Summer 2017- A remarkable summer

2017 was an incredible year for the Champions Educational Foundation. We began our journey to provide more camperships for our 2017 season. We had the distinct pleasure of serving new families and aiding existing camp families in their return to their summer home. We look forward to expanding our fundraising efforts in 2018.

2017 Accomplishments:

  • $140,000 in camperships
  • 75 campers ranging from Kindergarten through 11th grades
  • 271 weeks of summer camp
  • countless memories

We have heard from parents and their kids about their experience at Camp Champions this summer, and we are so proud of the positive changes as a result of the summer camp experience.

One example of a positive change came from the mother of a campership camper, “We love what Camp has done for (our son). He has found his safe place; his home away from home. It has built his confidence and bravery. He is willing to try new things and go new places. He has learned and embraced the need to take reasonable risks. He has also become more responsible as a result of camp–having to be responsible for himself and his things for three weeks not only helped him to learn that skill but also helped us to trust that he could be responsible. He has always been a kind and compassionate child, but we love that those values are reinforced at Camp.” How amazing is that?

We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2018!

Remembering Connor Patrick Walsh

We received notice at Camp Champions last week that one of our beloved campers passed away in a car accident on November 22nd. Connor Walsh attended Camp Champions for ten summers as a camper and a member of our high school Senior Camper Program. Connor’s parents, Brian and Kelly Walsh, know that Camp Champions was one of the biggest influences on their son’s life. His sister, Lauren, has also been a long-time camper. In lieu of flowers, they have set up a scholarship fund in Connor’s memory. We are incredibly saddened that Connor will never be a counselor at Camp Champions, but are so humbled that his legacy will live on here, allowing campers who would not have otherwise been able to attend camp to have the same incredible experience he had for an entire decade. If you donate in memory of Connor Sir, please note “In memory of Connor Walsh” on your check or PayPal donation. Please keep Connor’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Connor Walsh

The Champions Educational Foundation

Hi. I’m Leah Mesches, and I am the founder of the Champions Educational Foundation. I have worked in the camp world full-time since 2006, but camp has always been a part of who I am. I attended day camp starting at 4 years old. I later spent my summers at a sleep-away camp as a camper, and then as a counselor and leadership member. I loved the experience. It helped me develop through a challenging phase of my life, and it also sustained me throughout the school year, even when things were great.

The residential camping industry has offered me the opportunity to focus on youth development. Over the past 11 years I have held leadership positions with two nationally acclaimed residential camps, one in the northeast and on in the Texas Hill Country. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with kids and their families, celebrating highs and nurturing lows. At one time I even dreamed of owning my own camp, but for now I am happy to focus on bringing the joys of camp to as many children as possible. I have always wanted children and families who don’t have the means I had to be able to have access to the out of school programs I got to enjoy. These are the programs that were essential to shaping me as a child, and I know this is true for many others. I want to expose families to educational and transformational programs and activities (like camp and outdoor education) at a substantially reduced cost, and I want to educate families about the benefits of programs like summer camp using research. I want to make sure that every child has an outstanding role model.

What we do is great, but it ISN’T ENOUGH. 

In general, campers are a relatively privileged lot. I was fortunate to be one, but equally fortunate that my parents taught me, at an early age, the difference between a “privilege” and an “entitlement.” At Camp Champions in Marble Falls, I am proud of the $200,000+ we give out in scholarships each summer. I am proud of our active involvement in the Team 22 project, a program in collaboration with Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, which provides extraordinary growth opportunities to underserved youth; however, we can do more. Our new 501(c)(3) is focused on providing this life altering “privilege” to underserved and at-risk youth, and any families who have hit hard times, because we want to make things tangibly better for them and to have just a small role in making the world a better place through the camp experience.

We would love for you to help us change the world, one camper at a time. Donate here.

 

 

New Website

Over here at the Champions Educational Foundation we are working on our new website. Bear with us as we update (we are major camp geeks, but do not have an expertise in web development). Check back for fun updates!