Category: Faith and Spirituality

A New Meaning to “happy campers”

In this post I tell you about For The Children, an organization that creates new meanings for children in foster care.

updated June 18, 2026

Learn about For The Children

“creating life-changing moments for children”
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For one week I was the doctor at an exclusive summer camp for children aged 7 through 11 years. Only a few children are accepted to this camp from those who qualify. There are strict requirements for admission, but once a child qualifies, they can return every year until they reach 11. Both boys and girls are eligibleto attend.

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So exclusive is this camp that the ratio of staff to children is almost one to one. Some activities are done in large groups; others are done in groups of four campers with at least 2 adults.  There were adult staff in charge of leading music, teaching crafts, hiking, fishing, swimming and drama presentations.

Additional staff came each evening for special programs and a birthday party for everyone. Since we were there the week of Independence Day, there was a fireworks show one evening.

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Three hot meals, served all-you-can-eat style, and snacks were provided daily. Assisted by a registered nurse, I oversaw treatment of any injuries, assessed illness, and dispensed medications. The campers slept in air-conditioned cabins with full bath facilities, supervised by adult staff.

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The total cost of running this 5 day camp is in the tens of thousands of dollars; the cost to each child’s family-nothing. Sound wonderful to you? The kind of camp you would like to send your child or grandchild to? No, it isn’t.

This camp is exclusive but you can’t buy your way into this camp. It is not for the children of the rich and famous, celebrities, entertainers, politicians, or doctors.

This camp is reserved for children who are in the foster care system- children who have been abused, neglected, and/or abandoned by their parents.

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A special camp for special kids

 

For The Children has been confronting abuse and changing lives since 1990 by  sponsoring these camps .  The camps are staffed by local people for children in their community. All are volunteers. Funds to pay for the camp are raised by individual and corporate donations, grants, and old-fashioned fundraisers like pie auctions. There is also a year-round mentoring program.

Child abuse is a preventable, treatable medical condition- and a crime.

The American Academy of Pediatrics calls it  “a public health problem with lifelong health consequences for survivors.”

The World Health Organization calls it a “global priority” due to its potential impact on social and economic development.

All organizations that deal with child abuse agree that prevention is much more effective than treating the effects of abuse.

Many of these children land in the foster care system, which can be another form of abuse. Foster children may be shuffled from one home to another without warning, separated from siblings, leaving behind personal possessions like clothes, toys, books, and photos. They have few opportunities to do normal kid activities like summer camps, family vacations, play sports and music lessons.

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Why Royal Family KIDS Camps

That is why our camp is so important. During their week at camp, each child receives caring attention from safe adults, many of whom return year after year. The goal of the camp is to create positive memories for kids who have few. Each craft is carefully packed to go with the child. Each takes a small photo album filled with pictures of their activities at camp.

For the sake of their privacy and protection, I cannot show pictures of the children, but these photos give you an idea of the fun things they did that week.

Most important, they are taught that their life has value and that they can overcome the challenging situations that brought them here. 

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If you suspect a child is being abused, here is how you can help.

National Child Abuse Hotline

At this site you can find phone numbers to call or text , live chat, and links to your state’s resources.

Together we can help every child feel safe and create positive memories.

drawing of a laptop with GIVE on the screen

Give to FOR THE CHILDREN at this link

(This is not an affiliate link. Donations to FOR THE CHILDREN are not shared with this blog.)

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Dr. Aletha

Father and Sons in Luke 15 

a story Jesus told about fatherhood, faith, and forgiveness

This early post has been updated and you can find it at the link below.

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Considering Fatherhood: Lessons from the Prodigal Son Story

In the United States, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. A biblical story about a father and his two sons illustrates the concept of forgiveness and celebration. The “lost son,” also known as the prodigal son, represents someone who leaves and then returns, seeking forgiveness. The passage encourages honoring important father…

Keep reading

from the original post

The Parable of the Lost Son


11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.

12 The younger one said to his father,

‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’

20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ‘

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 ” ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ “

via Luke 15 – NIV – Bible Study Tools.