Dear Friends,
Due to the on-going concern over COVID-19 and large gatherings, our 22 network camps saw 2021 as a fresh chapter with a new and different look – most planned smaller camps, held more often, limiting attendees to ensure social distancing and best practices for campers as well as camp staff; some camps are offered all day camps with limited overnights. Several camps continued to utilize a combination of in-person and virtual camps. Several of our camps are for children and youth with serious medical challenges such as spina bifida, cancer, chronic heart and kidney diseases, etc. Due to the increased health risk for these campers, they primarily experienced virtual camp, though they held several outdoor events and celebrations in person! One step closer to camp as we used to know it!
The camps worked diligently to ensure the camp experience still had the same undeniable feel and continude to provide life changing opportunities, just in a different structure. Given new conditions our camps budgeted and allocated funds differently as they required more sessions with fewer campers, more staff, volunteers, and PPE, than they have ever needed. As these needs were met, they had a positive impact as in years past throughout our diverse Kansas City community. The value of the camping experience is especially important for the wellbeing and flourishing of disadvantaged and special needs children and youth given the compounding impact COVID-19 has on schools and education the past two year.
As a result, the need for your continued funding and support is greater than ever.
Ways you can help:
Use the AmazonSmile website to place orders. When you shop on AmazonSmile the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. You can find us listed as Camps For Kids (location Mission, KS) @ https://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1244326
Participate in our events: https://campsforkids.org/event/
Donate online @ https://campsforkids.org/donations/
For updates on Camps for Kids, our network camps, and changes in the status of any ongoing Camps For Kids’ events, visit our website at https://campsforkids.org/ or feel free to reach out to our Executive Director, Regina Weir, at (816) 839-6494.
Thank you for your continued support for Camps For Kids. With your help, we can ensure that the special needs children of our community continue to enjoy the wonders of summer camp in 2022.
Be safe and well,
Camps For Kids
