Bringing Faith: Alive! Bridge the Gap for Campers

Nov 17, 2023 | News

Bridges allow us to travel to places we wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.

Winter is not typically a time we encounter bridge construction, and yet we need your help to build a bridge this winter. We need you to bridge the financial gap for more than 1,200 campers. There’s a gap—for some campers a deep chasm—between what’s affordable for their family and what it actually costs Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries to provide a week of the safe, comprehensive, high-quality, faith-building camp experience our families trust us to provide.

“As always, excellent experience and growth with God,” Katie complimented after her middle schooler came home from camp this summer.

Dave, a first-time middle school camper parent agreed. “[My camper] and I loved the Western Town set up and common areas. You have an amazing camp!”

We have two amazing camps thanks to YOU! It costs about $1,000 per camper to provide a week of safe, faith-building programming at Carol Joy Holling Camp. At Sullivan Hills Camp the cost is $700 per camper per week. We know that’s more than our campers’ families can afford. So, we ask that you, generous friends of camp, bridge the gap and subsidize the cost of each and every camper.

“Thank you so much for this opportunity,” an elementary camper parent shared with us. “I grew up going to church camp every summer through my congregation and the memories I made along with strengthening my walk in faith as a kid are priceless. I feel very blessed, and I know it’s because of the generosity of others that my girls can come to a camp centered around God’s word.”

For some, the $430 registration fee for a week at Carol Joy Holling Camp is still a hindrance. But we live into Jesus’ words in Mark chapter 10, verses 14: “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”

Faith comes alive for God’s children—those 5 to 75—while they’re at camp.

“This camp was so great for both our grandchildren and us,” KINnect campers Kevin & Cammy shared. “It provided bonding time and growing time with God!”

We are incredibly thankful our generous friends continue to stand by our long-time promise that we will not turn away a camper for their family’s inability to pay the camp fee.

“We were able to send our sons to camp last year thanks to financial aid,” an elementary camper parent shared. “We are so thankful for this opportunity and the experience they had. They bring it up often and have a deepened trust in Jesus because of their time at camp.”

And we celebrate those who give so passionately to ensure the cost of attending Sullivan Hills Camp continues to be free! However, none of this can continue to happen without your support.

This year, more than $223,000 in financial scholarships and discounts made camp possible for 1,287 campers. And what about next year? The economic hardships facing camper families aren’t going away. We need to be prepared to support more campers. We need YOU to build a bridge before the end of the year. Whether you can fill the gap and provide a $700 subsidy for a camper, provide a $430 full Campership, or provide a partial subsidy or Campership—every gift matters.

What bridge can you build?

Each and every gift makes it possible for God’s children of all ages to experience a faith-building experience at Carol Joy Holling and Sullivan Hills Camps. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for bringing Faith: Alive!

To give online, visit NLOM.org/givecamp

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