Good stuff CB.
If you can afford to go a touch higher on the cost of a camera, then a 'bridge camera' is a good idea.
This is between a 'compact', such as the Nikon Coolpix type, and a true DSLR, and is more versatile. Most of the major camera manufacturers have at least one in their range and, in the UK, prices range from about £95 to about £160, so roughly about $140 to $235, possibly less, as cameras tend to be more expensive in the UK, in general, compared to the USA. The prices shown often include a package with a battery charger and batteries, case and memory card.
I got this Fujifilm Finepics S1000 over six years ago, at a cost of about £150 for a package, and it's been great for model and general photography, and I still carry it with my DSLRs at air shows etc.
It's a 10 mp, but has been replaced by newer versions, some of which are 14 mp or more, with at least one in the range priced at the equivalent of around $150, and has the equivalent of a 400mm zoom lens, with Macro, and Super Macro, the latter capable down to about 2 inches range.
Simple settings allow easy photography in available artificial light, or low-light conditions, even without flash, and it's very easy to use.
Hope this helps.