A raft is enough to take them away

One of the only positive memories Stefanie Price has of her childhood is a whitewater rafting trip she took with her family years ago. So when Price found out her sons had a chance to go rafting on the Kern River this summer, she jumped at the opportunity to send them to Camp Stevens in July.

“I can’t afford a lot,” said Price, 39. “But I want them to have good life experiences. I want them to look back and say, ‘I had a good childhood, considering.’ ”

Alex and Julian Rubalcava said they indeed had an excellent time on their weeklong adventure. They camped in tents and ate tri-tip and salmon.

“It was really great,” said Julian, 13, who goes by J.J. “It was really fun, going on the rapids and stuff.”

“It was kind of good to get away,” Alex, 15, added.

The brothers share a cramped two-bedroom apartment in Laguna Hills with their mother and younger brother, Cole, 7. Price said the family does not feel safe in the rent-subsidized apartment complex.

“It’s not really a good community to live in,” Price said.

The boys are not permitted by the management to play outside in the small strip of grass between the front door and the street.

Summer camp, Price said, was a brief but necessary escape for her sons.

“I like to keep them away from the neighborhood and keep them as busy as possible,” Price said. “I see some of the lifestyles of kids around here,” she said, mentioning concerns about drugs, vandalism and teen pregnancy.

The family lost everything in a fire in their home in 2002 and were forced to share a room in a budget motel for three months. That experience made Price determined to provide a better home for her family, and she’s been studying to enter a nursing program. She also recently won a legal battle to force Alex and J.J.’s father to begin paying regular child support.

Alex and J.J. said that their mom’s aspirations had made her a good role model to them. “She works really hard,” J.J. said.

About 10,000 underprivileged children will go to camp this summer, thanks to $1.6 million raised last year.

The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.1 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make donations by credit card, go to latimes.com/summercamp.

To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.