Do you believe?
The Case for Camp HOPE for Kids
Do you believe that
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Inner city kids want a sanctuary from drugs and violence, where they can be safe enough
to just be kids?
Suburban kids benefit from building lifelong memories with others who come from a
wide range of backgrounds?
Socially and emotionally challenged kids deserve a place to share summer fun with peers
who may or may not have similar difficulties making their way in the world ?
Children from a variety of emotional, social, financial, and cultural circumstances can
learn to work as a team to serve the world and the people who inhabit it?
If these are among your Christian core values … what will you do to make them a reality?
Coming Together to Change Lives
Day-day’s story
I grew up in north Philadelphia.
It’s not the best place to be. There
is violence everywhere, every day.
My mom is a single parent, so
growing up was kind of hard for
my family.
Most people my age don’t really
care for their education or their
future; most just care for sex,
drugs, and parties. Some kids are
neglected by their loved ones
which makes them turn to these
ungodly things.
Camp to me is really the BEST
place on earth. It’s safe, fun, and
filled with so much spirit. I have
been back every year, and every
year I go it gets better. I have met
great men and women who take
care and treat me as a brother at
camp. I have recently been
baptized, and without camp I
would have not made the best
decision of my life. I have grown
in faith, spirit, and just the plain
fact of loving God.
D’quan “Day-day” Robinson
At Camp HOPE for Kids, we are changing children’s
lives by connecting kids from widely different
backgrounds with each other, with caring and
consistent mentors, and with nature’s miracles.
Since 1992, a group of dedicated individuals has
banded together to build community and inspire the
lives of both privileged and socially and financially
disadvantaged youth – not by keeping them separate,
but by bringing them together each summer in a
beautiful 88-acre camp facility in Pennsylvania.
More than 15,000 kids have built lasting friendships,
memories and a vibrant spiritual community at Camp
HOPE for Kids over the past 21 years.
At a Crossroads
Today the future of this incredible camping
experience is at a crossroads. The site at which more
than 2500 children arrive each summer is soon to be
sold. Perhaps to a developer – or with your help, to
Hope for Kids, the organization that operates Camp
HOPE for Kids each summer.
The American Dream
Buying versus renting is, literally, the American
Dream. And it is no different at the camp, which
over the past two decades has developed leased
campgrounds to meet the needs of its diverse
population of children and the range of programs
offered each summer. That is why Hope for Kids
seeks to raise $1.2 million in cash and pledges as a
down-payment on the $5.35 million negotiated price
to purchase the camp site.
The potential benefits are numerous
Financial savings – The camp will save at least
$140,000 each year – the difference between its
current annual lease payment and annual payments
Linda’s Story
I didn’t know what to expect
when I volunteered to spend 6
weeks at Camp Hope for Kids
last summer. I told people I
felt like I had tripped and
fallen in a puddle of love.
Inspiration was everywhere as
I watched teens and twentysomethings shoulder
responsibilities usually
reserved for executives.
These young people were
wisely making life-changing
decisions with the campers in
mind. They worked 14 to 16
hour days giving, giving,
giving – smiles and
encouragement flowing as
they denied themselves and
loved others. I found that
every day, every hour there
were opportunities for me to
use the talents God has given
me. It is my nature to
diminish what I have to offer
– but somehow, at camp, I
felt useful and valuable.
Linda Brumley
on the 3.5 percent interest rate mortgage which has been
secured. And, as we all know, rent and lease agreements
frequently increase, while our fixed rate mortgage will be
set for 25 years, renewable every five years.
More funding for programs and scholarships – Money
saved by owning rather than leasing can be used to
improve facilities and programming and to offer more
scholarships so more kids can attend camp. We currently
have many more children who want to come to camp –
but we lack the financial aid to enable them to attend.
Security – Camp HOPE for Kids will have a permanent
home – rather than one which could change at any time.
