YMCA Camp Olson

Autumn 2011

Friends. Belonging. Freedom. Counselors. Joy. Leadership. Activities. Campfires. Summer. These words spring forward in a word cloud when campers reflect on their experiences at Camp Olson. These words are from children who have “grown up with camp” and those who were new to camp last summer. And like a line of poetry, these few words tell us so much about Camp’s impact and influence.

During 2012 we hope to give more than 800 children the opportunity to express these words after their time at Camp Olson. With your help, they can.

Camp Olson remains committed to keeping its fees reasonable and affordable to everyone. That only can happen if we receive your support. Right now, fees cover only a portion of the actual cost of a week at camp. We look to our donors to cover about $100 per camper per week.

At the same time, Camp Olson is seeing a significant increase in requests for full and partial scholarships as more families struggle to afford summer camp. We plan to award $76,000 in scholarships to campers during 2012. While a small portion of this scholarship fund will be covered by grants; the majority depends on gifts from individuals.

We do not want to turn a single camper away because of family finances. These children need Camp Olson and they are Camp Olson’s future. Your contribution will help keep camp fees reasonable and support a scholarship fund that will benefit more than 250 youth and family campers next summer.

Please help us give more children the opportunity to attend Camp Olson. Consider what your gift can do. You will help that introverted boy blossom when he discovers Target Sports and comes home with awards and proof of bulls-eyes. You will support that determined girl who has returned year after year to develop her sailing skills and, finally, attains her Skipper award. You will support that brave child who had never attended camp before, but returned home tired, happy and eager to correspond with new best friends.

Your gift will change the lives of children. If you have been impacted by Camp Olson, now is the time to “pay it forward” and help assure that Camp Olson remains accessible and affordable to everyone. Please give as much as you can. You will be rewarded over and over again by the smiles of campers in the coming year.

We deeply appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Margret Swanson Theresa Backlund

President Vice President