“This was arranged by your dad!” These were the words one mum shared with her young son at our recent Day Camp in South Australia, held at a local ice arena.
Part of our Extraordinary Lives program, Day Camps provide children of inmates and their parents or carers a day of fun alongside other families going through similar situations. Sharing food and fun centred around an activity like ice skating, bowling or a trip to the zoo, Day Camps provide a valuable connection for families and can also enable children to develop positive memories of their parents while behind bars – even when they can’t be present themselves.
“The mum explained to me that her child’s father had been a source of disappointment to their son,” says Ian Townsend, SA/NT State Manager. “She wanted him to know they were attending because of him. It was dad who originally completed an Angel Tree application last Christmas, connecting the family to Prison Fellowship.”
While they are much-loved by the kids, Day Camps exist as much for the parents and carers as they do for the children. Reminding families they are not alone, Day Camps enable them to develop relationships with people who understand their situation, combating loneliness and helping connect children and parents to local church communities.
They also provide an opportunity for the children to learn new skills and resilience. “Two of the boys attending the ice arena event were brothers who had joined us on a zoo excursion last year. I remember one of them saying it was the best day of his year,” says Ian. “This time, at the rink, the two of them were preparing to go on the ice when I learned they had never been skating before. I told them that I would if they would, but just as we were about to step on the ice, the rink was closed for cleaning.”
“It was the look on one of the boys’ faces that spoke multitudes to me – it was a look of ‘That would be right – once again we miss out.’ I could feel their frustration, their disappointment – all the feelings that represent why we have the Extraordinary Lives program for children, to combat those negative experiences. Thankfully, I was able to see that another rink was open, so we hobbled over there with our skates on. The boys were so pleased to be able to do their thing on the ice and have the time of their lives.”
More Day Camps are planned across the country throughout 2025, and with your support, we can continue to reach more kids with the joy every child deserves.
Thank you for loving the children of prisoners, too often the forgotten victims of crime.
PLEASE PRAY that all children participating in our Day Camps would feel loved and valued, and that more kids across Australia would be able to experience this joy. Click here to sign up to receive regular prayer updates.
