Salvation Army offers kid’s summer camp
A summer day camp and sleep away camp are offered to children in Gaston and Lincoln counties by The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is an international Christian charitable organization that works all year in their local community to provide services such as food, shelter, and financial services to those in need in more than 130 countries.
The Salvation Army’s first camp is a day camp at The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Lowell. This program operates all summer long Monday through Friday to provide kids from 6 to 15 years old a safe and fun place to spend the summer for $80 per week. These children take weekly field trips such as exploring the local science center, taking swim safety lessons, or simply spending a day at the lake. This summer, the organization planned more than 30 local field trips.
There is also a full week of Vacation Bible School during the summer, where they have time to play games and spend time outside.
Their second camp, Camp Walter Johnson, is a week-long free sleep away camp for kids aged 6 to 17 years old. Located on High Rock Lake in Denton, this camp has housed more than 55,000 school-aged children and youth since it opened in 1974.
Camp Walter Johnson allows children to build friendships and spend time in nature, while also participating in Bible study and other worship. They may participate in hiking, paddle boating, or the camp’s ropes course.
“For some youth, food disparity is at a higher level in the summertime because they’re not at school, so they’re not getting a balanced, nutritious meal three times a day,” said Gastonia’s Salvation Army Maj. David Phelps. “At [Camp Walter Johnson], they have three meals a day, they have snacks.”
The Salvation Army’s goal is to make sure that every child can attend summer camp, regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds.
For many youths, these camps are their vacations, said Phelps.
Phelps grew up in Mississippi, where he attended The Salvation Army church and went to camp. Looking back, Phelps said that “camp changes lives,” and that he is a product of that. Camp is where Phelps learned valuable lessons and met important people to him, including his wife, Amber, from southern Mississippi.
“When we see the kids and the impact the camp has, we kind of look at it like ‘we can’t afford not to send them,’” he said.
These camps allow kids to make friends with other children from across North and South Carolina, who they often get to see every year. Phelps said that being able to meet so many people away from home helps kids broaden their horizons and helps them grow into better citizens.
Children who participate in these summer camps stay with certified counselors who went through children safety classes, such as lifeguarding for their swimming lessons.
This summer, The Salvation Army of Gaston and Lincoln counties have 35 children participating in their summer day camp and plan to take 25 children to Camp Walter Johnson.
Phelps says that kids need to get away. Whether it be from technology or a hostile family environment, some count on these camps to feel safe and to learn something.
Both the day camp and sleep away camp cost roughly $250 per week per camper. Although parents cover a portion of day camps, the rest is covered by donations. People can sponsor a child by donating on their website to pay for a week of camp, but Phelps said that any other donations are welcome, especially since they see the least amount of donations during the summer.
Luc Séguret, a rising senior at Western Carolina University, is working as a reporter for The Gaston Gazette until he returns to school in August. He can be reached at 828-206-2544 or email him at LSeguret@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Salvation Army offers kid’s summer camp
