Camp War Eagle couldn’t have happened without the gift of Alice Walton.

Located on over 100 acres at Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas, the summer camp welcomes, now in its fourth year, about 3,000 children and teenagers each year.

Groups stay for about one or two weeks and enjoy 60 different activities.

Camp founder Alice Walton wanted it to be a place where people from all socio-economic backgrounds had the chance to grow and learn. Alice Walton was inspired to start the camp based on memories of her own as a child away at summer camp, according to an article in the Carroll County News.

“She did it with the idea of improving the culture of northwest Arkansas, saying any child can earn the right to come,” Camp Director Pete Day is quoted saying in the article. “She wanted a cross representation of what northwest Arkansas is, economically, socially, ethnically. She wanted children to learn that they are a lot more alike than different.

Alice Walton is the daughter of the late Helen Walton and the late Walmart founder Sam Walton. She spearheaded the Walton Family Foundation’s involvement in developing Crystal Bridges – Museum of American Art.

Many of the children attend Camp War Eagle for free. Fees are on a sliding scale based on the families’ income. Children whose parents make $40,000 a year or less attend for nothing. Typically, a letter of endorsement from a teacher or a community leader is required.

Activities range from camping, horseback riding, paddle boating, fishing and biking.

To learn more visit CampWarEagle.com, call 479.751.8899 or e-mail campwareagle@campwareagle.org.