Faith-Based Day Camps

FAITH-BASED DAY CAMPS BY: ABBY LYNES

For those looking to explore their faith, the Gallatin Valley offers several faithbased summer programs. These typ ically four to five-day programs can give your child a chance to connect to a community and learn more about a religion, all while singing songs, mak ing crafts, enjoying snacks and having fun with friends. They’re perfect for younger children wanting to get a feel for camp but not wanting to go away overnight. And as a parent and/or community member, they can also give you the opportunity to volunteer and meet other people who might share your faith.

The following list is a sample of what’s offered in the Gallatin Valley. It’s in no way meant to be comprehensive, though, and we encourage you to check in with your religious institution to see what they offer in the summer months.

Hope Lutheran and Holy Rosary Catholic Parish

Hope Lutheran usually offers a vacation Bible school in partnership with Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, and it’s always a fun and exciting time.

The camp will be held from June 15 to 19 this year.

For more information, visit hopebozeman. com/faith-formation/faith-formation-athope or email paul@hopebozeman.com. Bozeman UMC, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Grand Avenue Chris tian, and St. James Episcopal

An ecumenical effort, five churches are joining forces to offer a downtown VBS, which serves 150 children and 150 youth and adult volunteers. Putting together the event requires a lot of time and effort, and volunteers are appreciated. Event organiz ers are looking for small group shepherds, preschool/kindergarten teachers, craftiv ities leaders, games leaders, stories and drama leaders, carpentry leaders and snack servers. Activities will be geared toward children ages four and up, and childcare for volunteers’ kids three and under will be provided.

encouraged!

For more information and to register, visit bozemanumc. org/vacation-bible-school-2018/ or contact Janna Lauver at (406) 551-7209 or janna@bozemanumc.org.

E-Free and New Beginnings Church

Camp Agape aims to offer a safe space where kids and learn

and grow in an encouraging environment. It offers activities

such as crafts, singing, hiking, story time and field trips, all in

a safe and encouraging environment. Kids going into kinder

garten through seventh grade are welcome to come, with the

groups being divided into K-2, 3-4 and 5-7. Normal hours of

operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

however the camp is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and of

fers early drop off and late pick up options. Registration is open.

For more information, visit efree.agapemg.com.

Chabad Lubevitch of Montana

Camp Gan Israel offers lots of fun and activities for kids ages

five to 12. Held in the Emerson Center, it will offer swimming,

Challah baking, field trips, sports, kosher lunches, arts and

crafts and awesome counselors. The camp will take place from

June 22 to 26 and June 29 to July 3.

For more information, email chavie@jewishmontana.com.

Yellowstone Theological Institute

Looking to blend faith and theatre? Yellowstone Theological

Institute will offer a theatrical camp to help put your kids’

imagination to work this summer. Dates for this year’s camp are

from August 17 to 21. Kids in fourth through eighth grades will

get the chance to learn everything from writing to acting and

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE & HAPPY SUMMER!

GYMNASTICS TRAMPOLINE LONE MOUNTAIN GYMNASTICS & S WI M SCHOOL SWIMMING PRESCHOOL

DANCE & NINJA CLASSES COMING SUMMER 2020!