This year, Bateman Funeral Home has donated five scholarships for students to be able to attend Peace Village Day Camp, a summer camp for children entering first through sixth grades. Peace Village Day Camp is being held at Oregon Coast Community College in South Beach from July 15th to the 19th. The Peace Village curriculum offers its campers practical skills of conflict resolution, media literacy, and ecology. During the day, they will be encouraged to connect with the nature around them and practice mindful movement. Throughout the camp they will create peace themed arts and craft activities that the campers can take home with them.

Barbara Crandall, the camp director for Peace Village in Lincoln City said that “What is important is the glimmer of hope we see for a more peaceful life in our children. This is illustrated by the numbers who return every year as campers and then continue to return as counselors and teachers because they believe in the philosophy.”

In previous years, campers have been able to be involved in a wide variety of afternoon activities, such as gardening, ceramics, drumming and fields trips to explore the nature around them. The camp also has done community service projects, such as preparing dog food for the local Food Share. Teen counselors receive community service credit for high school.

Brian Norris, Co-Owner of Bateman Funeral Home, said that “I feel it is important to invest in our youth. They are the future.” That is why Bateman Funeral Home has provided five scholarships for campers this year.

There are 45 spots available for campers this year. The cost for the week-long program is $60 and includes program materials, a Peace Village T-shirt, and daily snacks. To request an application, call Kathy DeMeyer at 1-503-930-7479 or email her at demeyerk@peak.org. If you'd like more information about the camp or are interested in volunteering, please contact peacevillagenewport@gmail.com