Today, over 2,000 children in Waukesha County are victims of abuse & neglect. Without hope & trust, their lives spiral into a barren and destructive lifestyle. We are excited to bring that hope back to these children. We have found a way to help kids through Royal Family Kids Camp. Our mission is to create life changing moments for children of abuse. We use a one week summer camp experience to give local children, who are victims of abuse and neglect, positive encouragement & compassion, renewing hope & trust in these hurting children’s lives. This is a unique camp program designed for children in the foster care system, and other at-risk children. We offer many opportunities in creating wonderful childhood memories, which can become positive life-changing moments in the lives of these at-risk children. We are called Royal Family Kids Camp, because we believe every child is as important as royalty. They have value, they matter. At Royal Family Kids Camp, we have camp “family figures” giving campers affirmation and affection in a wholesome, positive role-modeling, non-threatening atmosphere.
We have a camp Grandma & Grandpa, giving safe hugs & camp mail. Our camp counselors are assigned to a maximum 2 campers each. This ratio gives each camper quality attention and establishes healthy influential adult relationships. Adults here model a non-violent, positive way of life as an alternative to many of the negative, abusive situations which children of abuse have faced. This beauty of nature enables us to have many activities planned at camp including swimming, horse-back riding, noncompetitive group games, fishing, wood-working, and a ”costume circle” encouraging pretend play and building self- esteem. Many of these activities, most children take for granted, but for these children, these may be wonderful first-time experiences. We even host an “Everybody’s Birthday Party” where each child celebrates their birthday with cake and a special gift. To help preserve the positive memories created, each child will return home with their own photo album to keep and reflect on.
Royal Family Kids Camp volunteer staff and counselor go through extensive training and are background checked. We have strict policies in place to ensure the safety of each child. Our Royal Family Kids Camp-Hartland is associated with the national Royal Family KIDS, Inc., whom we receive our training, policies, and camp curriculum. Since its founding in 1985, much success has been documented of positive transformations made from one week of camp in a foster child’s life. We are sponsored by Oakwood Church in Hartland, and are part of their non-profit 501-3C organization. We rely solely on private donations, charitable foundations, and various local fundraising events to finance this camp.
The yearly budget for this camp is approximately $30,000. In addition to the camp ground rental and lodging fees, transportation, training materials for counselors & staff, supplies are needed to supplement a memorable week of camp for the children, including activity supplies and essentials.
Each camper is given a camp “memory bag”, containing a water bottle, activity book, t-shirts, bible and a MP3-player, downloaded with camp songs, and an important “memory photo album”, filled with precious personal photos to remind them of their week of camp. Sponsoring a camp memory bag is approximately $75 for each camper.
Our biggest needs are 1- Funds as camp is expensive and 2- volunteers. We need people to help change the trajectory for these kids by being counselors and support staff.
It is Approximately $900 to send 1 local child to camp for various craft and drama supplies, required staff training materials , food and lodging for staff and campers during camp week. All Volunteers actively involved at Camp during Camp week are required to go through twelve hours of training for first year, and eight hours for returning staff and counselors EACH year they are involved to keep their training and skills in dealing with special needs children up to date. Their is One Counselor for every two campers, relief counselors, Grandpa, Grandma Aunt and Uncle and several other positions needed to give the kids a special memory.
* 100% of all donations go Directly to the Kids NO overhead costs
* All donations directly impact the life of a hurting child living in Waukesha County and surrounding areas.
* Consider a Donation of your time as well to the camp, and it will change your life!
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How to DONATE? Click this link HERE.
Royal Family Kids Camp is also our charity at our The Lake Country Mom’s 2nd Birthday Bash on 7/30/15 and will have an area for donations and to learn more about their wonderful camp and how you can help.
How to learn more:
ROYAL FAMILY KIDS WEBSITE
OAKWOOD CHURCH WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
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