Summer Camp

Enroll your child for Angel Tree Summer Camp which is 6 weeks of camp offered to children of prisoners ages 8 to 16. Or enroll your child for Foster Kids Camp, which is 1 week of camp offered to children ages 7 to 11 in foster care.

Hope of the Ozarks Summer camps, for kids ages 8 to 16, are uniquely designed for at-risk children and youth. Children have a chance to just be kids as they participate in swimming, horseback riding, archery, games, and arts and crafts, but summer camps provide much more. Children learn they are not the only ones with a parent in prison, and they interact with staff who had similar experiences growing up. In addition to all the fun activities, there are classes which provide children with tools to make healthy choices, process grief, and realize their value and dreams. Children learn life skills including conflict resolution and anger management and have opportunities to increase their social and emotional development by participating in group activities, going horseback riding, and connecting with God.

Our Timothy Training Camp for former campers teaches our 13 to 16-year-old skills in setting SMART goals, work ethic and integrity, self-discipline, and how to be a Team Player. This is an invite only training for those young people who desire to grow in leadership and service to others.

Children who attended Hope of the Ozarks’ summer camps have showed a significant increase in self-efficacy as well as an increase in social and emotional development. This brief sample of the positive remarks by campers and parents shows the power of Hope of the Ozarks’ camping program.

“Thank you for sponsoring for camp. I learned how to trust people. My favorite things were horses and free time.” – Makayla
“I learned that God is always with us and loves us. My favorite things were obstacle course and making friends.” – Darian
“What felt good was writing out the bad things that we did and bury them.” ~ Kahari & Samyra
“Each year she becomes a better person and learns more about the Bible. I am glad she is a part of this wonderful experience thru a difficult situation.” ~ Camper Mom, Thiquita
“I learned about overcoming evil with good. My favorite things were swimming and the What About It Class”- Yolanda
“I learned about teamwork and leadership. My favorite things were riding horses and having fun.” -Jabari
“I learned that it (parent’s incarceration) is not my fault. My favorite things were horses and archery”. – TJ
“I learned about forgiveness. My favorite things were everything.” -Porsha