Outreach operation: Canyonview works to offer more scholarships

By Brenna Wiegand

Somewhere, a single mom struggles to keep food on the table. The situations vary, but whether she lives in the country or inner-city Portland, chances are the last thing on her mind is sending her children to camp this summer. Canyonview leaders hope to change that. Bringing those kids to camp is the aim of Operation Full Camp.

“The mission of Operation Full Camp is to fill Canyonview with children from deployed military families, single parent homes, inner city families, or from families that may be struggling financially in the current recession. We want to reach children that normally would not have the chance to experience a summer at camp,” reads the statement from their webpage.

The outreach campaign is a first for the camp. This is the camp’s first season without Dale Price – camp name “Buzzard” – the camp’s co-founder and director. He passed away April 16, 2011.

“Dale always said the best thing for Canyonview is a full camp,” camp board member Lance Kamstra said. “It’s the best thing for the camp; it’s the best thing for the kids and it’s the best thing for next year. We get a full camp and everything works fine.”

Kamstra estimates they’ll need to generate $75,000-95,000 in order to fill all of this summer’s camps – that represents about 500 kids.

The campership fund has hovered around $2,000 the past several years, Kamstra said, with the camp providing scholarships for maybe 20-30 kids. Families are encouraged to pay at least half the regular fee, but the camp deals with each family an individual basis.

“The most important thing is to give every child the opportunity to experience camp life,” he said. “Canyonview Camp is a place where you feel accepted and loved.”

At camp, kids get to fish, canoe or ride horses, perhaps for the first time. John Walker, camp office manager, loves helping kids create lifetime memories, but said they want to do more. They want to introduce them to Jesus Christ.

“This experience can give kids a memory that lasts,” Walker said. “But we want to plant seeds in their hearts – seeds for eternity. Camp can also be a life-altering experience.”

Churches, groups and individuals are sending funds, identifying children to reach, and volunteering.

“We need volunteers for tables at the various venues all the way to helping conduct camps,” said Kamstra, whose co-chair Amy Morse is getting word out in Portland and through social media.

Ruby Price, Dale’s widow, said Dale was poised to begin such a campaign when his cancer diagnosis came.

“I’m thrilled that Dale’s vision is being carried out even though he’s not here anymore,” she said.

Getting an effort of this magnitude off the ground involves “sputters and starts,” the former sometimes accompanied by moments of doubt.

“But there have been ‘God moments’ along the way that reassure me I’m doing what God wants me to do,” Kamstra said. “It’s kind of cool.”