Each year, hundreds of kids have the chance to experience a week of fun and learning in the summer at no cost to their families.

Camp Lookout in Madison County has hosted thousands of kids since opening more than a century ago.

But with inflation and added expenses, the camp needs more support.

What You Need To Know

  • Camp Lookout in Madison County has hosted thousands of kids since opening more than a century ago

  • With inflation and added expenses, the camp needs support

  • Each year hundreds of kids have the chance to experience a week of fun and learning in the summer at no cost to their families

 

Camp Lookout started in 1922 as a camp to protect kids potentially susceptible to tuberculosis.

Now it has a different mission.

“Some of our campers get free or reduced lunch. Some of our campers might be struggling socially. Some might just be having some type of hardship in their life. There's a wide variety of why campers come here," said Jamie Matzke-Dygert, the executive director of Camp Lookout.

For no cost, kids, referred by schools, can enjoy about a week of summer camp — archery, basketball, swimming, boating, cabin time and more.

“It gives them opportunities that they really either don't have or are not taking advantage of in the rest of their life for the rest of the year, and it gives them some skills that they wouldn't get elsewhere," said Camp Director Jimmy Burton.

“They do swimming, boating, arts and crafts, nature, athletics, and then they also do cabin time. Which cabin time is something I think a little unique to the children's camp. During that cabin time, they focus on people-making skills, leadership skills," Matzke-Dygert said.

The campers tend to come back as counselors, like Grace ​Davis.

“Camp is just like a home away from home. For a lot of people, it's very like a welcoming community. And you can talk about anything to your counselors and your cabin mates and feel included and safe," Davis said.

About 600-700 kids come each summer.

And it's a lot of fun, but inflation and added expenses have made times more challenging for the nonprofit which relies on donations.

“Everybody is really struggling with food costs this year and just the rising costs and inflation," said Matzke-Dygert.

Donors have stepped up, but help is still needed.

“We really have such a sense of family and community here that I really think that we're contributing to Madison County and the world being a better place," Matzke-Dygert said.

Information on how to donate can be found on Camp Lookout's website.