Their Stories

Your gift of $45 will send a kid to camp for one day
$160 will send a kid to day camp for one week
$500 will send a kid to overnight camp for one week

Each child who participates as a Send A Kid To Camp camper has a unique story.  Your contribution will be used to support children like these:

A 10 year old boy is a camper at the John Avery Boys and Girls Club. He is one of three kids in a home with a household income of $20,000 or less.  He attends the After-School Program at the Boys and Girls Club during the school year and has made significant improvement in his reading over the past year, with the help of the staff and volunteers.  He needs the continued focus on reading that he will receive at Summer Camp. He is from a single-parent household and is in great need of a male mentor, as there is not one in his home.  He loves the breakfast and lunch that is served every day during Summer Camp; he receives free lunch at school, but would not receive that during the summer if it were not for camp.  Because of the $70 per week fee, he would not otherwise be able to attend camp, but because of financial assistance from donors, he is able to attend camp all summer long and receive the benefits of the programs, field trips, educational assistance, and fun provided by the John Avery Boys and Girls Club.

An eleven year old, sixth grader is eager to attend Camp Challenge. She lives with her two younger brothers, her mother and stepfather. Because she’s the oldest, she often helps her mother and her aunt with her brothers and her two cousins. Her stepfather doesn’t work and her mom doesn’t make enough for extras or special treats. She wouldn’t normally get a chance to go away to Camp, but since it’s available at no cost to her parents, she’s going to spend a week this summer making new friends and learning the right things to do with her money, once she starts earning it. She’s excited to ride horses and worried she’ll miss her mom and dad – but NOT her brothers.

A first grader is nearing completion of her first year in the Pioneer Scholars program at the Emily K Center.  A bright and enthusiastic young girl, the summer camp experiences would give her an opportunity to develop new skills and interests to complement her growing academic skills at an early age.  Early opportunities are terrific for young students to take and build on for successful subsequent years in the program. 

A young girl from Wake County would love to return to Wake County 4-H Camp this year.  She lives in foster care because her parents’ home was neglectful and abusive. After last year’s camp experience she said, “I made such wonderful friends and they all liked and accepted me for who I am.  Nobody knew about my past and that I’m in foster care.”  Her foster mom said she returned from camp with confidence and excited about staying in touch with her new friends, a big difference from the sad and insecure child who went off to camp.

In a Durham household, there is an ailing eighty year old grandmother that resides on a fixed income and has legal custody of three grandchildren between the ages of eight and twelve.  Their father is addicted to drugs and visits when he needs a place to sleep.  Their mother lives on the other side of town and has three grown children from previous relationships.  These children deserve an opportunity to attend summer camp and the grandmother needs relief from the responsibility of monitoring young lives.  They would like to attend summer camp at Walltown Children’s Theatre this summer.

A young boy from Wake County is the only child living with his disabled grandmother. They live in a part of the city known for drug involvement and violence.  Grandma does not allow him outside to play without her because it is too dangerous. Without a camp scholarship, this child would not be able to enjoy healthy outdoor activities like horseback riding, canoeing, swimming and making new friends.  He wants to go to camp to learn new things, make new friends, see horses for the first time, and because he can’t wait to have breakfast, lunch and supper every day.