KANAKUK FAMILY TESTIMONIES
What Our Families Are Saying About Kanakuk
“For me, Kamp has meant several things. First and foremost, it’s a place where I, we, our whole family can go to be invested in, whether that’s the investment in relationships, getting to know like-minded adults, young adults, college students, whether that is people pouring into us the gospel, the love of Jesus, their understanding about living a godly life through marriage, through family.“
“We’d say if you’re considering Kamp, do it. It’s one of the best decisions that you’ll ever make in raising kids and committing to having others back up the faith voice that I know you’re to instill.“
“One of my favorite memories is picking up our son from Kamp… and he just said, dad, it’s all different now. I get it. And we had some amazing Jesus conversations after that.“
“And when I had kids and got married, I told Josh we may not be able to afford cable, but we’re gonna send our kids to this camp… and there were years when it was lean, and we had to depend on scholarships… but we did it. We sent all four of our kids to camp… they all have had some type of spiritual renewal at camp… It has just been super impactful for all of our children, and I wouldn’t regret it“
“There’s really not another organization that I know of that I would trust more with my children than Kanakuk Kamps. They’re really the standard bearer, in my opinion, of integrity, character and the way things should be done. “
“…we can point them to scripture, but having staff who are younger than us, and yes, cooler than us, reiterating those same truths is something that we do not take for granted. We are sincerely grateful for the ministry of Kanakuk Kamps.”
“It’s just been a real big blessing for us to see our kids flourish in a place that they feel safe, they feel protected, there’s a lot of fun, and all of it is Christ centered. And so they’re growing. They’re not just having fun and being entertained. They’re being challenged and spurred on to love Jesus more, and that just means the world to us.“
“One of the biggest things I remember is the mentorship that happened from the counselors and how impactful they were for young men in our, you know, teenage demographic…to mold us and put us on the track towards being strong Christian leaders.”
“And we are together today because Mary found out that I went to Kanakuk, and when we met, I found out she went to Kanakuk. And we had that in common. Countless marriages and the kids, and Christ has been through many generations because of this incredible mission at Kanakuk. And we just couldn’t be more thankful.”
“It has shaped our family and shaped who I am and it’s shaped how I view Jesus. We just love the staff and the leadership so much. So we’re just forever thankful for Kanakuk.”
“From the time that we were Kampers, spiritual life was part of the foundation and it was built on the time at Kamp. A month every summer, totally dedicated to spending time with Jesus and getting to know Him… Our kids have that same experience… When they come home from Kamp, they are renewed.”
“…and I’ve not only seen it in my life as a kid growing up and as a college student working there (Kanakuk) through college, but I’ve also seen it in my son’s life. My son accepted Christ at family Kamp, and I’ve seen the impact that Kanakuk has had on him… And that’s just one of the many examples of ways that Kanakuk stands in the gap for families, and they have always been there.”
“Kamp is important to the Brickell family because we have recognized that over the years, we’re all just better people for going to Kamp and being associated with Kamp and knowing those that are at Kamp.“
“I am so grateful to Kanakuk in my life and in my kids’ life, and I trust Kanakuk so much and what it did for my kids. It developed amazing core friendships, and really, this trust with godly mentors that has been invaluable to my kids“
“We have loved Kanakuk for so many years… I was a lifetime camper… and started when I was seven… all five of our kids got to go through ten years each of being lifetime campers like me. We’re so thankful for just the legacy the camp has left and the connections and relationshps that have been built.“
“As a former camper and then counselor and now a mom of campers, I truly believe that the spiritual investment that Kanakuk has made in our kids has been amazing… No matter where we live, we travel across the country to make sure that our girls get to camp every summer.“
“Kamp has been and continues to be a powerful ally for us as parents with our kids. They get to see cool college kids reiterating things that we are trying to impart to them for a Christ-centered life.“
“When I first heard about Kanakuk, it was through my wife Valerie. When we first met, we were dating, and I could just tell how big of a part of her life it was. But more importantly than that, the reason that we now trust our family to Kanakuk is because I could really see the fruit that bore in her life and our relationship…how it really shines even today through our kids.”
“Our family loves this place. Our oldest two started going to camp here a couple years ago. They both talk about it as “the best week of their year.” I have worked in the health center for the week that they attend camp each summer, and my husband stays with me. We sees the ins and outs of camp throughout the week unlike most parents. We have been so impressed by what this camp stands for, all that is offered to our kids, and the quality of people working here. We have felt like our kids are incredibly safe and loved here, and we have never once questioned whether it’s worth it because we’re so confident it is. If you’re looking for your child to have one of the best experiences of their year, get to try tons of fun new things, grow in their faith and confidence, and be loved by some of the most amazing staff, this is the place. 1000% recommend.”
“This was my 16-year-old’s fifth summer at Kanakuk, and he looks forward to it all year long. Every time, he comes home saying it’s the best two weeks of his year. Next summer he’ll be 17, and he’s still eager to return. He has told me many times that Kanakuk changed the trajectory of his life. When he first started going, he was angry and struggling. Over the years, he’s become a much happier young man and credits Kanakuk with strengthening his faith and relationship with God. I originally sent him because I wanted him to be challenged, to learn independence, and to do hard things. That’s exactly what happened — and I will forever be grateful for the impact this camp has had on my son. I’ve seen some of the one-star reviews that reference the tragic event from many years ago. Before ever sending my child, I took the time to carefully read and understand the case. Kanakuk is transparent about what happened and has implemented very strict safety protocols to ensure it does not happen again. While what occurred was truly awful, it could have happened anywhere. In my experience, the Kanakuk of today is a safe, uplifting, and life-changing place for kids. For us, Kanakuk has been an incredible blessing, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other families.”
“Kanakuk has been the best investment we could make into our children’s and now grandchildren’s lives. Words don’t adequately express how grateful we are every year for Kanakuk and the entire staff.”
“Absolutely a blessing every year. It’s been fun to see her grow into a teenager — the experience is always fun, but I now see a deeper connection happening in her faith. She’s maturing and coming to rely on Kamp not just for a place to blob, make friendship bracelets, and wear fun costumes, but now it’s become her place to escape, recharge, and realign her faith and get back on track. THANK YOU for what you do. We love our Kamp friends.”
“She is very reserved and quiet. She came back a little louder and even did a line dance she learned in McDonald’s for everyone to see. I couldn’t be happier with the confidence She gained from camp. Thank you for all you guys do!”
“So thankful for the spiritual impact you made on my kids!”
“This was a transformative summer for Ethan. He grew so much as a Christian and accomplished things I never imagined! He is headed back for another week at K-Kountry! That’s twice this summer because he enjoyed it so much!!”
“Kanakuk is simply amazing! I knew my kids were going to have fun while they were there but more importantly, I knew my kids would be poured into with the love of Christ. As a result of that kind of intentionality, their faith and walk with Jesus has grown even stronger. They can’t wait to go back next year!”