These are some pretty tough times for non-profits -- and however much Calumet is doing okay in the midst of these challenging times, we've got to be creative for the sake of all that we are doing. Here is a bit of what we're up against: For many, many years, Calumet's Board of Directors has kept price increases each year to between 2%-3% each. For a while, that worked pretty well. But we've hit a complicated point due to things outside our control -- especially the rising costs of *everything.*.

In short, the complication has had the most significant impact on our summer staff. The 17-22 year olds who come here each summer to work have been paid very, very little compared to anything they might make at home. Frankly, summer staff at Calumet make way less than staff members at any other camp. The young people who work here each summer have never expected to make a "going rate" by any means. But we've reached the point that there are so many great staff prospects who tell us they simply can't afford to work at Calumet anymore. With the rising costs of everything, we just aren't able to meet this particular staff compensation challenge. This is not good.

To make an effort to bring about opportunity, Calumet is trying a pricing model that has worked well for other camps -- a *Tiered-Pricing* model. It's a model that depends on the honor system. Folks signing up for Resident Camp 2024 will have an honest look at their own resources and choose the camp price that most matches up with their ability to pay.

Calumet will still be the camp with the lowest weekly fee on the whole lake -- even for those who end up choosing the highest fee option! When compared to similar camps across New England, Calumet is still way below the going rate.

Further -- and this is important -- though Calumet's lowest pricing option is higher than last year, Calumet's Campership Fund will be ready to help anyone who needs help. We are serious about this!

Please attend one of the Zoom information sessions and learn more about how this move has come into play. There are two Zoom sessions in Mid-October for Pastors, Deacons, and Congregation Lay Leaders and then, later in October, three Zoom session options for anyone else from among Calumet Nation -- including parents and guardians. Choose a session and mark it on your calendar. A Zoom link will be sent along to registrants a few days prior to the respective Zoom session.

Another new piece of Calumet's 2024 Resident Camp for Kids process will a one-time application fee of $50. Every registration -- whether a child is signing up for one week or all seven weeks -- is $50. That application fee will not go toward the cost of camp.

Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.