The Something from Jessie Memorial Scholarship sends Chicago inner-city youth to Phantom Ranch Bible Camp in Mukwonago, Wisconsin – the same camp Jessie attended as a camper and worked as summer staff.

This scholarship gives students an opportunity to do many things for the first time – ride a horse, go skiing or tubing on Phantom Lake, and lay under a star-filled, night sky. In many cases it is also an opportunity to eat three square meals a day and sleep peacefully without having to worry about gang violence outside their door. Each student comes with a story –often one that is heartbreaking.

Thankfully, each student who attends camp is also greeted with a warm smile, lots of love and compassion, and the opportunity to find salvation in Jesus Christ. Students can leave camp with a new perspective on life and the desire to do great things! Many students go on finish high school and even attend college. Some come back and work as camp staff, wanting to pay it forward and give other students the opportunity to have a changed life through Christ.

If each year one student attends camp, accepts Christ as their Savior and turns their life around for the better, then all our hard work and nights of lost sleep is worth it! This is what this scholarship is all about – helping the family of God grow.
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Connecting with Phantom Ranch

Back in 2014, Melanie, Patty, and Karolyn shared a brief testimony during Phantom Ranch's 60th anniversary. They shared how they knew they wanted to do something for God's glory, in memory of Jessie, but after the first fundraiser they didn't even know what to do with the money they had raised. God had a plan. God told Patty to call Olen at Phantom Ranch and the rest is history.

Click the YouTube video to hear their story.

How much does it cost to send a camper to Phantom Ranch?

The cost varies from session to session, but generally speaking this is what it costs to send a child to summer camp. Optional extras, like horseback riding and paintball, are priced per activity. Staff try to give inner-city youth plenty of opportunities to try new things.
Summer Camp Session - $550
Phantom Ranch Bible Camp features summer sessions that last one week. They start on Sunday and end on Saturday. During the week-long session, campers are assigned to an gender-segregated, air-conditioned cabin – which includes two counselors who are the same gender as the campers. To optimize the cabin space, campers sleep on bunk beds. Each cabin also has its own bathroom complete with at least one shower. Campers are responsible for bringing his/her own bedding and personal hygiene products. While attending Phantom Ranch, campers enjoy three meals a day, group games, Christ-centered chapel, crafts, archery, canoeing, fishing, and swimming.

Each camper gets a free cabin horse ride, a cabin banana boat ride, and either a craft or round of paintball depending upon the session. For an additional fee, campers can add extra horse rides, paintball, skiing, and tubing to their list of activities. Crafts can also be purchased as an additional activity. A large variety of crafts are availble in the Craft Corral. Crafts are .50 and up.
 
When there is free time, campers can stop by The Canteen for a snacks and souvenirs. As each camper arrives for their week-long session, he/she is given an opportunity during registration to deposit money into their personal canteen account. The friendly staff will deduct and keep record of remaining funds after each purchase is made. The Canteen is also where campers can purchase additional activities.

There is always something fun and exciting going on at Phantom Ranch! Campers are guaranteed to come home with new experiences and priceless memories.
Horseback Riding - $18
One thing that many youths don't get to experience while living in the city is horseback riding. At Phantom Ranch campers gets an opportunity to go horseback riding once for free with their cabin. If a camper wishes to go on any additional rides, the cost is $15 per session. One riding session lasts 45 minutes and includes a detailed orientation. During a trail ride, campers will stroll through the open fields and/or wooded trails of Phantom Ranch, seeing God's creation from a whole new point of view.
Paintball - $12
Campers better get ready for some fast-paced paintball games!

Speedball is a game played with Paintball Markers on Phantom Ranch's specially designed course. Each game takes no more than 10 minutes. In Speedball, two teams of up to 9 players per team start at each end of the course. Upon starting the game by the referee, each team will try to get out all of the other teams players by hitting them with a paintball. Phantom Ranch currently has 20 Custom 98 guns available and 5 A-5 upgrade guns.

All participants must have a Liability Release Form completed. Minors must have form signed by parents. All participants must use Phantom Ranch paintballs and markers.
Single Tubing - $20 | Skiing - $36
Enjoy a thrilling ride with Phantom Ranch's experienced drivers. They will give you any type of ride that you want, whether you are young and want to go slow, or are in high school and want us to try and throw you off the tube.

Phantom Ranch offers campers the chance to water ski on two, one, rick skis, or barefoot. Campers can also try kneeboarding and wakeboarding. Learn how to ski or hone your skills at camp! Phantom Ranch's instructors will give you all the guidance you need on any skiing event whether you are a beginner or are very experienced. Usually it is a 10 minute ride, or three attempts.
Indoor Climbing - $10
Another unique experience that inner-city youth can enjoy is the new climbing center at Phantom Ranch. Literally conquer new heights as campers attempt multiple climbs at various levels of difficulty. All safety equipment is provided for climbing. This is a great activity for beginners or even those who are experienced and love a good challenge.

This climbing center was built in memory of another summer staff employee. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel J. Johnson was killed in action in Iraq on October 5, 2010.