Camp Perkins News and Annoucements
Our Gratitude Report 2012 is here! Look for a copy at your church if you attend a member congregation. Thank you to all our supporters!
Register for the week of June 30-July 5 (4th of July week) and save $35
For a limited time, register your camper for the week of June 30th - July 5th and pay only $275 for Youth Camp - the earliest discount normally ending in March. Hurry - this is a special offer which ends at midnight on June 11th!
($275 price is for Youth Camp. Additional fees apply for Specialty Camps, but all camps receive $35 discount.)
“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
These were the spontaneous, heart-felt words of Jayden, a boy from the Boise Rescue Mission who received a full campership for a week at Camp Perkins last summer.
Jayden hasn’t had an easy life. When his dad was sent to prison, financial stress led their mom to move with him and his two sisters to City Light, the ministry of Boise Rescue Mission that focuses on women and children, providing housing and other services to help them get back on their feet.
Amidst upheaval and sadness, generous donors brought a bright spot into the lives of Jayden and fifteen other children from City Light, sponsoring them to attend a week at Camp Perkins last summer.
The kids who are served by City Light have lived in chaos, experiencing abuse, neglect, abandonment, academic struggles, and family dysfunction. At least one parent is typically an addict, mentally ill, in trouble with the law, or running from an abuser. The kids there have seen and dealt with problems many adults have never had to face.
These children, however, are remarkably resilient. With the right type of help, they bounce back and begin to have hope for the future. At City Light, the devoted staff work diligently to show these kids that there is good in this world, and they name Camp Perkins as one of those wonderful places, a place where the children have a chance to have fun, to hear about God’s love, and just to be kids.
It’s inspiring to imagine the joy in Jayden’s heart when he found out someone he didn’t even know cared about him enough to send him to camp. If you met Jayden, you would find him immediately likeable, the type of kid you want to do things for. He is grateful and appreciative. A quiet, serious boy, his dream is to play soccer and be a missionary to Africa. He plays violin in his school orchestra, plays soccer, and attends AWANA at a local church. But the thing that you notice most about Jayden is his heart for others. One night, after a particularly moving campfire, a staff member from City Light was standing with Jayden by the lake, and Jayden asked her, “Do you think we could bring my mom up here next year? I think she’d really like this.” He and the other kids were thinking of ways they could include others back home in this incredible experience.
Jayden and the others were able to escape the hard realities of their everyday lives and spend a week in a loving, Christ-centered camp community, learning about God and his love for them and having a blast in the outdoors. Jean Lockhart, Director of City Light, wrote to us once the kids returned to Boise:
Our staff member Meagan said that it was incredible and all the kids settled in fast, making new friends and loving camp. They loved the campfires and songs and Bible studies. Dakota said that being at camp reminded him to pray because they prayed all the time, not just at meals and bedtimes. One of our kids came back repeating the Bible story about Jesus walking on the water and was really excited about it. Our kids came back singing camp songs and excitedly telling stories.
She also said the children returned chatting about games, Ninja Tag, awesome counselors, prayer, Bible study, delicious food, and asking how soon they could go back! It’s amazing that one week can make such an impact. Jean put it well:
A week in the mountains, away from their problems, soaking in prayer and the Word and just being kids, is bound to have a profound impact on their lives. I am quite sure we will not know until we get to Heaven how this week has changed their lives.
It makes you think: should this really be a luxury? Shouldn’t all kids get the chance to escape the stress of everyday life for at least one week, and enjoy the wonders of childhood?
As spring arrives and families all over the country are making summer plans, many children, like those at Boise Rescue Mission, live with overwhelming uncertainty. Meagan says Jayden and the other kids are still singing songs from camp and hoping to go back this summer. We pray that God will open all our hearts to generosity, so these kids and others can escape their everyday hardships for just one week at Camp Perkins to learn about God, his creation, and his amazing love.
Be a part of making a difference in the lives of kids like Jayden and others by donating the the For the Children fund!
"Thank you so much for the donation to help the Children of Israel Orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti. The Orphanage was deemed unsafe after the massive earthquake on January 12, 2010 and is rebuilding on a new and beautiful plot of land in Torbeck, Haiti. Your gifts will help to ensure safe housing for 30+ orphans in family type setting, where the children learn that Jesus loves them and their physical and emotional needs are met. You are making a difference for these kids, in Jesus' name. Thank you!! We found out that our January trip is postponed because of the political unrest in Haiti. We are disappointed, but hoping to go in March." ~Sue Steege
Our 2011 Mission Project? Lutheran Malaria Initiative Visit their website for more information!
Check the current snowfall for your retreat or weekend at Camp!!
Visit our photo album to see the latest updates for the winter of 2011-2012!
Camp Perkins receives $65,000 grant to spur charitable gifts
Thrivent Choice - Vote for Camp Perkins this summer!
Thrivent Choice is a new program that lets eligible Thrivent members help choose where Thrivent Financial gives back. While the funds available will be similar to the 2009 GivingPlus and Care in Congregations combined funds, Thrivent hopes to get more members involved in helping to choose where Thrivent Financial gives back. Eligible members will be able to help direct a full year's worth of Choice Dollars to institutions and congregations in 2010.
This summer eligible members may help direct Choice Dollars to Camp Perkins online or by calling the service center. Get ready to cast your ballot for Camp Perkins, your congregation, and other eligible organizations!
Grant part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation initiative
Camp Perkins recently received a $65,000 grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, Appleton, Wis., designed to generate thousands more in financial gifts to the Camp Perkins. Shown in the above picture, Camp Perkins Executive Director Signe White received the grant check from Thrivent representatives (left to right): Terry L. Reinke Twin Falls, ID, Brian D. Daniels Idaho Falls, ID, Robert J. Baker Nampa, ID and C. Todd Kraft Boise, ID.
For more than 50 years friends of Camp Perkins have responded to the prompting of the Spirit to share generous gifts of time, talent and treasures. The founders of Camp Perkins had an amazing vision for the ministry of Camp Perkins and we want to ensure the ministry impacts as many youth, adults and families as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this seed money, we hope to grow our current endowment and build a firm foundation of steadfast giving, ensuring the ministry of Camp Perkins as long as God wills.
The grant is part of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation Charitable Gifting Initiative designed to educate supporters of Lutheran institutions and ministries about the advantages of tax-wise charitable gifts.
"It is our hope that this grant will strengthen Camp Perkins ability to inform potential donors of various options available to them to financially support the organization's/church's/school's work," said Brad Hewitt, president of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. "As people come alongside Camp Perkins with charitable gifts, Camp Perkins will become increasingly effective in carrying out its ministry."
