No summer camp for my kids this year....

[TupperMom7]

I just found out that the church we belong to is only paying $50 each towards my kids summer camp tuition. Years ago, they used to pay the whole thing. Then we had to pay $50. Then $75. Last year, it was $100 each (two kids). This year with the church only paying $50 each, we would have to pay $550 for them to both attend.

I like the summer camp and my kids have all attended there since dd21 started going in 6th grade, but I am afraid that is too much money. We could rent a house in the Outer Banks for a week for the whole family for that much!

With the economy being what it is, we had no intentions of taking a family vacation this year. It won't be the first year we did not go away. Last year we went away for an extended weekend in the fall, but we've had other years when we just did day trips.

Now to break the news to them. They are only 11, so no chance of getting jobs to pay for it. I don't know if they could collect enough soda bottles and cans to collect the deposits from them. That's a lot bottles and cans!

 

[monkey30]

Oh no thats no good. I wish there was a way to send them. Collecting bottles and cans could offset the costs a little, over the next 3 or 4 mths it can add up.

Hope u can figure out something special to do with this summer. Maybe look locally to go camping somewhere. Staycations are a big thing now up here.

 

[audrey2580]

Bummer. That's nice that they pay anything though!
I'm sure there are other families in the same situation as you in the church. Maybe you could work with the church and organize some bake sales or community fundraisers that all the children could use toward camp.

Good luck.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Churches are receiving fewer donations these days. It's still worth it to figure out a way to send the kids to camp. Camp gives them experiences they won't get as part of a family vacation. Right now they are the perfect age... it won't be as important to them in a few years so it's worth it to try and find a way.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Sorry about that...I wish my kids camp only cost 550 for both. You don't want to know what it costs for us to send them to camp for 8 weeks!

I liked the pp idea about fundraising for the church...talk to them.. It would help your family and I am sure lots of others!!

 

[NotUrsula]

If it's any consolation, I pay more than that per week for my kid's daycamp in summer. Overnight camps that we've looked at start at about $750/week.

$225 per child isn't too bad, really -- assuming it is a full 6 nights that is less than $38/night. Does that include food?

 

[englishteacha]

The summer camp (Christian, affiliated with the UCC) where I volunteer is $350ish for a week of overnight camp. It's a "bargain" compared with other overnight camps, but it's still a lot of money. Does the camp your kids attend offer any scholarship programs? What about discounts for volunteering? When I was a kid this same camp was $180 a week, and our church paid half. Now area churches can pay maybe $50-100 towards a week of camp, if that.

 

[MN_Gal]

Our small church has a large group of campers every year and we hold several fundraisers to help defray the costs.

Palm Sunday we do a free will donation breakfast of baked goods and fruit.
The last day of Sunday School we do another free will donation breakfast and bake sale
Father's Day we do "Sundaes on Sunday"-free will donation for sundaes after church

Last year we also sold butter braids and we are able to get some donations from local service organizations.

I would inquire about fundraising opportunities for the kids to do. Our kids enjoy doing them and the congregation has been very supportive!

 

[descovy]

I agree, you have had it good, in the past and even now...

My old church (same camp) we used to give $75 per camper... not based on need. If you needed a scholarship, we would first ask you to contact the camp for a campership, and then we would pick up the tab.

A couple of things happened. When church was covering the whole thing... it was pulling teeth to get people to turn in their forms. It was just "yah, sure sign my kid up"

Second, money was getting tight at church. Already we were having members schedule themselves to mow the lawn, etc... It would get frustrating when attitudes could get to "what can the church do for me" instead of what can I do to serve the church

(and no, it mustnt be all money based. But just dropping your kid off at VBS, Sunday school, camp, and never volunteering wears the same folks thin)

By my last year there (I was the coordinator for camping ministries) we kept giving the $75/child donation... but we asked "camperships" to chip in $50 (a week of camp cost $300. We let them know in January that they had until May (when our final bill was due) That's setting aside $10 a month to send your kid... food, board, included. And the people who would cry that it was "un-affordable"

We moved accross town in 2007, same denomination, same camp. This new church doesn't cover any portion of camp. Camp is now $330 a week (inflation) and I happily pay for my two oldest to go. I also know from experience with this particular camp that "the true cost" of a child at camp is more like $500. Charging only $330 is possible by help of donation.

Not only am I sending 2 kids to camp this year, but I made a $250 donation to the camp last December.

To me, it's worth every penny

 

[scrapquitler]

Is this a group from your church that attends? If so, I'd suggest having the group do some fundraisers to defray the costs...maybe a pancake breakfast after (or before) church, a bake sale, car wash, etc. Beyond that, do you have generous grandparents who might be convinced to give your children money toward camp instead of birthday gifts?

 

[sk!mom]

Summer camp is such a wonderful experience I'd do anything possible to make it happen.

My children have been to church sponsored camps for many years and I've never heard of a church paying a portion for everyone. When my son was a teen, the church we went to would have the teens host fundraisers- spaghetti dinners, car washes, garage sales, etc... The church we attend now offers need based scholarships. I have no idea what the criteria ia or how many they give but they do not do fundraisers.Contact your church and offer to chair some fundraisers.

