Ness Lake Bible Camp is a summer adventureland for thousands of kids from all over the region. It is one of the best-equipped camps in northern B.C., with buildings, toys, tools and staff dedicated to youth having a spirit-boosting time.
Not every young person has that opportunity, due to family finances. Camp officials are holding a drop-off bottle drive at Nechako Bottle Depot on Saturday in order to stock a fund especially for those kids.
"We want those families to get those benefits, too. Camp can be a life-affirming experience for any young person, and especially for those who don't have a lot of other recreational opportunities," said Dave Horton, NLBC's program director. "There are not a lot of camp options for the north. We do have a cost attached because we are a certain size and scope, but we want kids to come here to have the same experience other kids get."
Camp staff and volunteers will do the sorting work with Nechako Bottle Depot staff. All the public has to do is drive by, drop off the donated cans and bottles, and drive away. This campaign is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This initiative has been underway since 2008 and has already made a difference in scores of families' lives. Each new year brings another set of success stories, all enabled by the recycleables donated on this special day. It's putting camp into a can, and bottling the excitement of youth.
"Some families just need $20; some kids need $120 bucks," said Horton. "Every family's needs are so individual. It affects so many young people and helps them have a summer camp experience. So much can come from that, for a young person's development."