We can develop facilities for the camp long-term to meet
future needs without fear that those investments might
dissolve if our lease agreement ends. Perhaps most
importantly, our campers need predictability in their lives
– and we are committed to ensuring that Camp HOPE for
Kids is both an emotional and physical source of stability
for them.
What will your gift make possible?
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Physical spaces for our kids
88 wooded acres with overnight cabins
500-person bed capacity
Swimming pool
Four basketball courts
Archery range
Gaga courts
Soccer fields
Tennis courts
Baseball field
Rock climbing wall
Two gymnasiums
Arts and crafts center
Boating and fishing
Two zip lines (500 feet each) over a river-fed lake
Focus on the Least of Our
Brothers (and Sisters)
Your focus on the least of our
brothers… inspires the citizens of
our Commonwealth and proves that
we can make a difference in the
quality of everyday life. As Hope
for Kids steps forward to meet the
needs of Philadelphia’s children, I
wish you every success in securing
a permanent home for your camp.
Every child in Pennsylvania should
have time to breathe fresh air, go
fishing, explore the good earth, and
relax with friends while playing
sports, making beautiful things,
enjoying music and good times by
the camp fire.
Edward G. Rendell
Former Governor of Pennsylvania
Programs that Build Character, Create
Memories
Camp HOPE for Kids is called “Camp Miracles” for
a reason. It brings children between the ages of 8 to
18 to overnight camp for as short as a week up to as
long as three months. Children arrive from many
different places, physically and emotionally: inner
city neighborhoods in North Philadelphia,
Baltimore, New York and other cities; programs for
autistic spectrum children run by Valley Forge
Educational Services; middle- and upper-class
homes from all over the U.S. and many countries
around the world.
Younger kids enjoy camp programs together and
teens have special camping program of their own.
Held in nature’s outdoor classroom, the emphasis is
on teaching Christian values, leadership skills,
teamwork, and learning to become environmental
stewards and promote environmental sustainability.
Campers build strong, life-changing relationships
with counselors and mentors who are teens and
adults dedicated to helping each child reach his or
her full potential.
Many of the children who come from North
Philadelphia have also participated in Saturday
Academy, a program offered during the school year
for socially and emotionally disadvantaged children
in North Philadelphia by HOPE worldwide, the
Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ, and the drug
recovery program One Day at a Time. Staff,
counselors, and mentors at Camp HOPE for Kids
build on the types of character-building lessons that
are taught at the Saturday Academy, using summer
sports and activities as well as a detailed curriculum
on the environment to teach all kids teamwork, selfrespect, and respect of the environment and each
other. For many of the camp’s attendees, the camp
also emphasizes job training and advanced academic
Caleb’s Story
By the time I was 14, I had
allowed myself to be exposed to
some of the many damaging
aspects of life as a teenager:
drugs, money, deceit. I dove
headfirst to experience them. But
I knew that after every rough
school year either academically,
mentally, emotionally or even
spiritually, people at Camp that I
had known for many years would
be there for me.
When the time came for me to reevaluate my life, I knew I had to
change. And I knew my faithful
friends at camp would be behind
me. I have no idea where I would
be without the relationships I had
at camp. The grace and the love
extended to me in my time of
need truly changed my heart.
Today I have the opportunity to
serve on the full-time staff here at
Camp Hope for Kids – and show
others, who have the issues that I
had, the same love that I saw.
Caleb Lombardi
preparation, which are also key features of Saturday
Academy.
Most importantly, the camping programs for children
and teens bring together 500 kids every week – 2500
each summer – from widely different circumstances.
Many attendees return year after year to enjoy sports,
arts and crafts, talent shows, rock climbing and other
fun activities that build lasting friendships and
memories that will remain with them forever.
Core values of all programs
Camp HOPE for Kids teaches the values and
traditions of the Christian faith. While we are faithbased, we are not faith-biased. Our emphasis is on
providing all attendees with the opportunity to live in
a safe, vibrant, culturally diverse and accepting
community that we hope will cultivate future leaders
and responsible citizens. Our goal is to build
community and teach the values of serving, hard
work, initiative, creativity, responsibility, and
perseverance.
