St. Clement's wants to send a kid to camp!
St. Clement's is proud to have a diaconal outreach fund that is dedicated to service and support in the wider community. It has been used to launch a successful fundraiser for Shelter Movers, to start a Caring Communities program at the North Vancouver library, and to help the seniors displaced by the tragic townhouse fire just blocks from us. Now St. Clement's is heading out into the neighbourhood in search of a youth or two who could use a fully funded summer camp experience! The diaconal outreach fund is grown through direct donations from the congregation and others.
Many people have fond and lasting memories of summer camp, featuring starry nights, campfire songs, watersports, goofy games, camp crafts, and new friendships. However, as this CBC story points out, this fun and formative experience is out of reach for many families - especially given the multi-faceted financial impacts of the pandemic.
St. Clement's would love to sponsor a Lynn Valley(ish) youth to go to Camp Artaban on Gambier Island this summer. Artaban is hosting five-day camps throughout August, including youth co-ed and family camps. St. Clement's would be pleased to hear from parents or guardians whose child (Grade 3 to 7) could benefit from a full sponsorship to the Junior Co-ed camp running August 14 through 19.
Campers travel to Artaban on water taxis from Horseshoe Bay, and spend the week making friends and enjoying the magic of a 67-acre waterfront camp that is surrounded by coastal rainforest. Enthusiastic staff are dedicated to making your child's experience a happy, unforgettable one.
St. Clement's clergy and youth leaders are also offering a young adult weekend camp from August 25 to 27. Campers 19+ will have the chance to kick back and relax before the demands of fall begin again, or they can take part in activities such as hiking, boating, swimming, crafts or conversation groups. St. Clement's would be happy to sponsor the attendance of a young adult from the wider Lynn Valley or North Van community who would otherwise be unable to attend this weekend. (The August weekend also has a component for high-school aged youth, which is being run by the Diocesan Youth Movement; please click here for all the details!)
If you would like to recommend your child for full-cost sponsorship to the Junior Co-ed camp, please write us to tell us why you think they would be a good fit for the Artaban experience, and why your family might find a sponsorship particularly helpful at this time. And if you are a 19+ young adult who would like to come to camp August 25 to 27 but are strapped for cash, please be in touch! Sadly, we can't help everyone, but we would like to help make summer sparkle for a couple of campers, at least!
Please send your letters to the St. Clement's church clergy inbox by July 27, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you have any questions, you can fire them over there, too! (And heads up - if you or your family weren't successful in bagging a spot at your favourite BC Parks campsite this year, Artaban offers "Island Getaway" packages on certain summer weekends. Enjoy unstructured R&R, while meals, watertaxi, waterfront recreation, cabin accommodation or tent sites are all provided - it's 'glamping' at its finest!)
Camp Artaban has offered Christian camping in the Anglican tradition since 1923. It is inclusive and welcoming, affirming of different family compositions and gender expressions, and embodies a ministry of friendship, love of nature, and commitment to the ideals expressed in The Story of the Fourth Wise Man, after whom the camp was named.