“I know the kids had fun when the first thing they ask in the car on the way home is . . .
‘When can we go back?’”—campers’ mom

University Community Presbyterian Church has been involved with Bingle Camp for many years. The local office for the camp is housed within the church building, the pastor is a speaker at one of the camps, and many members of the congregation have served as members of the camp’s board. The entire congregation is supportive of the camp ministry. We designated our 40 percent of the Pentecost Offering to the camp scholarship fund as one more way we express our concern and desire to make an impact on children throughout Alaska.

Children come to Bingle Camp from all across Alaska—Savoonga, Arctic Village, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Fairbanks, North Pole, and Anchorage. Almost one-third of the children list no church home, one-third identify a Presbyterian church home, and the other one-third come from a variety of faith traditions including Catholic and Jewish. Bingle Camp’s continued presence in the community since 1953 has made an impact. Parents are sending their children to Bingle because of the experiences they had there as children.

The staff at Bingle Camp makes every effort to ensure that every child can attend camp, despite the cost. Many scholarship requests are for children who live in remote villages and are from single-income families. In 2004, Bingle Camp had thirty-four requests for scholarships. Because of donations the camp was able to grant partial or full scholarships to all requests.

Lois Hildenbrand
Commissioned Lay Pastor
University Community Presbyterian Church
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3709
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