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

[hello kitty]

Here's a thought...have a day camp at home. My gf did this one summer with her girls and some of their friends. She planned it all out...taught them a sewing project they worked on all week, went swimming, an art project every day, cooking project, even a campfire. Years later every single one of those girls still talks about what a fun time it was. Maybe you could have your older teens each plan an event. It could work...give it some thought!

Lemons to lemonade. I love it!

 

[jcc0621]

Here's a thought...have a day camp at home. My gf did this for a week one summer with her girls and some of their friends. She planned it all out...taught them a sewing project they worked on all week, went swimming, an art project every day, played tennis, cooking project, even a campfire. Years later every single one of those girls still talks about what a fun time it was. Maybe you could have your older teens each plan an event. It could work...give it some thought!

I love this idea!

 

[sk!mom]

Just wanted to clear that up right away. This is a Christian camp where churches from all over send their children for a week of camp. It is a good experience for the kids to learn things and to have fun, but we just don't have the money on our own. For the past ten years our church has always paid for the whole thing or a good portion of it. Last year we paid $200 ($100 each) for them to go and we were able to swing that.

This will probably get me flamed but here goes…

If you disagree with the churches decision to no longer pay camp fees, then why not redirect some of your church contributions to covering your own children’s camp fees.

Some will say that this is wrong but in essence this is what has happened in the past- you gave offerings and they used the offerings to pay the camp fee.

 

[crisi]

This will probably get me flamed but here goes…

If you disagree with the churches decision to no longer pay camp fees, then why not redirect some of your church contributions to covering your own children’s camp fees.

Some will say that this is wrong but in essence this is what has happened in the past- you gave offerings and they used the offerings to pay the camp fee.

That seems like a valid response to me.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

This will probably get me flamed but here goes…

If you disagree with the churches decision to no longer pay camp fees, then why not redirect some of your church contributions to covering your own children’s camp fees.

Some will say that this is wrong but in essence this is what has happened in the past- you gave offerings and they used the offerings to pay the camp fee.

I wanted to say that but didn't know the right way to word it.


I know people support their churches but when expenses come in, I'd lower my donation to cover them.
The summer camp sounds important and beneficial to the kids.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

This will probably get me flamed but here goes…

If you disagree with the churches decision to no longer pay camp fees, then why not redirect some of your church contributions to covering your own children’s camp fees.

Some will say that this is wrong but in essence this is what has happened in the past- you gave offerings and they used the offerings to pay the camp fee.

I don't think that is wrong.

I know our church has felt a huge financial crunch, and priorities have changed to necessities.

 

[lillygator]

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!

\wow, you are lucky they even offer anything. It's not the church's responsibility to send your kids to camp.

Is that for a week of camp or more? In addition, I would like to point out that we have three other children, well they are teens or older, that are not going to camp. It would not be fair to expect them to sit home all summer and do absolutely nothing so the other two kids can go to camp for one week.

the teens had things prior to the younger ones coming along right?

Here's a thought...have a day camp at home. My gf did this for a week one summer with her girls and some of their friends. She planned it all out...taught them a sewing project they worked on all week, went swimming, an art project every day, played tennis, cooking project, even a campfire. Years later every single one of those girls still talks about what a fun time it was. Maybe you could have your older teens each plan an event. It could work...give it some thought!

 

[Zeebs]

\wow, you are lucky they even offer anything. It's not the church's responsibility to send your kids to camp.

I certainly didn't read anything in her post to say that she was expecting the Church to fork out for the camp, I am sure she realises she is lucky they offer to pay anything, but that being said, it still can be a disappointed to hear that the church can't offer to pay as much or any. Especially if you can't afford to cover all the costs yourself.

It is just like bonuses, tax payouts they aren't always paid, shouldn't be expected but it is still a disappointment when you find out this.

It doesn't make you a bad person or ungrateful to be disappointed with not getting something. If you moan that it is your given right to receive these things then that is certainly off.

Kirsten

 

[TupperMom7]

Who had these children? You or the church? Your children, your responsibility. Maybe what money they do have is going towards people who actually need it. They have been footing the bill long enough.

Do you think it's fair to tell the families who are going without food and basic necessaties, "Sorry, we can't help you! We need to send TupperwareMom7's brood to camp AGAIN. It wouldn't be fair for the younger ones to miss out because the older ones have already been. AND it wouldn't be fair for the older ones to sit at home while the younger ones go. Here, gnaw on some old leather and build yourselves a lean to."

I guess this would be fine with you because it doesn't affect you and yours.

Whoa, slow down there Hello Kitty! How do you know what our financial situation is? Hmmm? No, we are not on welfare - we work for a living. No we do not need foodstamps, but I wouldn't be ashamed to apply if I did.

The older kids in our family no longer want to go to camp, not sure what that has to do with gnawing on leather or building a lean to? But anyway thanks for your non-understanding response.

Have a nice day.

 

[hello kitty]

Huh? I never said anything about you needing welfare which is precisely my point. Summer camp is not a necessity. The church funds should be spent elsewhere if needed. If the older ones are no longer interested then what's the big deal? You're the one who brought them into this by saying how unfair it was because you would need to spend the extra money on the younger ones.

