Juniors and Money

•  Juniors are able but need help to learn the principle of deferred gratification—they arrive at camp with more money than they are usually allowed to have and none of the normal limitations; they need help to make good decisions with their money.
•  Money lost is a huge distraction to the impact of camp—it is easy for money to be lost or stolen by juniors (it doesn’t usually get left in a lost and found like a Bible or hat would to be claimed later); we want to eliminate as many distractions as possible so we collect their money when they arrive and put it in the “camper bank.”
•  At camp we have the ability to teach a camper simple budgeting that can be a life changing skill—lack of budgeting and impulse spending can be a life crippling habit if learned early.
•  At camp we have the ability to teach financial responsibility with real consequences within safe “boundaries”—the camper bank allows withdrawals each morning with counselor oversight and guidance; that amount of money is then given to the camper to hold and keep safe and spend for that day. Each day the “lesson” is repeated.
•  The ability to have and spend cash rather than use a punch card or tab (credit) is a healthy life skill encouraged by financial stewardship seminars—at camp this creates a bit of extra work for counselors and staff, but is one of many foundational life skills that juniors need to learn.

Closing Thoughts

•  We want our junior campers to be able to spend their money themselves. Our camp stores mission is to provide refreshment, resources, and remembrances. We want to provide snacks, souvenirs, and helps so that campers not only enjoy camp but go home with things that help them remember their time at camp and their spiritual decisions.

The counselor’s goal should be to help the camper spend wisely the money that was given to him for camp—some campers may have a reason to leave money in the bank and take it home, but it isn’t a problem to help the camper think through souvenirs,