May Camper Update

May has just flown by here at the Sunshine Fund office! Applications are coming in just as fast as we can place kids at camp.

These are our placement numbers to date:
Placed Kids: 299
Kids waiting to be placed: 75
Cost of placed kids: $109,262.51

These number are a bit ahead of where we were this time last year, which is great! Our goal is always to place as many kids at camp as we can each summer. However, this comes with challenges as well, the biggest one being our donations.

Right now our average cost per camper is $365.43 so if we want to place 1000 kids we would need $365,430 in donations, which would be more than we've ever received in one summer.

We are also gearing up to start our donor campaign which will get us very close to that donation mark. So if you are looking to hold a workplace fundraiser or just wanting to help us out this summer call 784-1130 and we can work with you to send kids to summer camp.

From all of us at the Sunshine Fund office we hope you have a wonderful and safe May Long Weekend!

Camp Fire Stories: A counselor's point of view

Counselor: Heidi Peters

 

Camp History:

She has worked at Winkler Bible Camp for 7 summers, 3 springs, 1 year all year round, and went to Bible School there for another one year.

I've been a Jr. Counselor, Sr. Counselor, Lifeguard, Cross View Assistant Director, and Cross View Director. Cross View is one of our two sites at WBC.

What Heidi has to say about Camp:
 
"Camp, well to say it short and sweet, camp changed my life!

Camp is a place where children and staff are safe. They have the opportunities of a lifetime and I believe not enough children in our world get to experience camp. Camp is where children can learn to have fun, try new activities, make friends, and learn about God! I have worked at camp for seven summers and I would never trade any of those summers to work anywhere else. I love working at camp! Seeing the children's faces when they come back from an activity, or when they have learned something new about God, cannot be put into words. Camp changes children's lives forever! I know some of our staff at camp would not be where they are spiritually if it were not for camp. I would not be where I am today if it were not for camp.


I have learned so much at camp. I have learned how to teach others about God, I have made lifelong friends, and I have learned how to have a real conversation with God. I really cannot put into words what camp has done for me. It has been so much a part of my life. Although I have learned so many things at camp, camp has not always been easy for me. I have had to learn how to deal with misbehaving children, which has taught me patience and I have had to deal with situations that I never thought were possible. Camp was not always easy for me, but I would not trade it for anything! I have learned so many lifelong morals and skills through camp.

I love camp! I love the children, I love the staff, I love the activities, and most of all I love God! Seeing the children's faces running through the playing field, swimming in the lake, or just hanging out in their cabin makes me love my job. I also love seeing the campers grow up and become counselors and seeing their relationships with each other. I remember seeing a female camper at camp and wondering why she was at camp; it seemed she was there just for the boys. However, as the years went by she became a counselor and today I would say she is one our most mature female counselors we have.

My favourite part about camp is when I get to hear of campers that made their first time commitments to asking Jesus to become their personal Saviour. It makes me so excited just thinking of it. Just to think that because campers have the opportunity to go to camp, I will one day see them again and they can live eternally in Heaven with God.

Another huge highlight for me is seeing the campers connecting with their counselors. They look up to them so much. I know some of the campers go back to broken homes and I can only hope that those couple days at camp can show them that they are loved, even if they do not see that at home.

I am not sure what your background looks like, I am not sure what you have done, but I know camp can make a difference in a child’s life.

Thank you so much for everyone who has helped a child go to camp and if you have not had that opportunity, just talk to a child who has gone to camp and ask them about their experiences; ask them if they would like to go again."
 

Friday's Friend: December 2nd, 2011

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Friday's Friend: November 25th, 2011

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Friday's Friend: November 18th, 2011

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Friday's Friend: November 11th, 2011

Oh Big Brothers...

Lest We Forget

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Anglican Church Camp

About Anglican Church Camp

Anglican Church Camp is located in beautiful Riding Mountain National Park, on the shores of Clear Lake. The camp has many of the amenities of home (showers, flush toilets, cabins, chapel, dining hall, and recreational hall) while allowing campers to enjoy God’s creation to the fullest.

The camp’s facilities are also available for rental by user groups during the months of June, August, and September.

Once you are here you will never want to leave!

Statement of Goals

Anglican Church Camp provides children, youth and families with an opportunity to experience personal growth through fun and fellowship, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creating within a Christian camping community.

Camp Type: Residential & Family Camp

MCA Accredited: Yes

For children: Ages 8-18

Gender: Co-ed

Session Length: 7 days

Average weekly Fee: $185

Transportation: Yes

Activities:

Biking

Canoe/Kayak

Cookout

Drama

Hiking

Religion

Sports

Swimming

Contact Information:

Diocese of Brandon

Box 21009

WEPO

Brandon, MB R7B 3W8

Phone: (204) 727-7550

Fax: (204) 727-4135

Email: diobran@mts.net

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Friday's Friend: October 21st, 2011

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Our Camps

In the previous post I mentioned our Accredited Camps. I didn't go into detail about what or who they are, but keep reading to find out now!


What is an Accredited Camp?
Camps in Manitoba have come to an agreement on standards for a safe and quality camp. Accreditation is a process where the camp is visited by an outside experienced camp operator to check whether or not the camp is using these standards. Standards checked include:
 - Staff selection, training, and supervision
- Providing a good program with safe practices for the activities offered
- Safety and quality of the site and facilities
- Caring for the health of campers


This accreditation is monitored by the Manitoba Camping Association and camps choose if they want to be accredited through the MCA.


What does Accreditation mean to the Sunshine Fund?
The Sunshine Fund will only provide funding for those children wanting to go to an Accredited Camp.


What camps are Accredited through the MCA?
Here is a list of the Accredited Residential Camps that your child could attend with financial support from the Sunshine Fund:
(a residential camp means the camp is an overnight summer camp)

Anglican Camp
B'nai Brith Camp
Bird River Bible Camp
Caddy Lake Girl Guide Camp
Calvary Temple Camp
Camp Arnes
Camp Assiniboia
Camp Cedarwood
Camp Koinonia
Camp Massad
Camp Moose Lake
Camp Nutimik
Camp Quality
Camp Wannakumbac
Camp Wasaga
Camp Y
Cdn. Diabetes Association Camp Briardale
Circle Square Ranch
CNIB
Dauphin Bible Camp
Gimli Bible Camp
Luther Village
Manitoba Pioneer Camp
Red Rock Bible Camp
Rock Lake United Church Camp
Roseau River Bible Camp
St. Malo Catholic Camp
Simonhouse Bible Camp
Tumbleweeds Ranch
Turlte Mountain Bible Camp
Wellman Lake United Church Camp
Winkler Bible Camp
YMCA/YWCA Camp Stephens



Accredited Day Camps
Assiniboine Park Zoo Camp
Mini U- University of Manitoba
Rady JCC Summer Day Camps

So these are all of the camps your child can attend with funding from the Sunshine Fund next summer. In the posts to follow I will tell you more about each of these camps so you can pick a camp that is right for your child.