In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, gives you an insiders view of the excitement of LUM Camp. He also offers ways to get involved this -- by sponsoring a camper or volunteering as a counselor. Please take 59 seconds to watch the video and SHARE with others. See below for more details about LUM Camp 2023.

THESE are the FACES of 8, 9, and 10 year-olds who experienced LUM Camp last summer. As I look at these faces, I recall the joy and wonder in their voices as they enjoyed so many first-time experiences: riding a horse, toasting a marshmallow, scaling a climbing wall, exploring a creek. For many of them, eating three nutritious meals a day for several days in a row was a first-time experience.

THESE are the FACES of local children whose parents are not able to pay for the actual cost of LUM Camp ($300+ per camper). These campers enjoyed a week of camp and received the lifelong benefits of camp: increased personal confidence, social skills, intellectual curiosity, gross and fine motor skills, positive values, and overall positive identity. 

Personally, every year it’s the best week of my whole year at LUM. I love to see the progression of emotions on the LUM Campers’ faces – from shyness, to concentration, to delight, to confidence, to gratitude. One camper stated to me on the last day of camp, “I wish LUM Camp was a month!”

Look at these faces one more time. These are the bright faces of children who attended LUM Camp because someone like you cared enough to provide a LUM Camp sponsorship. These are the faces of future engineers and nurses, future decision-makers and leaders, future parents and grandparents. These are the faces of the future of our community. Thanks in advance for your support of LUM Camp.

Wes Tillett - LUM executive director & LUM Camp lead counselor

LUM Camp is one of the best overnight summer camp programs available to children anywhere. LUM Camp hosts more than 80 children from local low income families as they participate in a week full of playing, learning, adventuring, eating, singing, and bonding from July 25-28 (Tuesday - Friday). LUM Camp is a key component of the year-round LUM Youth Programs (which also includes the After School Program and 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program).

LUM Camp is a scholarship-based camp, meaning LUM asks the campers’ parents to pay $5 per child and asks kind-hearted donors to cover the rest of the cost. Because of the generosity of people like YOU, these campers will enjoy a week of camp and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Your camp sponsorship will help pay for a child’s transportation, room and board, camp activities, educational programs, and supplies; everything a camper will need to attend LUM Camp 2023. Sponsor one camper for $300; two campers for $600; or one-half of a scholarship for $150. Any amount will support LUM Youth Programs.

There are many children in Greater Lafayette waiting for their chance to attend LUM Camp. You are now able to give our local children a gift of a fun camp week as well as enhanced life skills and lifelong happy memories.

Since its inception, Lafayette Urban Ministry has been engaged in social justice. Under the leadership of Jud Dolphin, LUM executive director emeritus, LUM became more intentional with social justice advocacy and created the first Director of Social Justice Ministry position. When reflecting on the beginning of social justice at LUM, Jud, remembers that, "It was from the ground up. It was because we knew people who stood outside our office door every morning, seeking an advocate." Jud worked with his team to advocate for our local neighbors in need, and the LUM Social Justice Ministry began with the LUM Advocacy Program in 1983. The goal was to diversify and go beyond "direct service" programming. As a model, he used the "Three Legs of LUM Social Justice" — #1 - Direct Service, #2 - Empowerment, and #3 - Policy.

Jud suggested that "As an organization that has its root in people of faith that {LUM should be} spending some time understanding the social aspects of faith...and consciously studying and discussing 'What Causes Poverty?'" Jud is most proud of how LUM affected "how people do Church in Lafayette." He is pleased that the LUM Social Justice Ministry has continued to make a difference in the lives of the people of Greater Lafayette. He shared that, "We're in a society where we want instant gratification — but social justice takes decades." And Jud asked, "what would you do otherwise?"

Here are exciting upcoming 40th Anniversary Social Justice Ministry highlights coming this month:

The Purdue Crew Team raised $11,135 for the LUM Good Samaritan Fund through the annual Row-A-Thon event which took place February. At the Purdue Crew Spring Banquet, quartermasters Ellie Heaney and Josh Reilly-Grim presented a "big" check to Angel Valentín, LUM Financial Assistance Program director (pictured).

Each year, the Purdue Crew student athletes solicit donations for Row-A-Thon from their family and friends, mostly from outside of this community; and this donation each year is the single largest gift to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund from any group or individual. LUM is grateful for the continued support over the years from the leadership, athletes and coaches of the Purdue Crew Team. Boiler Up!