Summer Camp Donations --Update Post 89

[tomthebarncat]

If this was me, I would knock on my neighbors door and simply state that I am confused! your child solicited money from my dh for some sort of camp. I would just like to know what my family has helped sponsor. You may be surprised that he is doing some type of missionary/church camp or he may just be a scrub in the making. If this is the case, I would tell his parents that I expect some labor for the twenty bucks! It is also a possiblity that his parents might not even know that he is hitting up the neighbors for money. One of the spoilt, serves no purpose brats from that dreadful MTV show " My super sweet sixteen" sold her invites for 50 bucks as she clearly stated I love money but have no desire to actually do anything to earn it, so he could be following her suggestion!! Either way I would say you got taken for 20 bucks!!I am with the other posters I do not make contributions to anyone that does not have a 501 C tax number identifying them as a legitamate non- profit organization!! I also do not believe that weddings should be fund raisers either but alot of others do!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

How do you know they were going on a teen tour? Did I miss that post? Beg? The OP said the children came to her door. I don't think that constitutes "begging", but I digress. Where I live, a babysitter is MORE expensive than Camp. Babysitters charge roughly $10 per hour here. Trust me, as a working single parent, Ive looked into it. Bare bones daycare camp alone is $250 a week. Fun Cub Scout camp is a little less which is really fun. Some people (including myself) don't have the option of having someone else watch their children. So again, not ALL camp is "fun camp" or "a luxury" or a "non-necessity" for many

I know many churches take the children and teens on field trips, etc. over the Summer and many of those children solicit for donations. I see no difference. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree though

Look- I wasn't picking on you. I live on Long Island too so I know that babysitting can be expensive. I also do not have options of anyone watching my children. I was using the Teen Tours thing as just an example. Going door to door asking for money imo is the same as begging when it is to fund your summer camp experience. Not to be rude but don't you have to pay for someone to watch your children during the school year? Your DD is not school age so I would imagine you have something in place for her the other 10 months of the year so cost shouldn't be much different. I know you have a son also so I get that that is an added expense in the summer. Honestly I wish there were better programs in place for people who need it. Does your school have a summer scope program? At any rate- I feel for those that have to find something for their children over the summer and I wish there was a better solution for them, but I still think it is wrong to solicit people to pay for it. YMMV.

 

[Todd&Copper]

A couple of years ago on the day before Thanksgiving, my kids decided they needed some money for Christmas shopping. It was too cold to set up a lemonade stand, so they went in our back & front yard and each filled a shoe box with various sizes, shapes and colors of rocks (we have lots of rock in our landscaping). Then, they went door to door around the block and "sold" their rocks for 50 to 75 cents each. They made a little under $10 each selling rocks!!!

They said some of the neighbors paid them $1.00 and said to keep the rest for a tip!

OK, at first I had the mental picture of two kids around ages 4 - 6 doing the rock selling thing, but they were a little older than that, according to your signature. Younger kids = funny; older kids = weird. None of the neighbors called you? I would have called the parents b/c that would just be too bizarre.

 

[daughtersrus]

To me, this is the same as the parents that we have standing on the street corners at major intersections in town asking for donations to send the kids one place or another.

It happens just about every weekend. One day it may be one of the school bands, the next day it may be the soccer club...The one that got me was the park district dance parents holding signs saying "Help send our children to Hawaii". Apparently they were competing in a national competition. My first thought was that I'd like to go to Hawaii with my children so maybe I should stand on the corner and ask for donations.

To me, if you sign your children up for these activities, you should be responsible to fund them. My older girls did participate in a few sport clubs but we opted for the "buy out option" instead of participating in the fundraising. I should say that I live in a pretty average suburb where some homes are middle class and others are quite expensive.

