A few students at Wayne City have been volunteers at Camp 5 during the summer, but not very many others know what this camp is actually about. Camp 5 is a summer camp for disadvantaged youth in 2nd through 8th grade. It focuses solely on at-risk children living in poverty who may or may not have been abused or neglected. The camp has been located in different locations, but this year it will be held at Camp Hope in Ewing, Illinois. This year it will be held from July 15 to the 20.

Volunteers make the whole camp happen. They are the ones who set up all the games, take all the pictures, and put everything together. Counselors are also volunteers. If enough people are willing to give up a week of their summer for this camp, staff can be one-on-one with the campers. The whole goal for the counselors is to be the childrens’ best friend for the week.

Many people don’t think they would like this camp or that they wouldn’t know how to connect with the kids, but once you try it, you’ll want to come back each year. It’s such a rewarding and humbling experience being with the kids all week, and being able to give them a fun week away from home.