Camp Fundraising with a Purpose!

Most church people love to help students go to camp. I have never turned a child away from the camp experience because of their inability to pay but with that said I also feel children should make an effort to earn their way to special events. A child who earns their way takes pride in the fact that they worked hard for their experience. This is a great way to sponsor a child and teach children God’s word.

Three months prior to Camp, give each child a Scripture Memory Booklet. This booklet should be jam packed with important scriptures. Some should be easy and some a challenge. Assign each scripture a dollar amount. (Based on the cost of your camp so if a child learns everything they go free and trust me it happens!) Present this fundraiser to your congregation and explain what they need to do. Ask them to provide any amount over the next three months in special envelopes provided. Explain to the congregation that the money is given to students based on the amount of scriptures they memorize. The adults LOVE this and feel good about the children learning God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 " Your Word I have hidden in my heart so that I may not sin against You."

Offer scripture tutors for the children prior to every kid’s service. The children really get into this. It is so exciting to see children work at learning God’s Word! Make up a chart for each child participating for you to mark off as they say the verses and keep track of what they have learned. Mark their booklets as well to show them what they have said. Allow the children to come a half hour early or stay 15 minutes after each service to recite. Have several adults available for this.

The Sunday prior to Camp have an awards ceremony to honor all the children that participated. Share with the congregation the amount each child raised. Hand out certificates and really celebrate their achievement. Give out Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals to the top three students. Use the same book each year so the students can add to each year’s memorization. By the time they leave your program they will know a ton of Scriptures.

If you do not need Camp fundraising use this idea by assigning each scripture point values. Have a celebration Sunday giving out medals, certificates and prizes for the highest points. Make the gifts great! Make this a yearly event. Have a special party for all the participants. Our family camp does this and it is the highlight of their week!

Recommended Scriptures:

Psalm 1

John 10:7-9 (12 disciples)

Matthew 6:9-13 (The Apostles Creed)

Colossians 1: 10-14

Psalm 139:23-24

I Cor. 10:13

Psalm 23

Matt. 28:19-20

Phil. 4:8

Matt. 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)

Books of the OT

Books of the NT

Gal. 5:22-23

John 3:16

Heb. 4:12

Isaiah 53:5-6

John 1: 1-5

Psalm 100

Ex. 21 (The Ten Commandments)

Eph. 6: 11-17 (Armor of God)

Heaven How to get there

John 14:6

Rom. 3:23

Rom. 5:8

Rom. 6:23

John 1:12