I have no problem at all contributing to people standing on the corners if they are collecting money for charities like the Lions Club or childhood diabetes. To me, this is different than asking for money for a vacation.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Not to sound too cynical, but I expect the kid was using the $20 bills in his hand to suggest an amount for people to contribute. When we were last at WDW, we went to an off-site restaurant where a guy was making balloon animals for the kids who were there. He had a $5 bill sticking out of his shirt pocket and a little card or sticker (can't remember which) that said tips were appreciated. So DH tips him $5, which was fine but I thought it was interesting that the guy basically was suggesting a tip amount by having money sticking out of his pocket. Kind of like the tip jars at restaurants that are stuffed with $1 and $5 bills as soon as they open - no way they have gotten all those tips in 10 minutes - they just want it to seem like everyone else is tipping, so you should too. I wonder if the names on his list were made up and he brought his own or his parents' money along to make it look like everyone else was donating.

 

[summerrluvv]

Look- I wasn't picking on you. I live on Long Island too so I know that babysitting can be expensive. I also do not have options of anyone watching my children. I was using the Teen Tours thing as just an example. Going door to door asking for money imo is the same as begging when it is to fund your summer camp experience. Not to be rude but don't you have to pay for someone to watch your children during the school year? Your DD is not school age so I would imagine you have something in place for her the other 10 months of the year so cost shouldn't be much different. I know you have a son also so I get that that is an added expense in the summer. Honestly I wish there were better programs in place for people who need it. Does your school have a summer scope program? At any rate- I feel for those that have to find something for their children over the summer and I wish there was a better solution for them, but I still think it is wrong to solicit people to pay for it. YMMV.

DD's childcare runs all year. Add TWO to the mix though for the Summer and it's insane. $500 a week for daycare in the Summer. DS doesn't need childcare through the year, he goes to school and I'm home to get him off the bus or his father is. I wouldn't send him door to door to ask for money for camp, but I could certainly understand if another kid came to my door. I wouldn't march on over to his parents house like other's have said and ask for proof of his camp or "tattle" on him. When I was little we used to sell baked goods door to door in MI and spend that money on silly things. It all boils down to don't donate if you think it's tacky and tell your husbands your feelings on it

 

[IDoDis]

Geez..never thought to send my two Scouts around to solicit money for camp!

My Ds-11 is going to Webelo camp that is $130

My Ds-14-going to Scout camp $150

I don't think I would send them out for that...seems kind of weird to me.
If I did not have the money, they would not go. (Unless they offered a scholarship)

Lisa

Is it "Webelos Week in the Woods" camp? DH and DS are going in July. DH has to get a required physical to go! We had to pay over 300 for the both of them though.

 

[IDoDis]

OK, at first I had the mental picture of two kids around ages 4 - 6 doing the rock selling thing, but they were a little older than that, according to your signature. Younger kids = funny; older kids = weird. None of the neighbors called you? I would have called the parents b/c that would just be too bizarre.

DS was 6 and DD was 9. This was 2 1/2 years ago. No one called me! I was very surprised that they sold anything at all, let alone bring home almost 20 dollars. I guess the neighbors were in the holiday spirit of giving. The kids said that some of them really got into picking out the rocks and making a big deal about it. DS (6) did most of the talking, while I'm sure DD stood quiet. She's my shy one. The kids made pet rock certificates that they gave with each rock sold. The buyers had to give their rock a name and it went on the certificate. They said one man bought 6 rocks and said he was going to give them for Christmas gifts! My kids thought that was so cool, but I just had to chuckle at the thought of his family getting rocks in their stockings!

 

[scammermom]

Girl Scouts selling cookies (or Boy Scout popcorn, etc) is different than going door to door asking for money. I also don't like the groups that hang outside the Walmart or grocery store asking for money. I call that panhandling. Don't get me started on the "cheerleaders" or whoever on the street corners at major intersections begging for money. Kids should be taught that you have to earn your money than expect people to hand it to you for whatever cause. What happened to bake sales, car washes, hand made crafts, and yes, I'm a Girl Scout leader who sell whatever cookies we can.

I went to the Walmart one day and there were two groups: one selling donuts and the other panhandling for donations. I gave my money to the group selling the donuts (not that I needed donuts).

Maybe I'm a mean, old, grouchy lady. JMHO.

 

[Manymice]

Why didn't I think of this before? I could send my boys door to door collecting money to pay the grocery and electric bills! Seriously though, I would not donate $ to a child going door to door collecting for camp. If I knew the family needed food or something that would be a different story. Then I would send something anonymous like a gift card. Just can't see it for camp and I can't see allowing my sons to do that either.

