Camps For Low-Income Kids Planned

Ah, summer camp roasting marshmallows over an open fire, swimming, fishing and paddling a canoe across the water. It’s every kid’s dream.

Unfortunately, summer camps are just a dream to many kids because their families lack the money to pay it.

But both the Full Gospel Mission and the Union Gospel Mission, both in Spokane, hold summer camps for low-income kids.

The Union Gospel Mission summer camp will be held five times from mid-July to mid-August for kids ages 8 to 14. Each session can accommodate up to 30 children.

All kids attend for free, which requires a lot of donations, which are now just starting to trickle in. Donations will be used to pay the $65 per week per child cost and upkeep of the camp, says operations manager Dave Wall.

This free camp is very important to poor families, especially for single parents, Wall says.

“It’s giving single-parent families an opportunity to have a camping experience,” says Wall.

The camp is held at the mission’s facility near Ford, Wash., on the Spokane River. Several years ago the site was donated by a local businessman who wanted the mission to continue to run camps for poor children, Wall says.

The camp, complete with tennis court, is now a place for children to water-ski, go on nature hikes and make crafts.

The Full Gospel Mission is holding its summer camp June 21-29. Held at the Zephyr Lodge on Liberty Lake, the camp can accommodate up to 70 kids ages 5 to 16.

Parents are asked to pay part of the $150-per-child cost if they are able.

“If they can’t pay, we’ll do our best to help them,” says the Rev. C.E. Hamp.

“Hamp’s Camp,” as it is called, has been an annual event since 1962. Children can relax at the sunny beachfront location and swim, go boating and try to catch a fish or two.

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