Especially in our current economy finding the necessary funds to go to camp or to have fun once you get there (ie snack shack money) can be at best challenging.  If you have a couple of extra dollars a week, give your child certain responsibilities above and beyond what you already expect of him that he can earn money for.  Mow a lawn together for a neighbor or Grandpa, have a family car wash, have a bake sale, set up a lemonade stand....  All these innovative ideas will help your child see how important camp is to him. Your child will be thrilled that you thought camp important enough to  consider "combining the cash" so they could go to camp.  When I was a teen, I wanted to go to camp in the worst way.  My mom was a new widow and didn't feel she could send me.  It was all of a whopping $75 a week back then!  My sister-in-law heard of my dilemma and told me she would pay for me to go if I came over and painted her daughter's bedroom for her.  I was there!  Be creative.  Ask around to family members to see if they have odd jobs you and your child could do together to make it happen.

This is a sticky subject...the answer is ... um....if at all possible...please don't call.  We have watched young people come and have an absolutely awesome time...and then once their parents call or visit, become extremely homesick and not enjoy the rest of camp.  Five days is a very short time to go to camp.  Most camps are full weeks.  If your child is extremely homesick and not coming out of it, we will call you.  Children do best when they know they are loved at home so before you bring your child to camp, let them know you love them, will miss them, will send them letters or e-mails...but that you won't be calling because they are big now and can do this.  Let them know you believe in them.  Let them know you will be coming to pick them up Friday and having a great weekend with them...learning about all they got out of camp.  Give them incentives to stay at camp.  Some children even use homesickness as a manipulation tool to control their world...if you enable them through contacting them, you are not helping them to grow into responsible adults.  So...in an emergency....please contact us...obviously, there are circumstances in life where a child needs to know something or needs to be pulled out of camp for a funeral or something, but under normal circumstances you don't want to put your child under additional stress while they are with us.  Camp can be an exciting, fun experience...but children take our cues from us.  If we are the ones who are insecure, then we put that onto our children.  If we are excited about all they will learn and experience, then they will be too!  Feel free to comment.

Hi!  I'm Darleen and I'm River of Life's Secretary.  I'm here to make your life a whole lot easier as you send your kids off to camp for a week this summer!  Here are some helpful tidbits that may just make your week enjoyable.

Preparing a child to attend camp involves a lot of time and effort.  Browse our website and brochure with your child.  Help them plan things they especially like to do with their friends.  Our theme or focus this summer is Jungle Safari so you'll want to help your child find fun things to help them take part in the whole week of fun.  Make sure little Suzy or Jonny has a Bible he or she can understand to bring with them...and PLEASE make sure their name is in it with a current address and phone number.  Remember any "lost and found" will only be held onto for two weeks.  Be sure to check your child's belongings on Friday when you pick them up so you don't have to make another trip out for "lost" things.

Become involved as a team in helping pay for the camp experience.  You may want to give your child certain responsibilities, other than those you require, for which he or she can be paid.  Why not mow a lawn together or have a family car wash?  Your child will be thrilled you considered it important enough to "combine the cash" for him or her to go to camp...and it will mean much more to them when they themselves are involved.

That's enough for now....more later...so be sure to check back!