Camp Skillz Madison Serves Immigrant Families in Madison

Campers benefit from team building skills all while having fun and making fantastic memories! Last year, campers were challenged to make it across the pool in a cardboard boat they worked together to create.

Camp Skillz Madison is a structured, enriching summer-camp program serving primarily first and second generation immigrant families in the Madison area. This will be the sixth year of Camp Skillz Madison which is held at Old Hickory Estates, a mobile home park in a Hispanic community. Our consistency and time in this neighborhood of Madison has helped create a network of families, local schools, and community partners. Camp Skillz has become a place that parents trust and rely upon for summer programming.

For low-income families, quality summer programming is often inaccessible due to cost and transportation. Providing a quality summer program, free of cost, allows kids to participate who otherwise may be left unsupervised in the summer due to their parents working. Not only that, but we provide the camp right in their neighborhood, within walking distance for most homes.

The Israelites were instructed in Deuteronomy 10:19 to "love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." 90% of the youth we serve are first- or second-generation immigrants. A practical example of a way we are loving our neighbor is to provide translators and bilingual staff to ensure that parents have all the information for the camp and know how to enroll their child in the program.

We strive to encourage campers to improve their nutritional choices by the end of camp this summer. Simple and tasty recipes that can be replicated at home will help us to achieve this goal.

We are so thankful for the support of Metro Development Housing Association (MDHA) who provides grant funding for Camp Skillz Madison. We are also thankful for the donations the SLAM (Students Living a Mission) teams will be making such as white T-shirts and white beach towels for tie dye projects. These items double as engaging projects while also providing clothing and linens.

Camp Skillz Madison Director Tresa Botzum writes, “Prior to moving to Nashville, I first experienced Camp Skillz back in 2012 as a part of a SLAM (Students Living A Mission) group. Seeing the joy on the faces of campers learning new skills, and building positive relationships ignited a deep desire in me to serve children whole heartedly. Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I find it a true privilege to work in youth development. To help raise the next generation to recognize their worth and to teach them how valuable they are is highly motivating. Their joy is contagious and it makes me want to do all that I can to provide campers with memories that are positive and life-giving. I look forward to a summer full of purpose!” Campers have constantly been asking,"When will Camp Skillz begin?" They are excited to return and we couldn’t be more excited to have them back for another summer of learning and fun!