(Originally known as Camp CanoeBeKind. Our name change occurred to encourage easier internet access. The new name began 6/1/21)
Taking Kindness to a Hurting World
In a world filled with hurting people, Camp Kindness helps children take kindness to a hurting world through Christian teaching adventures.
Our in-person summer camp in Denham Springs will be June 5-9, 2023.
Our virtual camp is available all year long and campers can start at any time.
Teaching Children Kindness
Camp Kindness provides unique, fun-filled opportunities for children, youth, and adults to experience the life-altering virtue of kindness.
Children ages 5-5th grade attend as campers, while Junior High, Senior High and College students are trained in kindness leadership skills and serve as camp counsellors. Adults assist wherever needed.
Everyone gathers 2-3 times a year in a variety of formats.
Summer Camp Kindness meets four-five evenings in a row from 5:30-8. Fall and Winter Camp adventures occur over a weekend.
Each camp session hosts a curriculum created by the camp director, Leslie Akin. Through a multi-sensorial, age appropriate approach the children attain the following goals:
- Learn about a kindness lifestyle
- Serve their community with kindness
- Understand the Scriptures as a vital, trustworthy tool for a kindness lifestyle
- Respond to adversity with kindness and courage
- Hear real-life stories of kindness and courage
- Stimulate their imagination through wonder
- Validate themselves as teachers and learners in the Kingdom of God
The children love finding creative opportunities to serve the community. One year they built a bench which sits under a gorgeous live oak tree at the entrance of the Spring Park. Another year they planted flowers under a prominent statue in downtown Denham Springs. And another year, the kids put together blessing bags for each City Council member, showing their gratitude for the work they do. Donations to Camp Kindness help provide the materials needed to create an unforgettable, life altering experience with kindness in the lives of children, youth and adults.
Virtual Camp Teaching Children Kindness
Have you wanted a way to teach your child kindness and empathy?
Our virtual camp for children does just that. And, it’s completely free.
Campers can register at any time and go through the weekly lessons at their own pace.
The lessons are also posted on the Camp Canoe-Be-Kind YouTube channel.
Each week there is a video lesson and a kindness video from one or your fellow campers.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
COLOSSIANS 3:12
Weekly Christian Adventures and Kindness Crafts
Parents can be as involved in this adventure as they want to be.
Our goal is to lighten the load parents are feeling these days and to support parents in their journey of teaching children kindness and intimacy with God.
When you register your child for this free virtual camp on kindness, we will send your child:
- a Red Bag of Courage,
- God Glasses,
- a magnetic Prayer Pin, and
- an Activity Booklet.
Campers will want to have these items with them as they watch Ms. Leslie’s weekly video lessons.
You’ll also want to have your Bible on hand.
Grab some pens or markers and paper for drawing or writing about an act of kindness each week.
Some campers use the Prayer Pin to collect the acts of kindness they are observing.
And many campers share these experiences with us so we can post them on the Camp Canoe-Be-Kind on Facebook Page.
It’s a fun way for us all to stay connected and see what wonderful acts of kindness our fellow campers are discovering in their own worlds.
Leslie Akin is Our Instructor
Ms. Leslie will become super familiar to you as you take the journey to learn about kindness.
She is a wife, a mother of two, and a grandmother of nine amazing grandchildren.
Leslie earned her Doctor of Ministry with emphasis on the Spiritual Formation of Children from the Fuller Theological Seminary and her Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Camp Kindness Goals
- To create opportunities for children and parents to learn about a kindness lifestyle
- To discover the canoe as an effective tool for teaching kindness
- To understand the Scriptures as a vital, trustworthy tool for a kindness lifestyle
- To encourage children to respond to adversity with kindness and courage
- To share real-life stories of kindness and courage
- To stimulate a child’s imagination through wonder
- To validate young children as teachers and learners in the Kingdom of God
Camp Kindness Schedule
In 2020, we started a year-round virtual camp. Campers can start whenever they like.
The first ten-week session is the Foundation Series. It will be helpful to experience these adventures in chronological order.
- Part 1: The Foundation Series
- Part 2: The Praying God’s Promises Series
- Part 3: The Christmas Adventures Series
- Part 4: The Overcoming Obstacles Series
Go at your own pace.
Set your own schedule.
Remember that we are happy to help in any way, so just let us know if you need help.
And thank you so much for the opportunity and privilege of being a presence in your child’s life!
How to Begin
Whenever you are ready to start Camp Canoe-Be-Kind’s virtual lessons on kindness, simply select which adventure series you would like to follow and jump in.
And if you have any questions, email us at campcanoebekind@gmail.com.
Part 4: Overcoming Obstacles Series
The fourth series of Camp CanoeBeKind is our Overcoming Obstacles Series.
Ideally, this series is designed to be used through Lent to Easter Sunday (6 Weeks of Lent – Easter). Because children’s fears are no respecters of seasons, “Overcoming Obstacles” can be used at any time of the year.
If you are choosing to experience “Overcoming Obstacles” during Lent, the following information might be helpful.
- The purpose of Lent is to prepare us for the death, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- We prepare in a variety of ways: repentance & fasting, service to others, monetary assistance to those in need, scripture reading…
- Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Saturday prior to Easter Sunday.
“Overcoming Obstacles” seeks to help children identify their fears, recognize Biblical figures who deal with similar fears, and choose a healthy way to overcome those fears. Your child’s Obstacle Box and Supplies, and Teaching Video will assist in meeting these objectives effectively. Optimum learning will occur when you experience these together and pray together as a family.
For an overview of the Kindness Crafts for this series, please view the video below.
Part 3: Christmas Adventures Series
The third series of Camp Canoe-Be-Kind is our Christmas Series. There are six lessons in the series that make up the series called Christmas Adventures. This is our first series that has separate lessons for younger and older children. You will find “younger” video lessons for children in Prek-2nd Grade and “older” video lessons for children in Grades 3-5+. There will be kindness craft videos and a booklets for each age group. Join us on this most wonderful adventure!
Part 2: Praying God’s Promises Series
Part 1: The Foundation Series
How Can You Help Our Virtual Camp for Children?
A donation to Camp Canoe-Be-Kind would help us cover the costs of supplies we send to each enrolled child and to continue preparing Christian adventure in kindness for tomorrow’s adults who will be better prepared to take kindness to our hurting world.
On the donations form, be sure to specify the Camp Canoe-Be-Kind fund and in the comments you can tell us if you want your donation to be used for Camp Canoe-Be-Kind or another of our wonderful programs for children.
And, thank you!