Royal Family Kids Camp gives foster kids memories of a lifetime
Each year, 35 to 40 volunteers are trained and take time to make Royal Family Kids Camp a possibility. Pictured above are some of the volunteers from last year’s camp.
May 16, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones
Each year, a local camp offers a special opportunity to kids who’ve faced tough challenges in their lives. The Royal Family Kids Camp, a foster-kids-only Christian outreach, hosts kids for a week of fun and games in the outdoors each summer.
Emily and Max Akers are the directors of the local Royal Family Kids Camp and started the week-long camps 11 years ago. Emily shared that she felt God led her and her husband to reach out to foster kids. She said, “God really gave me a heart for kids. Then, he focused it on foster kids and we became foster parents and have adopted as well.”
Now, the Akers run the camp each summer, usually in June, for kids from Barry, Stone and Lawrence Counties, and sometimes other outlying counties, as well.
Akers said, “We usually work with DFS (Department of Family Services) and through counselors involved with foster kids, but mainly it’s through DFS.”
Once kids are referred to them for the camp, Akers said that they typically take between 20 and 30 children. She said, “We are only limited by finances, volunteers and the availability of kids.”
Since the camp is run purely through donations, the Akers’ rely on help from the community for it to become a reality each year. They also have to have an adequate number of volunteers to make sure the campers are entertained and safe.
Akers said, “We usually have 35 to 40 volunteers each year, and they have to have special training since they are foster kids.”
The training ensures all volunteers are familiar with the appropriate way to deal with issues that may arise, special considerations for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and are equipped to act as mentors for the kids at the camp, according to the official Royal Family Kids Camp website.
The Akers’ themselves had to undergo training to be directors of the camp, as well. She said, “My husband and I started helping build a camp facility specifically for this ministry many years ago. In the process of that, we did training for Royal Family and then started directing.”
She added, “We had other people we were building the facility with help, but this was mainly God calling my husband and I into being directors.”
The stipulations for directors, volunteers and the camp itself are fairly strict to be sure the campers have a fun, safe time at the camp, which runs for five days.
Akers said making sure the campers have a good time is the main mission. “I think it’s important because foster kids struggle to know how much they are loved and that they are special, and that is what this camp sets out to do for them.
“This camp sets out to tell them they are special and important, regardless of what has happened in their lives already.”
While the kids are there, they do typical camp activities like swimming, fishing, games, and arts and crafts. They also have Bible study time and work with horses.
However, one of the more unique activities at Royal Family Kids Camp is the group birthday party they hold every year. Akers explained, “Everyone has a birthday. There are actually kids every year that have not had birthday parties. So, we do a great big birthday party with a birthday cake, and they get to dress up. They each get around $50 worth of birthday presents. Some of them have just never had that before. Then, we have a carnival afterwards.”
Aside from a large garage sale fundraiser in April or May each year, Royal Family Kids Camp relies on donations. They accept donations to run the camp as well as to buy birthday gifts for the kids who attend.
To make a donation, send it to 11506 Farm Road 2205, Cassville, MO 65625 or drop it off at the First Baptist Church in Cassville. For more information or to get involved, contact Akers at (417) 844-4280.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Each year, a local camp offers a special opportunity to kids who’ve faced tough challenges in their lives. The Royal Family Kids Camp, a foster-kids-only Christian outreach, hosts kids for a week of fun and games in the outdoors each summer.
Emily and Max Akers are the directors of the local Royal Family Kids Camp and started the week-long camps 11 years ago. Emily shared that she felt God led her and her husband to reach out to foster kids. She said, “God really gave me a heart for kids. Then, he focused it on foster kids and we became foster parents and have adopted as well.”
Now, the Akers run the camp each summer, usually in June, for kids from Barry, Stone and Lawrence Counties, and sometimes other outlying counties, as well.
Akers said, “We usually work with DFS (Department of Family Services) and through counselors involved with foster kids, but mainly it’s through DFS.”
Once kids are referred to them for the camp, Akers said that they typically take between 20 and 30 children. She said, “We are only limited by finances, volunteers and the availability of kids.”
Since the camp is run purely through donations, the Akers’ rely on help from the community for it to become a reality each year. They also have to have an adequate number of volunteers to make sure the campers are entertained and safe.
Akers said, “We usually have 35 to 40 volunteers each year, and they have to have special training since they are foster kids.”
The training ensures all volunteers are familiar with the appropriate way to deal with issues that may arise, special considerations for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and are equipped to act as mentors for the kids at the camp, according to the official Royal Family Kids Camp website.
The Akers’ themselves had to undergo training to be directors of the camp, as well. She said, “My husband and I started helping build a camp facility specifically for this ministry many years ago. In the process of that, we did training for Royal Family and then started directing.”
She added, “We had other people we were building the facility with help, but this was mainly God calling my husband and I into being directors.”
The stipulations for directors, volunteers and the camp itself are fairly strict to be sure the campers have a fun, safe time at the camp, which runs for five days.
Akers said making sure the campers have a good time is the main mission. “I think it’s important because foster kids struggle to know how much they are loved and that they are special, and that is what this camp sets out to do for them.
“This camp sets out to tell them they are special and important, regardless of what has happened in their lives already.”
While the kids are there, they do typical camp activities like swimming, fishing, games, and arts and crafts. They also have Bible study time and work with horses.
However, one of the more unique activities at Royal Family Kids Camp is the group birthday party they hold every year. Akers explained, “Everyone has a birthday. There are actually kids every year that have not had birthday parties. So, we do a great big birthday party with a birthday cake, and they get to dress up. They each get around $50 worth of birthday presents. Some of them have just never had that before. Then, we have a carnival afterwards.”
Aside from a large garage sale fundraiser in April or May each year, Royal Family Kids Camp relies on donations. They accept donations to run the camp as well as to buy birthday gifts for the kids who attend.
To make a donation, send it to 11506 Farm Road 2205, Cassville, MO 65625 or drop it off at the First Baptist Church in Cassville. For more information or to get involved, contact Akers at (417) 844-4280.