Westwood Church and Ness Lake Bible Camp (NLBC) have partnered up with the goal of giving over 200 Westwood Elementary School students a free week of summer camp.
In recent summers, NLBC has picked other local elementary schools to offer free camps to – Quinson, Harwin, and Ron Brent.
“This year we have partnered with Westwood Church, they really wanted to impact their community and let the immediate community around the church know that they care for them and they’d love them to have this opportunity,” Dave Horton, NLBC’s Executive Director, told My PG Now.
He also mentioned that “this is not as much camp sponsoring the kids as it is camp receiving money that Westwood Church has raised to send these kids to camp.”
“Westwood Church has had a partnership with NLBC for many, many years,” Rob Dyck, the lead Pastor at Westwood Church said. “This year they chose to go with Westwood Elementary in our neighbourhood, we wanted to wholeheartedly jump in and be a part of that.”
“For our church family, it is demonstrating practical care and love for our neighbours that live right around us,” he continued. “There are no strings attached, we are simply wanting to show we care about our city, we love our city, and we desire to do good in our city.”
Westwood Elementary has around 215 students, Horton said so far around 85 of them have signed up, but he is hoping to see at least three quarters take advantage.
Anyone from Westwood who wants to claim their free week at camp is being asked to reach out to NLBC’s main office – students from Westwood who have already signed up and paid (for one week of camp) are also eligible for a refund.
“Camp is all about new experiences, there are things there you can only do there,” Horton said, listing archery, a zipline, paintball, ski boats, tubing, and rock climbing as some. “It is a really unique place, and for a lot of kids it is a new experience of doing the things, but doing it in a week where they are independent from their parents and family, and grow and gain confidence… it is a safe, encouraging, and independent environment.”
He added “kids can come from all walks, backgrounds, places in life. We are a Bible Camp, but we also allow people to come and disagree with our world view and our perspective.”
NLBC has multiple fundraisers throughout the offseason, like the Polar Bear Dip and Cans for Kids, to raise money to help kids come to camp every year whose families could otherwise not afford it.
Horton said this is offered to everyone, not just Westwood Elementary students, and anyone who wants to learn more should contact camp’s office .
For more information on Ness Lake Bible Camp, click here.
School District 57 is not involved with the initiative.
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