By Brent Bosker

Kinsmen Club donation pushes camp campaign over the top

May 29, 2013 | 12:57 PM

A program that sends underprivileged children in Prince Albert to camp reached its fundraising goal Wednesday with the Prince Albert Kinsmen Club presenting King George Community School with a cheque for $5,000.

‘Tri to Send Kids to Camp’ is an annual camp campaign sponsored by St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Riverside, Westview and King George Community Schools.

The campaign set a goal to raise $50,000 to send upwards of 140 kids camp this summer. Today’s donation from the Kinsmen Club and Canadian Tire’s pledge to match all donations up to $25,000, pushed the campaign over the top, King George Community School principal Sterling Swain said.

“It’s outstanding. Not only will we take our 130 kids between the three schools, and a few of the kids that are connected with St Paul’s but we’ll also, each of the three schools, will send all their students up to Camp Christopher for a Cultural Camp in the fall,” Swain said.

Prince Albert Kinsmen Club President Jared Devers said the club came on board after a presentation from Rev. Sandy Scott. Scott started the program eight years ago to give vulnerable youth the opportunity to experience camp life.

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“One of the big things that kind of hit home with us is that when they send a kid to camp they send the kid as long as it wants to go,” Devers said.

He said the camp experience is something new for them and can have a positive impact on their lives. “Sending kids to camp can obviously change them drastically. If we can go and help kids out. It’s a great thing for us and a great thing for the community.”

Swain said students were chosen for the trip based on who the staff felt would benefit the most from the experience.

“Those kids that we see a lot of potential in and just financially the families can’t afford. They would never get an opportunity otherwise.”

“The reaction is just out of this world,” said Margaret Marsollier, community school coordinator. “They heard the stories from the kids that went and they couldn’t wait to go. They are so excited they were chosen to go.

“It’s beyond words,” she added.

King George Community School became the third school to join the camp program this year and will send 25 students from Grades 2 to 8 along with a few high school students to the camps.

“We have a great excitement in the school for the kids to go to camp. All of our spots are filled and [there is] so much excitement we have kids in waiting,” Marsollier said.

bbosker@panow.com

On Twitter: @brentbosker