In 2002, there were over 879,000 victims of child abuse recorded by child protective services across the United States. In Washington State, more than 16,000 children go through the foster care system in any given year and currently there are 11,000 youths in the Washington State foster care system. Because of the limited availability of funds for non-essential enrichment programs in the social services sector, summer camp is unavailable to most underprivileged children, especially those with behavior disorders.

Everything at Royal Family Kids’ Camp teaches battered kids that they are and can be winners! Life has taught them that they are outcast, unloved, and unlucky. We teach that God loves them, and that they can succeed. The sports, recreation, games, crafts, teaching, songs – all are specially designed to help our Royal Family children experience success and feel loved. Even the camp name implies that they are royalty and part of a royal family. 

“When Tommy came to camp he could not swim like the other kids…and felt like a failure. He had no self-confidence and kept to himself.  But the camp director worked with him every day, patiently teaching him how to swim and tried to pull him out of his shell. Six years later, the same camp director saw a familiar face. It was Tommy…but a very different, confident young man. “I’m swimming now!” Tommy told the director. He was one of the stars on his high school swim team!”

“Mikki has some behavioral problems. In fact, after camp, her foster mother was going to return her to the Health and Welfare Department. But something happened to Mikki during her week at camp. Counselors helped her build some positive memories, achieving things she never dreamed she could do. When Mikki returned home, her foster mother sensed a positive change in the little girl and decided to work things out.  Now, her foster parents are in the process of adopting her!”

This year’s camp is to be held July 7th-11th at a camp in western Washington. Fifty plus adult and youth volunteers have given hours of their time in preparation and training for the camp and will invest five days in July to love and instill hope and confidence into the lives of 48 of these children.