“We are all longing to go home to some place we have never been—a place half-remembered and half-envisioned we can only catch glimpses of from time to time. Community. Somewhere, there are people to whom we can speak with passion without having the words catch in our throats. Somewhere a circle of hands will open to receive us, eyes will light up as we enter, voices will celebrate with us whenever we come into our own power… Someplace where we can be free."
~ Starhawk

Financial Aid 

Parameters and Procedures

Mission:
To use available funds to assist as many campers as possible who wish to attend camp by reducing socioeconomic barriers. Financial aid is one method by which organizing campers address accessibility and structural inequalities in alignment with our Reclaiming Principles. 

Who administers the program and decides how to allocate the aid?
The Financial Aid Work group is composed of members of the VWC Organizing Team.
For VWC 2025, those organizing team members are: Drift, Renzo, and Acorn. 

What do camper registration fees pay for?
The adult registration fee covers:

  • Farm and Wilderness fee per adult person ($300), including lodging, food, and facilities 

  • All other 2025 VWC expenses, including but not limited to:

    • Financial aid and work exchange budgets

    • BIPOC reparation scholarships

    • Teacher & RFT compensation

    • Administrative costs

    • Insurance 

    • Tent and porta potty rentals, firewood

Any donations / higher sliding scale payments offered above the registration fee may go towards:

  • Recouping losses from operating at a deficit in past years (caused by choosing to prioritize making camp happen even with a smaller number of campers)

  • Compensating organizers with a comped registration fee and/or stipend (we do not currently have any compensation for organizers in our budget, without additional donations to cover it)

  • Additional BIPOC reparation scholarships

  • A greater annual donation to a local indigenous-held organization

  • Supporting exchange rate reciprocity to reduce barriers for Canadian campers to attend

  • Bolstering equanimity justice and other accessibility barriers

  • Bolstering our annual contribution to the BIRCH council

  • Increasing compensation rates for our Teachers and RFT in future years 

How is the total amount of Financial aid available for camp determined?
Funds available are based on the registration fees paid by campers who are able to pay the full registration fee, donations, and money raised in the previous year through the raffle and vending tithe. The total budget for financial aid is approved by the VWC Finance work group with review and consensus from the entire VWC organizing team. If aid requests are less than anticipated or if donations are plentiful, the camp organizing team may consense to roll the funds over to the following year or to distribute an additional round of financial aid for current year campers. 

How much aid will a camper receive? How is it determined?
Campers applying for both work exchange and financial aid will first be considered for work exchange positions. If work exchange is awarded and more aid is requested, additional aid will be capped at $50-70. If a camper is only requesting financial aid (not work exchange), they may request an amount between $50-125. Campers are asked to assess their own needs and to choose the amount that will make it possible for them to attend camp. There are additional funds available for certain groups (see below), and in rare instances the Financial Aid Work Group has the authority to award a higher dollar amount of aid for anyone. 

Additional funds are available for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or as a Person of Color, and those experiencing extenuating economic circumstances. When we are able to, we also prioritize funds for emerging adults aged 16 to 23.
We offer these additional scholarships to nurture, expand, and diversify our camp community, and out of a commitment to economic and racial justice. These funds are designated for potential campers who have had limited access to income or other forms of institutionalized discrimination affecting their ability to afford camp. 

How do campers apply for aid? 
When registering for camp, campers can indicate their interest in applying for work exchange/financial aid. Information about financial aid and work exchange (including work exchange job descriptions) will be emailed to them. This will also be available on the camp website. Any camper, including all organizing campers, may apply for financial aid and/or work exchange positions. Members of the Financial Aid Work Group will recuse themselves from decisions concerning their own, or any of their direct family member’s applications. Path leaders and RFT members are ineligible for work exchange jobs or financial aid, as there is money budgeted to cover the cost of their registration as well as a stipend for each Teacher/RFT member. 

When will campers be notified that their request for financial aid and/or work exchange has been approved and the exact $ amount?
As soon as possible. 
Within 3 weeks of when their applications are complete and submitted. Upon camper acceptance of aid and/or work exchange assignment this information will be updated and shared with the registrar, who will then update the camper’s invoice to reflect the financial aid and/or work exchange compensation.