Who is eligible?
We use eligibility for the free lunch program as qualification because it reaches children in low-income families, foster children and homeless children. We don’t open our doors and hope that those with the greatest need will walk in. The federal government has already identified the families which are at risk, and those are the families we invite.
Read about the free lunch program legislation and its history at the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, and view the USDA Prototype Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Family Application here.
In addition, we invite all 4th and 5th graders in the entire county who are homeless, victims of neglect or abuse, and foster children.
- To reach 4th and 5th graders who are homeless during the school year, we partner with the Education Project for Homeless Youth, a project of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, which works to ensure that students in homelessness and temporary living situations enroll, regularly attend and succeed in school.
- To reach 4th and 5th graders who are homeless during the summer, we partner with the SOS Community Center, which provides wholesome activities for homeless families throughout the year.
- To reach 4th and 5th graders who are under the jurisdiction of the Washtenaw County Trial Court – Juvenile Division because of neglect or abuse, we partner with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
- To reach 4th and 5th grade foster children we partner with the Department of Human Services Foster Care Division.
According to the 2010 census, one in thirteen children in Washtenaw County live in poverty.
A full scholarship to camp is just a start for these families and children. First there’s the 40-minute drive to the camp bus or the one-hour drive to camp, which requires reliable transportation and gas money. Add to that the cost of essential camp gear such as a sleeping bag and duffel bag, and enough clothes for one or two weeks, and camp is out of the question.
SCS provides assistance every step of the way because these secondary outlays can be overwhelming for a family living from paycheck to paycheck. Click on Testimonials to hear the stories and read the notes of gratitude we receive from parents, children, and even a camp director!
Why fourth and fifth graders?
We focus on 4th and 5th graders because studies show that youngsters are more likely to retain the life skills learned at overnight camp when they are younger, the session is longer, and they attend more than one year.
To capture boys and girls attention as young as possible, we begin with 4th graders; camps will not accept children younger than nine into an overnight program and most 4th graders end the school year as nine year-olds.
To send them to the longest session possible, 4th graders, who aren’t yet ready to spend two weeks away from home, attend a one-week session, and 5th graders attend a two-week session.
We make sure they attend more than one year by giving youngsters a scholarship two years in a row: the summer after 4th grade and again after 5th grade.
After children “age out” of our program, we encourage camp attendance through 11th grade-the maximum age for camp-by sending the families of our “alumni” a letter each spring which lists the names and phone numbers of our partnering camps. This way, parents can call the camp of their choice directly and request a scholarship.