THE CAMP HAPPYLAND EXPERIENCE IN 2022
What many people don’t know about The Salvation Army of Central Maryland is that we provide a complimentary camp experience to kids from low-income and underserved communities. There are many kids who will spend their entire Summer, at home, watching TV and playing video games. Not all kids have the opportunity to learn to swim or see a sky full of stars at night during the Summer—or ever.
The Salvation Army wants to give every child a special childhood memory that will not only push them outside of their comfort zone but would also teach them how to be a confident, independent, adult later in life.
This year, 70 kids from our service centers located in Howard County, Glen Burnie, and Carroll County, and from our Boys and Girls clubs located in Middle River, Glen Burnie, and Franklin Square, spent an entire week at overnight camp from June 25th until July 1st. . Boys and Girls club members also celebrated “National Boys and Girls Club Week” at Camp Happyland too!
For many kids from our Boys and Girls clubs, this is either a first-time experience, a frequent experience, or a lifetime experience.
Eileen Taylor, a secretary for Havre De Grace Corps, is excited to have her 15- year- old grandson go to Camp Happyland for the first time. “I think this will be good for my grandson. It’s a survival camp and it will help him grow.”
La’Nyah, 11 years old, has been going to camp since 2018. “I am excited about going to the pool daily. Also, camp is just really fun,” she said.
One of the newest members of The Boys and Girls club is Adnan, 10 years old, who has been a member for a year. This is his first time being away from his family for an entire week. “I heard camp was fun and saw videos about it. It’s my first time being away from my family for a week. I also want to try archery. I will also miss my family,” he said.
The Summer camp experience not only provides recreation, survival camp experiences, and a week full-of-fun but it also incorporates aspects of learning, character building, and personal growth.
Camp Happyland is nestled in Richardsville, Virginia. It’s an American Camping Association accredited facility located on 215 acres of rolling hills including a lake, woods, practice field, trails, cabins, and a spiritual center. Kids will enjoy swimming, archery, basketball, race cars, music, and even more activities during their time at camp.
Did you also know that there is a strong spiritual component found in camp?
Here at Camp Happyland, several kids will get their first introduction to God and learn about his love for each one of them through daily prayers, talks, and scripture readings. Our Salvation Army Corps Officers and Staff made an impact at Camp Happyland this year.
"Last night (last Wednesday), Captain Chisolm of Baltimore Temple Corps was speaking about God's purpose. After his speech on why God created us, a lot of our youth got very emotional, and they had a real-life experience with God. Many kids asked for prayers, and many had an emotional moment,” said William Boone, Area Director of The Boys and Girls Club of Central Maryland.
“We knew that with the kids being here, they would have a life changing experience. Kids were introduced to God and many will take lessons learned here back home. So camp is a great experience! We hope you all come out next year.”
Each kid who participated at Camp HappyLand’s overnight Summer program learned life long skills that will carry them into adulthood.
Skills Learned at Summer Camp
1.) Kids can learn lifelong skills such as team work, problem solving, and playing a new sport.
2.) Kids can develop a sense of self. One week's worth of camp can teach a kid to embrace independence which boosts a child's self-esteem.
3.) Camp gives children free play time which is important for a child's development. Free play enhances creative thinking and ensures a safe space for children to navigate conflict.
4.) Less screen time, more nature time. The great outdoors promotes physical, mental, and emotional health.
5.) Boosts self-esteem. At Summer camp, children learn to play and master different activities. Achievement is a big part of gaining self-esteem. We make life decisions based on our self-esteem.
Overall, kids learn to value themselves as a result of hard work and achievement.
Several kids who went to Camp HappyLand this year went outside of their comfort zones to learn new sports, hold themselves accountable, learn responsibility, improve social skills, and learn more about God.
Want to learn more about “The Camp Happyland” experience? Want to watch interviews, and testimonials from children and from officers who attended Summer Camp this year?