Summer camp activities from horseback riding to swimming to hiking offer children a healthy escape from the rigors of the school year.
Camp Challenge, run by the North Carolina Bankers Association, is less about getting away than getting smarter about money, among other things. The program includes outdoor activities, but the kids spend much of the time in classrooms learning how to balance a checkbook, choose a career, or start a business.
The camp started in 1994 as a one-week program for less than 100 kids. Thanks in large part to the generosity of North Carolina's banks, it has gradually expanded to six weeks, with roughly 100 campers attending each weeklong session.
The camp, outside of Winston-Salem in Vade Mecum Springs, is geared toward low-income, high-achieving middle-school students. They can sign up through their local 4-H or Boys & Girls clubs.
The banker association established the camp because its members were concerned that even students who did well in school "were not exposed to financial literacy, the essentials of credit, and specialized reading, writing, and speaking skills," said Sam Atkins, the trade group's community affairs coordinator.
"Additionally, these young people did not have the opportunity to have a summer camp experience that so many other students do," Mr. Atkins said. "It seemed the perfect match to partner with the state's 4-H program to bring these elements together, making a difference in the lives of our state's young people."
Camp Challenge's primary objective is to provide an early education in money management. Mr. Atkins said it introduces kids to concepts that schools tend to overlook, such as saving money and the good and bad uses of credit.
The campers also take classes in entrepreneurship, citizenship, public speaking, career exploration, and computers.
Each session features a guest speaker. Last summer Ricky Proehl, former wide receiver for the NFL's Carolina Panthers, led a class in financial literacy using a computer program tied to football.
The state's bankers commit money and time to Camp Challenge. Operational costs are funded largely by bank donations, and financial literacy classes are often taught by employees of North Carolina banks.
BB&T Corp.'s BB&T Foundation approved a grant of $35,000 to send about 100 students to the camp, and the Winston-Salem company made its staff members available to teach and to organize events, including rides in the BB&T hot air balloon.
Bank of Commerce in Charlotte has committed financially, and last summer it sent 14 of its 16 employees to the camp to teach. (Bankers do not have to devise their own lesson plans; they use the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Money Smart training program.)
Campers are not cooped up in classrooms the entire week. A highlight of each session is a hike through Hanging Rock State Park.
Teresa Mackey, a vice president of marketing at BB&T, said the company's investment in Camp Challenge is well worth it.
"Many of the children had never been to camp or away from home," she said. "I was there during their departure, and I saw lots of smiles and a confidence that was not that evident in the beginning of the week."
Indeed, Camp Challenge officials said surveys done before and after sessions in 2005 found that the kids' understanding of budgeting, credit, and other financial matters improved over the course of the week. Eighty-five percent of parents surveyed reported that their child enjoyed the week at Camp Challenge very much and 93% said they would like their child to attend again.
Mr. Atkins said he hopes to expand the curriculum to eight sessions within the next few years. The North Carolina Bankers Association recently developed a system to track Camp Challenge alumni so that one senior high school student each year may receive a college scholarship, he said.
