Our Mission: A non-profit connecting families of fallen soldiers through a summer camp experience providing encouragement, inspiration, and adventure.
A Little History
CampLIFE! was founded on the principles of James 1:27 of the Bible - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". In 2002, John and Lynette Gillis took those words to heart and welcomed a few dozen kids from the Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Texas for a weekend of water skiing, canoeing, sailing and other fun camp activities. John's family and friends were a majority of volunteers and contributors, and they created a weekend retreat filled with fun, laughter and memories.
Where we are today
Our connection with military survivor families started in 2006. A group of military families who've paid theultimate sacrifice during a commitment to our United States Armed Forces came to camp in August 2006. The families captured heart felt admiration of the CampLIFE! Board of Directors, volunteers, and contributors by the family's desires for unity, adventure, encouragement and trust. The immediate family members of a fallen soldier have political, social, and financial pressures that will forever remain. The soldier's religion, finances or political views were not the deciding factor of acceptance, but their integrity to America. CampLIFE!'s integrity to the survivors of such a hero is what keeps our faith. The unity and trust that brings us together during each retreat make up the CampLIFE! Family! We do not discriminate cause of fatality, religious beliefs, political or social affiliation, but aid to the connection of these soldiers immediate family members in a summer camp setting. Our model is specific to the exclusive encouragement, adventure, and inspiration of an organization that is built and operated entirely of volunteers. Our volunteer Board of Directors, counselors, photographers, arts and crafts, logistics, and training coordinators have built a foundation of talent. We don't own property or equipment, which allows us a diverse range and flexibility towards what the families enjoy.
CampLIFE! is a non-profit, 501(c)3 established, grant receiving organization that is considered a
"model non-profit" by Texas area foundation and educational institutions.