 

[LisaNJ25]

DD's childcare runs all year. Add TWO to the mix though for the Summer and it's insane. $500 a week for daycare in the Summer. DS doesn't need childcare through the year, he goes to school and I'm home to get him off the bus or his father is. I wouldn't send him door to door to ask for money for camp, but I could certainly understand if another kid came to my door. I wouldn't march on over to his parents house like other's have said and ask for proof of his camp or "tattle" on him. When I was little we used to sell baked goods door to door in MI and spend that money on silly things. It all boils down to don't donate if you think it's tacky and tell your husbands your feelings on it

yep... just say no.

Camp can be expensive. I know some working parents its their only choice in the summertime. My dd goes to girl scout camp 2 weeks in the summer. Its $265 week. The have campership funds you can apply for to reduce the fees. Cookie sales do not go towards camp

 

[Belle5]

When my boys started in scouting, I thought I was going to die when the whole scout popcorn-selling thing started. I had always said that over-my-dead body would my kids go door to door selling. However, the scoutmaster and others convinced me that in the case of the scouts, it wasn't all about the selling itself. It is supposed to be about character building. Besides, they were helping to build scout camps, send kids who need scholarship money to camp and maintain the whole Boy Scout system. I will say that my now grown sons tell me that selling that popcorn taught them more about life than just about anything. They had so many doors slammed in their faces, walked so many miles, learned what made a good sales pitch and what didn't. They learned so much from their failures to sell. They remembered with gratitude any person that ever bought from them. They learned what kind of a buyer they want to be some day. They learned which cultures tend to be generous, stingy, suspicious, etc. My older four sold about $20,000 in popcorn (combined) in a 4-5 year period. One year we had to rent a U-Haul to get it all home.

One rule I did keep was that my kids were not allowed to sell to friends, family or neighbors that knew us well. Why? I didn't want anyone to feel pressured based on the relationship with us. We have a lot of sons and were in this for the long-haul. I told them that if people wanted to support B.S.A. they would be happy to do it for any scout--even one they don't know personally. If they bought, it would be a sign that they weren't buying out of guilt, but because they wanted to support the organization. It has been a good system for us. We have not burned out our neighbors who live near us and know us.

Having said that, I have supported my neighbors when their kids have raised money for soccer clubs, girl scouts, etc. I have been happy to do so.

After that long story, I want to give my opinion to the O.P. about her situation. I would be irritated and would have to make my self "get over it" and make a plan with DH on the kinds of things "we will never get involved with from here on out". I know my son's scout camp cost around $250(?) this summer plus expenses. People with their own growing children have their own expenses for those kids!

 

[schlepsnort]

This was our first year of our oldest ds attending private school, we couldn't get over how many times we were asked to sell items to raise funds. Cookies, candles, pizza, it was like every two weeks we would get sent home a new item to sell. We ended up after the first two items just buying one thing and not even attempting to hit up any more friends and family. But I do have to say that the school does strongly warn against any door to door sales. They promote within family and friends but not going to strangers homes for safety sakes.

The worst though was when we first bought our present house. We had just moved in, totally broke after all of the initial expenses. Doorbell rings and it's an older boy, totally not from this area, asking for money to attend some college bound program for inner city kids since he was graduating from highschool in a month. I told him no because well we were broke!

Fast forward to the following spring, doorbell rings, it is the SAME KID as the year before tells me the same spiel about graduating and trying to raise money for a college program. I totally busted him I asked him what happened last spring? You told me you were graduating last may...he looked a bit shocked, fumbled for his words and then ran off. Never seen him back in the neighborhood since.

I would just tell hubby not to give into 'peer pressure' next time!! These days it's hard enough to finance our own lives much less someone elses!

 

[hentob]

I know that the People to People summer program encourages kids to send out fundraising letters to pay for their trips.

Don't get me started on that farce


Any organization that repeatedly recruits children that have died is BOTTOM of the Barrel as far as I am concerned.

