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Campers'
Corner
Camp
HOPE’s mission is to break the cycle of family violence by
teaching children impacted by domestic violence and child abuse
and other at-risk youth how to develop healthy relationships,
effectively communicate, and make wise decisions that increase
their physical and emotional safety and health.
The
Campers
Camp
HOPE caters to children, ages seven to fifteen, who have been
traumatized by living in a violent home, where there is fear,
confusion, and pain. Children living in or who have lived in
violent homes are likely to show unhealthy emotional reactions,
which, if not addressed, can last for the rest of their lives.
These reactions may include: |
| Conflicted
about taking sides with parents |
The
child needs and loves both parents but may lose respect for the
victim parent and/or have a negative image of all dominators;
guilt. |
| Confusion
over right and wrong behavior |
Stealing,
lying, manipulation, scapegoating others; withdrawal under stress
when demands are high; temper tantrums when frustrated. |
| Fear
and distrust of close relationships |
Models
victim/dominator roles; accepts violence and aggression as normal
in relationships; love and sex associated with rape and coercion. |
| General
aggressiveness |
Confuses
feelings; disguises fear and vulnerability as hostility. |
| Repeats
the patterns they learned |
Male
children identify with aggressor and often become batterers in
adult relationships or engage in dating violence in teen and
young adult years; females identify with the victim and often
become victims themselves in future relationships. |
| Low
self-esteem |
Become
ambivalent; feel powerless, shame and embarrassment, constant
anxiety; believe themselves to be a loser and become isolated. |
| Pattern
of over-compliance |
Respond
to assault or expression of anger with immobilized, shocked staring
or running away and hiding; become hypervigilant. |
| Problems
with authority |
Running
away from school; failing in school; seeking gang approval. |
| Psychosomatic
complaints |
Regressive
behaviors, bed-wetting, nightmares, headaches, and stomachaches. |
| Violence
becomes acceptable way to deal with conflict |
Assume
violence is the norm, victimizing siblings or peers in school
and carrying on the cycle of violence. |
"I
am going to go to Camp HOPE every year until I'm too old, and
then I'm going to be a counselor just like you, Miss Angela."
-
M.M., age 7 |
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"It's
cool to know that other kids go through what I go through."
-
C.A., age 10 |
The
Camp Experience
The
magic of the Camp HOPE community provides campers and staff
with the opportunity to share their stories and to cry, laugh,
and play with one another. A fun and positive environment helps
children learn alternative and appropriate ways to deal with
their angry feelings; understand that they are not responsible
for the fighting in their home; teaches them that it is okay
to feel happy and sad, angry, or scared at the same time; and
lets them know that each child is loveable and capable. Through
interaction with trained, therapeutic, and recreational counselors,
children affected by family violence have the chance to explore
issues such as trust and courage, develop positive relationships,
gain a higher sense of self-worth, and learn core values in
a safe environment surrounded by the wonders of nature.
Campers
participate in campfires, crafts, waterfront activities, games,
and small group activities that provide opportunities for play,
laughter, and freedom. During their five days at camp the healing
process begins and self-esteem is restored as new skills are
acquired through kayaking, canoeing, wakeboarding, and water-skiing;
learning archery and outdoor living skills; and making new
friends.
Each
day is filled with the adventure of camp – good food, nature,
and the wonder of it all. |
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