The whole gnawing on old leather and building a lean to was meant for the people who would not be helped because the church put you and your family's wants above their needs.

You have a sunshiny day too!

 

[TupperMom7]

Whatever.

 

[HLDisney]

I'm sorry to hear that you won't be able to afford to send your kids to this camp.

However, I have to agree that $225 per child to go to a week of sleepaway camp is a REALLY good price. I'm paying more than that per week for my DD to go to day camp for the summer. Yes, there are cheaper camps but this is the camp most convenient for her to attend (since my parents are the ones who have to take her there) and I don't really want her to spend all summer indoors in classes and playing board games (which is what most of the cheaper camps around here do with the kids)

It's hard to see all of that money going to the camp but I try to cut down on other stuff, like not buying clothes for myself, not going on vacations as much, waiting for sales, my DD doesn't get as much for Christmas and birthdays, etc, because I know that my DD loves camp and it's a good experience for her.

Helen

 

[dclfun]

I can relate. My kids are grown now but they are close in age and at one time we had four kids in our church's teen youth group. The teens did do fundraisers to help pay for camps and trips. Usually they did a car wash that was very successful- they sold prepaid tickets at a low price and then the kids did the car-washing on another day and many people did give extra once they saw the kids doing a good job, smiling, etc. They also made and sold subs, had a pancake breakfast, etc. Since the kids were the ones doing the work, they realized that their hard work was leading to a reward by helping to fund these trips. Mine didn't always get to go either as sometimes it was just too costly but no one suffered for it- we budgeted our money in other ways to benefit everyone. OP- don't feel guilty if you can't afford the camp this year. Your kids will understand and you can create a new tradition and memory for them this summer. I'd focus on giving- perhaps doing some volunteer work as a family and then having a picnic dinner at home and talking about the experience. This way they'll realize that they are important to their community and their service is appreciated. That's worth lots! It's not always what we give our kids, but what we teach *them* to give.---Kathy

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Find camps that allow you to send your kids at little or no cost if you volunteer. Scout camps will do this, YMCA camps will do this. A worthy sacrifice. I donated my time as a lifeguard so my DD could have her pick of camp sessions. I didn't care if it was free, but her school disctrict has a short summer and we really needed the first 2 sessions. The camp also bought me additional lifeguard gear.

 

[DawnM]

I have volunteered two years in a row full weeks to cubscout camp and got no discounts for my kids. This year DH is volunteering for BOYscout camp a full week overnight and no discount for my son going.

Dawn

Find camps that allow you to send your kids at little or no cost if you volunteer. Scout camps will do this, YMCA camps will do this. A worthy sacrifice. I donated my time as a lifeguard so my DD could have her pick of camp sessions. I didn't care if it was free, but her school disctrict has a short summer and we really needed the first 2 sessions. The camp also bought me additional lifeguard gear.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

That's too bad. It's certainly an incentive to get parents to volunteer.

I have volunteered two years in a row full weeks to cubscout camp and got no discounts for my kids. This year DH is volunteering for BOYscout camp a full week overnight and no discount for my son going.

Dawn

 

[jessandtwo]

That's too bad. It's certainly an incentive to get parents to volunteer.

The scout groups in my area also don't give you a discount if you volunteer. Actually, I just got the registration form and volunteer request for the spring Dad N Lad campout for Cub Scouts. Not only do they not give us a discount to volunteer, they have now decided to start making us PAY to volunteer. They never have enough of us showing up to volunteer at any of the events, I'm sure they'll be even less now that they want us to pay.

 

[klj27]

My daughter went to a junior high religious retreat last summer for three days/two nights. It cost $95 and I asked her how much it was worth it to her and what she would be willing to pay. She was in 7th grade and said she felt like she could pay $30. I thought that was fair and paid the rest. My son wanted to go to Cub Scout Adventure Camp for four days/three nights. The cost was $110 and I asked him the same thing. He was in 4th grade and said he was willing to pay $15. It was a sacrifice to send both of them, but I knew they would both be invaluable experiences and worth the sacrifice. I think the kids having to pay some of the cost makes them more accountable for their experience and appreciative of the opportunity to attend. Is there anyway your kids could chip in? It seems like a great use of allowance/birthday money/Christmas money.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Here's a thought...have a day camp at home. My gf did this for a week one summer with her girls and some of their friends. She planned it all out...taught them a sewing project they worked on all week, went swimming, an art project every day, played tennis, cooking project, even a campfire. Years later every single one of those girls still talks about what a fun time it was. Maybe you could have your older teens each plan an event. It could work...give it some thought!

Here's a thought for your kids to earn money for camp.

Have them give a summer day camp for girls. My niece and I want to do this summer - we are going to do an American Girl themed camp for 5-10 year olds (not really sure on the age yet) We are going to have a different theme each day based on a different American Girl - learn about the girl, do a craft and play games based on what she would have done.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Here's a thought for your kids to earn money for camp.

Have them give a summer day camp for girls. My niece and I want to do this summer - we are going to do an American Girl themed camp for 5-10 year olds (not really sure on the age yet) We are going to have a different theme each day based on a different American Girl - learn about the girl, do a craft and play games based on what she would have done.

Do you intend to charge for it? Aren't there regulations and insurance for that type of thing?