 

[hentob]

Camp is a necessity for many. Many people work and need childcare and camp is the only option.

Yup. And they should pay for it themselves

My goodness Would you go door to door begging for someone to pay your daycare fees?

 

[hentob]

DD's childcare runs all year. Add TWO to the mix though for the Summer and it's insane. $500 a week for daycare in the Summer. DS doesn't need childcare through the year, he goes to school and I'm home to get him off the bus or his father is. I wouldn't send him door to door to ask for money for camp, but I could certainly understand if another kid came to my door.

I would NOT understand

I don't get it Why would someone have a child if they couldn't support it?

I don't care if daycare is $100K a year. Do NOT go door to door asking to support your child and your choices

Insane is having children that you can't afford without the help of door-to-door begging

 

[summerrluvv]

I would NOT understand

I don't get it Why would someone have a child if they couldn't support it?

I don't care if daycare is $100K a year. Do NOT go door to door asking to support your child and your choices

Insane is having children that you can't afford without the help of door-to-door begging

I think we are reading different threads here. The OP said a child came to door asking for donations. Not BEGGING. There is a HUGE difference. Again, no one knows what kind of camp this child was going to anyway. If you don't want to donate, DON'T. The snide comments are off base. I also hope you wouldn't donate to any of the other situations I posted previously in the thread because there is not a world of a difference between donating to church camp, hurricane survivors, medical bill benefits for sick children, etc. I see not a lick of difference. In all scenarios you shouldn't have a house/kids, etc. if you cannot 100% FULLY support them REGARDLESS of what happens right?

I'm not going to go back and forth on this thread. Yes, I support my child, I don't send my child out for donations, *I* have no issues if someone does, period. I have the power to say no if I want to. I'm so sick of the higher than mighty throwing in that "if you can't support your kids don't have them" crap. I see earlier in the thread someone mentions scholarships for camp. Didn't we have an entire discussion about this in the past where people were berated for applying for scholarships? You can't win on here, you can't. I'm certainly baffled how our society became such a stingy self righteous one, although maybe that's just the DIS because I don't know anyone IRL with the attitudes of many on here.

I'm done with this topic, enjoy your day

 

[hentob]

I'm certainly baffled how our society became such a stingy self righteous one, although maybe that's just the DIS because I don't know anyone IRL with the attitudes of many on here.

I'm done with this topic, enjoy your day

Stingy because I don't want some child banging on my door with a can for me to fill with cash so they can have their summer daycare paid for

I see it differently. I am baffled at the lack of pride our society currently has

My parents, no matter how poor, would NEVER have allowed me to knock on somebody's door and ask them for money

 

[hentob]

I think we are reading different threads here. The OP said a child came to door asking for donations. Not BEGGING.

Where is the difference? The child is asking for somebody to give them money. Just hand it over. Nothing in return. Not a cookie. Not a washed car or a pizza kit.

Just "Can I have money" to pay for a want of mine. No different from the man on the corner. Just a little cleaner and probably cuter

Kids should be taught that you have to earn your money than expect people to hand it to you for whatever cause.

 

[karliebug]

To me, this is the same as the parents that we have standing on the street corners at major intersections in town asking for donations to send the kids one place or another.

It happens just about every weekend. One day it may be one of the school bands, the next day it may be the soccer club...The one that got me was the park district dance parents holding signs saying "Help send our children to Hawaii". Apparently they were competing in a national competition. My first thought was that I'd like to go to Hawaii with my children so maybe I should stand on the corner and ask for donations.

To me, if you sign your children up for these activities, you should be responsible to fund them. My older girls did participate in a few sport clubs but we opted for the "buy out option" instead of participating in the fundraising. I should say that I live in a pretty average suburb where some homes are middle class and others are quite expensive.

I have no problem at all contributing to people standing on the corners if they are collecting money for charities like the Lions Club or childhood diabetes. To me, this is different than asking for money for a vacation.

I never put money in cannisters from kids on baseball teams, cheerleaders, bands etc. who just stand in front of our local Walmart and beg for money. I think they should do something to earn the money like a bake sale, car wash, yard sale,etc.