2021 CAMP PARENT LETTER

My son has been going to Sherman Lake for the past several years thanks to the scholarship fund. He has had a lot of medical needs - all uninsured and deductibles are paid by me, my ex has never paid his half…nor has he been a part of his life ever. On top of that, the last 3-4 years I have been in a debt program that has helped me manage payments as I dig myself out of divorce debt and my son’s medical debt. I am going into the last year of this program and then should be in a much better place financially. I’m hoping this is the last year that I will be asking for a scholarship.

As I state each year, my son is in his happy place at Sherman Lake. Being in nature and being active for a week (when he was younger two weeks, not consecutive), thanks to help from his grandparents as well. His stress from regular life melts away and he lives his best life while at Sherman Lake.

Last year was his first two weeks of overnight camp and IT WAS AMAZING! He was recommended for LDP, which is what he signed up for this year. He could only do that last year because you generously gave him 50% off his stay. I humbly ask to you take that into consideration so he is 100% able to do the LDP because I can definitely cover half while managing my debt payments.

I also want to say THANK YOU for the two weeks last year. I was skeptical because camp was different from years past, and he definitely wasn’t able to do certain activities every day (sailing). We were both worried about that when he left for camp…but my kid was a changed kid when he came home. I have tears as I type! His school year was amazing! Those two weeks brought him out of a shell that I didn’t know he was in…he made so many friends this year! He went from being shy and not displaying a lot of self-confidence other than when he was in sports to being OUTGOING! He’s a WEB leader for school, where he is a mentor to a group of 10 5th graders! He’s in Student government again this year, but actually vocal with ideas and even designed a shirt for school! He did activities in front of the entire 7/8 grade class for student government pep assembly, he was goofy with his group of 5th graders…and did games in front of the whole 5th grade class at LMS.

There are things he would have NEVER done if it weren’t for those two consecutive overnight weeks at Sherman Lake! He would have been shy, felt embarrassed, and worried about what others thought. He grew so much and it has been AMAZING to watch the gift you all gave to him. I will be forever grateful whether he is granted another scholarship or not. Every year you guys have changed his life, but this year it has just been mind blowing amazing.

So thank you on whatever you decide. I just wanted to share and I hope you guys understand the gift you have not only given to him but to me as his parent. Thank you!