Frequently Asked Questions
What is Angel Tree Camping?
Angel Tree camping provides nearly 40 hours of Christian life skills in one week of Christian summer camp for high risk children with a parent in prison. Trained and dedicated counselors become the role models for these children who may have never experienced a positive life style.
How did it start?
It started in 2001 as an outgrowth of the Angel Tree Christmas ministry. With a desire to minister to these children more often than just at Christmas, Angel Tree camping was born.
Who sponsors it?
Eagle Outreach Ministries Angel Tree programs partner with local churches, businesses, individuals, and camps.
How does it work?
The families whose children were given gifts during the previous Christmas season are contacted by volunteers to inquire if their camp-age children would be interested in attending summer camp for one week. Many families have expressed interest in camping when our people visited them during Christmas.
How is it funded?
Camp scholarships, transportation, camp gear, and expenses to get them informed and registered are provided by donations from partners and individuals. It takes about $400 to get a camper to one week of camp.
Is the staff all volunteers? What kind of duties do they do? When do they do it?
All work is done by volunteers. Duties include telephoning families, written communication, providing transportation, collecting and organizing camping gear, promotion / fund raising, chaperoning, and prayer.
Which children can go?
Children who have one or more parent(s) in prison are eligible for Angel Tree Camping from Eagle Outreach Ministries.
Can non-prisoner children go?
"Non prisoner" children living in the same household of the Angel Tree child are eligible to go if funds are available.
How do the children get to camp?
Eagle Outreach Ministries' volunteers provide transportation with chaperones to-and-from camp. We try to have a minimum of one chaperone for every four campers.
Do you need counselors?
No. The Angel Tree Camping children will be integrated into existing camp programs. The camps will provide all of the trained counselors and staff necessary for the camp programs.
Which camps are the children going to?
We partner with Warm Beach Christian Camp and Lake Retreat Christian Camp. Our camp sessions are usually between late June and mid August.
Will the camps have only Angel Tree children?
No. The Angel Tree children will be integrated into existing camp programs. We anticipate about three Angel Tree children in a cabin of about ten children.
How many children are you sending to camp?
This year we are trusting God for over 50 campers. (See the Prayer of Jabez in I Chronicles 4)
What is the Stayover Project?
It is an additional day at the end of a camp week for only Angel Tree children. We provide special activities to help them understand and cope with the unique situations they experience as a child of a prisoner.
What is Angel Tree Mentoring?
Volunteers in Angel Tree Mentoring stay in touch with the Angel Tree families during the whole year. Volunteers build bridges between local churches and the families for a continued connection with the church. We do one-on-one activities with children. When resources are available we also assist with other special needs the family may have that are not specifically related to Christmas or Camping such as supplying extra food, house repairs, or whatever needs may come up that we are able to provide.
Who gave you the command to do this?
Mark 10:14 – "Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don't send them away!" TLB and James 1:27 - "Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles." NLT