When Camp is a Priority for Your Child, You Need to Make it Happen

Seymour Adventurers return from Cutts Island paddle

Your child went to camp last summer. They put their heart into it and had a great time. They stretched their comfort zone and made some new friends. They faced their fears and were brave and tried kayaking, archery or climbing. They came home more responsible, a little more mature, and prepared to face their next year in school. It wasn't cheap, but was it worth it? Absolutely!

You need to make it happen, again, but a one time payment in June may have a significant impact on your families finances. How can you make this work?

YMCA Camp Seymour has some ideas to help make camp more affordable to your family.

1. Register now and set up a payment plan

You can spread your payments out from now until summer. Call camp at 253-884-3392 and make arrangements for monthly payments to be charged to your credit/debit card. Camp can be as inexpensive as $65/month, after your $100 deposit. Download a printable 2012 camp registration form.

2. Apply for financial assistance
In 2011, a team of over 20 volunteers helped raise over $120,000 to help send kids to summer camp. The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties never wants money to stand in the way of a child having a camp experience. Don't assume you don't qualify. Tell your story, and the YMCA might be able to help. Click here to download a Financial Assistance Application.

3. Set up an Individual Camper Fundraising Page
Historically, campers had sold soap or peanuts to earn their way to camp. They depended on the kindness of family friends and sometimes even caring strangers to make camp possible. Times have changed, but we can still rely on the kindness of others to make camp possible for our kids. Camp Seymour can help you to set up your own webpage that can help support your child to raise money for them to attend camp. The page can be e-mailed to grandparents and other relatives, posted on parents Facebook pages, or used through other social media and shared contacts, to help make camp possible for your child. See a sample page. Call Diane for more information at 253-460-8902.

4. Select a price that works for your family

Camp Seymour has a three-tiered pricing structure that helps you self-select a rate that works best for your family. To learn more about three-tiered pricing see the explanation on our printable registration form.

5. Take Advantage of Special Offers

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap County Members can attend Session 1 (June 24-30) or Session 2 (July 1-7) for just $399. This incredible offer is extended as a thank you to all of the Y members that have kept Seymour in the hearts, for all of these years.

Note: If you receive financial assistance for your YMCA membership, it is likely that you qualify for the same percentage of discount towards Camp Seymour programs. Contact camp to find out if you qualify, or if it's time for your annual review, to see what percentage of support your family is eligible for.

Campers in the 1970s - Raising Money for Camp.

Camp changes lives. It better prepares kids for their future and helps them gain valuable social skills. Every child deserves this opportunity. Please, let's make it happen for your child.

If you'd like to discuss any of the above plans, or speak with a camp staff that can best help you develop a plan that meets your family's needs, call us at 253-884-3392 and ask for Scotty or Diane Jackson or e-mail Scotty at sjackson@ymcapkc.org. We'll help get your child to camp.