the town of Hounsfield and the Enchanted Forest/Water Safari theme park in Old Forge with her Fresh Air friends as well as just riding bikes, swimming and playing in "forts."

This year, Mrs. Lamaree is also planning a trip to Hershey Park, Hershey, Pa., for 12-year-old Hillary and 13-year-old returning guest Ladasia Cooke.

Although families might have worries about welcoming a stranger into their homes, the veteran host was quick to explain why they should be at ease.

"The children that we have met have all been very shy and unsure of themselves," Mrs. Lamaree said. "We've never had any bad times or bad experiences."

She added that the children may be used to hearing gunshots and sirens in their inner-city neighborhoods, but can be taken aback by the foreign north country environment. In some cases, youngsters were "scared to death of chickens. They're not so tough when they're face to face with a cow," Mrs. Lamaree said with a laugh.

However, the host mother added that the children might take a little getting used to because of their different upbringings. Most were in awe of the chance to choose their favorite foods at grocery stores and took full advantage of the opportunity.

"They did eat me out of house and home," Mrs. Lamaree joked.

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To learn more about hosting a Fresh Air child this summer, contact Mrs. Davenport at 628-4457 or the fund at 1 (800) 367-0003 or www.freshair.org.

To volunteer with various fundraising and area outreach activities or to escort the children from New York City to the northcountry, call Mrs. Davenport.