WOODSTOCK — Thanks to donations and partnerships through their Taste of Heaven fundraiser, Kids3, a local nonprofit, was able to send 68 foster children — 32 girls and 36 boys — to their “Royal Family Kids’ Camp” this summer.

The First Baptist Church of Woodstock also participated in raising funds to send the children to the special camp in West Georgia.

“From the time the bus rolled in to camp and the children walked up that “red royal carpet” into camp until the time they pulled away, not only were they given the most awesome experience of being shown love in a Christian based camp, but we walked away blessed beyond belief,” Gina Parker, chief organizer and activities director for the camp said.

The weeklong overnight camp for kids ages 7 to 12, consisted of many opportunities that these children normally don’t get to experience, including fishing, a tea party for the girls and karate for the boys and a luau, Parker said. The camp also had visits from some outside companies.

“Home Depot visited and brought wooden projects for the kids to make, jewelry boxes for the girls and tool boxes for the boys,” Parker said. “Barnyard animals came for a visit with a petting zoo, (and I) had to kiss the animals at the request and huge delight of the kids. (The) emu was a bit nastier than the pig.”

The camp also had many events involving water, including time at the pool and a tug-of-war contest into a water ice pit.

“We went through 2,160 bottles of water,” Parker said.

The camp also taught the children value, self-worth and work ethic throughout the week among others.

One way the camp counselors got the kids to stay neat and organized was by offering to let the newest member of the activities team, “Royal,” a stuffed lion, to spend the night in the cleanest cabin each night.

Of the children, Parker said, “They will forever be in my heart and mind. This was my fifth year at camp. I love these kids to my very core. I truly believe God placed us at a crossroads for a special reason, for His benefit.”

Kids3 is a nonprofit organization created to give children in the foster care system skills and support to cope with life. Kids3’s next program, “X-treme Life,” is set to occur in October for teens ages 12 to 17.

For more information about Kids3, contact Executive Director Tasha Whitener at (404) 819-8624 or visit www.kids3.org.