Prison Fellowship Gives Children of Incarcerated Parents a Week at Summer Camp

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Camping program is placing hundreds of children in summer camps this season, giving kids whose parents are incarcerated a chance to spend a week away from the pressures of home.

The program, which has operated for more than three decades, partners with Christian camps across the United States to provide free spots for children ages 7 to 17. This year's enrollment is on track to match or exceed last year's total of more than 10,000 campers.

Children in the program often carry significant emotional weight. Research shows that kids with an incarcerated parent face higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems than their peers. Camp counselors receive training to help them support children who may be processing grief, anger, or confusion about their family situation.

Prison Fellowship says the camps are not just about fun. Each program includes faith-based activities, mentorship from adult volunteers, and structured time for children to talk about their experiences in a safe setting.

Many of the children are referred through churches that participate in the broader Angel Tree program, which also delivers Christmas gifts to children on behalf of their incarcerated parents. The camping component extends that relationship into the summer months.

Volunteers who work at the camps say the week can be a turning point for some children. Several former campers have returned as counselors after aging out of the program.

Prison Fellowship President James Ackerman said the organization sees the camps as a way to break cycles of incarceration by investing in the next generation. Studies suggest that children with incarcerated parents are significantly more likely to end up in the criminal justice system themselves without intervention.