So carrying on with my 30 day in a row blog challenge (day 4) and trying to deliver something worth reading each and every day and bearing in mind that it should be something I am passionate about, I have chosen to blog about my favorite charity today.
I first became acquainted with Camp Tulahead when my eldest daughter attended camp for the first time as a young teenager. Even though I had been raised with church as part of my youth, my children were not. Family life was not perfect for my children (actually far from it - but that is a different story that I won't be sharing). Suffice it to say, that my kids could have really easily rebelled and gone far, far away to the downtown streets as so many teenagers did and still do.
By grace, my eldest daughter became friends with other young teens who were involved in a youth group at a local church. Youth groups are great. The kids have good, clean fun. The old fashion kind that doesn't involve smoking or drinking or drugs. She was still friends with the "popular" crowd in high school - the "90210" crowd as well but did not want to do anything that would not allow her to fit in with what had become "her" youth group. So, she never started smoking, or drinking and wouldn't even consider doing drugs. She still went to the beach parties, etc. with the popular group but always as the designated driver.
During this time period she went to Camp Tulahead for the first time. Only she can truly tell the story of the confirmation of her faith. I can only tell the story as a worried parent who was given the best gift, the undeserved gift, of a child who had found direction in their life as a young teen. That direction has carried my daughter well into her adult life now. She returned every summer as a camper until she graduated. Every summer since then she has worked at camp giving back to other children the gift that she was given.
Camp Tulahead is a non-profit society. The Director and the Board of Directors work hard all year to raise money to enable the Camp to keep camper fees low so that it is affordable for all children. As a matter of fact only 50% of the annual budget is raised by camper fees the rest is by donations. That first year my daughter went to Camp I couldn't afford to pay for it. The only reason she was able to go to Camp was because of donations received.
Now that my financial situation has changed I give a monthly donation to the Camp. It is never enough though. As the Camp ages, there is always a shortage of funds. I plan on stepping up my donation deal by deal and sending in a cheque from each commission I earn. Every year I am happy to have my deduction receipt to add to my tax return.
In closing, here is a quote from the Website:
Camp Tulahead's aim is to show love and acceptance, demonstrate patience and offer hope to every camper who comes to Camp.
The official Mission Statement from the Website reads:
As an interdenominational, evangelical camp our mission statement is "to assist B.C.'s evangelical churches in reaching today's youth with tomorrow's hope".
Since 1981, thousands of people, young and old, have begun living the Christian life as a result of their experience at Tulahead.
Please check out the website and, if you are inclined, become a member and invest in the youth of today. Every kid should get to go to Camp.
you tube - for a laugh - some of the fun at Camp as presented by the Counsellors.
Thanks for reading my blog. Until tomorrow then,
Diane
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