Mentoring is an important component of all our camp
programs. College-age and adult counselors work
closely with all our campers to model values and
leadership skills. Frequently individuals who have
come to camp for years transition into counselor-intraining roles as teens (affectionately called The
Crew), and counselor roles as they reach college age,
hoping to share what they have learned with the next
generation of campers.
Spiritual benefits
Faith and friendship strengthen all who come to
Camp HOPE for Kids. At a time in their lives when
children may have little exposure to Jesus – or think
faith is not “cool” – the camp establishes a
foundation for life-long friendships and makes faith
Why We Support Camp
Hope for Kids
It’s not hard to see in today’s
society the challenges our young
kids face. They encounter daily a
society and culture that is slowly
eroding morally and spiritually.
The pressure they face in school,
at home, and in social media is
unique. When kids want to do
right, they face being ostracized
by their peers and persecuted on
the Internet. Doing what is right
is more challenging today than
ever before.
We have been delighted to be
part of HOPE for Kids for many
years. We have seen the impact
of camp on our own children and
on many others. We are
committed to being part of
creating a safe place for kids to
do what is right, a place where
everyone – grownups and peers
alike – celebrate doing the right
thing. We are committed to
seeing Camp Hope for Kids
become a lasting experience, not
just for this generation, but for
many to come.
fun and attractive to kids. Our counselors offer
campers heroes in the faith who are hip and
courageous. Camp can become a catalyst to initiate
Bible studies with teens and establish spiritual
disciplines in prayer, fellowship and discipleship. Our
Teen Camp programs help to prepare graduating high
school seniors to enter campus ministry when they
head to college.
Turn your beliefs into action
If you believe that all children deserve the opportunity
to spend time in a happy, safe, fun, and nurturing
place where they can learn to succeed in life… if you
think our similarities are far more important than our
differences… and that by mentoring children from
diverse circumstances and sharing our values with
them we can create productive citizens and leaders for
the future….if you believe these things, we hope you
will join us in supporting the Campaign for Camp
HOPE for Kids.
Our goal is in sight!
We are pleased to report that gifts and pledges totaling
more than $4.1 million are now in hand. This includes
more than $20,000 raised by campers selling cupcakes
(yes, cupcakes!) and conducting other fundraisers. With
your help, we can achieve our dream.
Alex and Jeff Arias
To learn more about how you can help, please
contact Pat Gempel at 484-557-9320, or by email
at [email protected]
Thank you to Camp HOPE for Kids
I wanted to take a moment to thank you. If I could encapsulate what you provide in one word it
would be “opportunity.” I cannot fully express how you have changed my life.
The roots of my journey began at Camp HOPE for Kids. Fifteen years ago I was 11 years old
and spending my fourth summer at Camp. You could say I was hooked on Camp. It was there
that I learned about the fun I could have with my peers while still living to please God. Every
summer I left with new friendships and memories. I went home changed. After that fourth
summer I graduated into Teen Camp. This added a layer of depth, faith and maturity to my life.
Over the next five years, I began to form my own convictions which molded me into the woman
I am today. I served as a counselor and had the opportunity to uncover my gift of leadership. I
also learned how to be a part of a team.
My greatest joy became investing in others and seeing hearts and lives change. The year I
graduated from high school I spent the summer at Camp helping socially and economically
challenged kids from North Philadelphia. I began to dream that I could make a difference in the
lives of these kids by giving them hope for a future and a vision that their life could be different.
God was also changing me.
I wanted to do more that summer to help others. I began to dream about being able to change
hearts and lives for life. Fifteen years later, my husband and I are in the full time ministry,
helping others change their lives. We are blessed to serve teens year round, not just at Camp.
Looking back I can see how Camp HOPE for Kids has shaped my life. Serving others in Godly
ways is my mission.
Thank you Camp HOPE for Kids. May your work continue for many lifetimes.
Always grateful,
Bethany Monday, Philadelphia