Summer Camp is so important to me that I taught Summer School last year for my DD's sleep away camp. She's going for 5 weeks this year and I will be applying for Summer School again to cover the cost. These are not church related camps and they make church camps seem like an incredible bargain.

 

[Pigeon]

I feel differently about the fundraisers. Personally, I think it's nice if the church pays something, but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. I loathe fundraising with a passion and think that it's obnoxious to expect everybody else to pay for something as nonessential as for your kids to go to camp.

I left one church over this very issue. I was asked to be on the education committee. Silly me, I thought the education committee would have something to do with education, but it was all fundraising all the time. If people were in genuine need, that's one thing, but the fundraising to send middle class kids to camp was the last straw for me.

 

[DawnM]

We just haven't done overnight camp for the boys. They have done a week of scout camp, which used to be $85 for 5 full days. It is now about $150....again, just not as many donations coming in.

This will be the first year my oldest will be going to boyscout camp, overnight, for 7 full days. But DH is going along. It will be about $225 but DH will be free since he is volunteering.

Dawn

 

[sk!mom]

I feel differently about the fundraisers. Personally, I think it's nice if the church pays something, but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. I loathe fundraising with a passion and think that it's obnoxious to expect everybody else to pay for something as nonessential as for your kids to go to camp.

I left one church over this very issue. I was asked to be on the education committee. Silly me, I thought the education committee would have something to do with education, but it was all fundraising all the time. If people were in genuine need, that's one thing, but the fundraising to send middle class kids to camp was the last straw for me.

I suggested fundraisers but actually I agree with you. One of the reasons that we like our current church is because there are no fundraisers.

I recently received several fundraising letters from families trying to send their kids to WDW for Spring Break for an "Educational" trip. These really bugs me. WDW is fun- not a necessity. If you want your kid to go then you pay.

 

[DawnM]

BTW: Our church camp is 4 days long and has always been around $350 and we didn't qualify for any scholarships....we have never sent our kids.

Dawn

 

[LisaNJ25]

My daughters girl scout camp is $475 a week. I apply for aid and the past 2 years have gotten $200 off.

Do they allow you to volunteer at the camp to get any type of discount?

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I am a youth pastor and a mother to 4 DD's, so I can see both sides of this.
Our church does not do little fundraisers. Our pastors belief is that people put all money into the offering and then we use it as necessary. We have sponsored many kids through out the year on camps, mission trips etc. This year there is more and more kids who need assistance. It is hard to make less money go farther as offerings have gone down and expenses have gone up. My biggest complaint is that if people have no financial obligation they tend to not be 100% committed. We have paid the full price of kids in the past and they are the ones who come to us at the last minute and say they found something else that they needed to do that week. We either have to find other youth to take their place or we just threw away all that money. I am not saying all do that but alot of times it happens. We have sent a lot of great kids places, but it sticks with when you lose out on the money.
But as a parent I know how hard it is to find the money to send kids to camp. My kids all have differents interests and some of them can get costly quick.
Good luck to OP with getting your kids to camp. Many of us are in the same spot and I hope we can all figure out an answer.

 

[Evi]

I'd have to agree with everyone else. You've been having it very good for along time. That being said you have some time to figure away to pay for this. Though it doesn't sound like you think you should be paying this much.

So here goes and I'm not flaming just being honest. What your paying for camp is more or less what my mother payed for me to go to camp almost 20 years ago and that was for 2 weeks not the entire summer. You have to consider what are they getting experience wise from attending this program and maybe its time to consider another program if you don't think your getting your money's worth.

Overall I don't think I would compare summer camp to a one week rental anywhere and unless your planning to make every day from say 9-3 a camp experience you have to think about how much its costing them to provide these services.

I know for myself I loved camp it was something to do and it was alot of fun. I'd much rather have gone to camp all summer then spend one week in a rental when I was kid.

 

[hentob]

I just found out that the church we belong to is only paying $50 each towards my kids summer camp tuition.

Only Wow. That is very generous of your church to just hand over money for a luxury like camp. I would be writing them a very nice thank you note for offering you $50 per child

With the economy being what it is...

Yup. Aren't you so lucky they still are giving out any money

 

[allison443]

I just found out that the church we belong to is only paying $50 each towards my kids summer camp tuition. Years ago, they used to pay the whole thing. Then we had to pay $50. Then $75. Last year, it was $100 each (two kids). This year with the church only paying $50 each, we would have to pay $550 for them to both attend.

I like the summer camp and my kids have all attended there since dd21 started going in 6th grade, but I am afraid that is too much money. We could rent a house in the Outer Banks for a week for the whole family for that much!

With the economy being what it is, we had no intentions of taking a family vacation this year. It won't be the first year we did not go away. Last year we went away for an extended weekend in the fall, but we've had other years when we just did day trips.

Now to break the news to them. They are only 11, so no chance of getting jobs to pay for it. I don't know if they could collect enough soda bottles and cans to collect the deposits from them. That's a lot bottles and cans!

Off topic, sorry, but-can you really rent a house in OBX for $550 for a week? I really thought it was more expensive! (serious question)

OP I'm sorry your kids can't go to camp. However it probably is due to the economy-either donations are down, or the church is directing money to a more pressing need. Surely your kids at age 11 can understand that. Maybe they can find another low cost activity for the summer.