Dec 29, 2016
Goals for 2017: Letter from the Director Friends of Camp Colley Foundation, The time-honored tradition of making New Year resolutions speaks to the promise and optimism we feel as we approach a new year. Camp Colley Foundation has identified two strategic goals that will provide greater support for our campers in 2017. In 2017, our goals are to expand counselor training and strengthen strategic partnerships to better meet the needs of the marginalized, minority, and struggling youth we love and serve. Many of our campers deal with the effects of complex trauma. By expanding our staff and counselor training to include a basic understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they affect children, our staff will be better able to meet the needs of our campers. Part of this goal is to include the counselors and chaperones from our partner organizations who attend camp with the kids. Our summer camp provides the space and time for youth to strengthen relationships with peers and adults. Title I schools, after school programs, and other youth development programs have weekly, and sometimes daily, contact with the kids they serve, making them the ideal complement to the services Camp Colley provides. The teachers and adult mentors at these organizations come to camp with the youth as chaperone-counselors and then return to daily lifewith a stronger relationship and understanding of the kids they work with. This helps provide the network of positive peer and adult relationships that youth urgently need to navigate their daily challenges. Camp Colley will better address the issues facing youth in our community through expanding our staff training and further developing partnerships with community organizations that serve youth year-round....
Dec 12, 2016
Meaningful Connections Happen at Camp Colley Camp Colley is all about connections. Our program is designed to connect kids to nature, self-confidence, and relationships. These are protective and promotive factors for youth. Nature is inherently fascinating and challenging- providing space to learn both cognitively and emotionally. Many of our kids have never been outside of their urban environment. At Camp Colley, they feel the connection to something larger than themselves and can envision larger possibilities for their lives. Camp Colley intentionally provides recreation that our campers have never done before. Mountain biking, canoeing, or archery become healthy risk-taking opportunities- a crucial component for youth to develop decision-making skills and self-confidence. Connecting kids to their ability to make good decisions and try new things builds self-confidence that leads to success in other areas of their lives. Learning new things, trying something for the first time, and meeting new people stretches campers out of their comfort zone. This opens the door for campers to connect with their peers and camp counselors in meaningful ways as they face the unknown together. The messages we receive from kids after their time at Camp Colley indicate that they are feeling these connections, even if they don’t know what to call it. This is what they tell us: “I love Camp Colley. Next time I want to stay longer!” -KM “My favorite part was canoeing- even though I tipped over the first time! Next time I want to canoe for the whole day.” -AR “I want to come back and have my same counselor next year.” -JC “Next year I would love to work in...
Dec 5, 2016
Why Does Camp Colley offer Family Camp? We’ve all heard of risk factors that contribute to negative outcomes for youth and problems within families. Living in low socio-economic (low SES) circumstances is a persistent risk factor with far-reaching negative impact. Families living in poverty, or low SES circumstances, not only have the “normal struggles” that raising children brings but must also combat the harmful impacts of poverty. Parents and children often have increased feelings of stress and alienation from financial insecurity, food insecurity, lack of time and energy for positive parenting, and very often the sense of being different and less worthwhile. For children, the negative impact of stress and unhappiness may be indirect and direct as they experience the impact stress has on their parents as well as themselves. Protective Factors are the positive counterpoint to risk factors. Relationships with caring, responsible adults (including parents), strong family connections, healthy recreation and hobbies, and resilience are among the most impactful protective factors. When present, they increase positive outcomes for children, families, and communities. Weekend Family Camp at Camp Colley provides the time, space, and nurturing environment for families to connect and build these protective factors in their lives. Time away from the daily stressors in their lives provides opportunity to interact and relate with each other in meaningful ways that strengthen relationships. The natural, “wilderness” environment of Camp Colley provides solace and improves mental and emotional well-being. The activities and outdoor recreation are opportunities to try new things and accomplish “hard things.” The struggle of these challenges and experiencing success upon completion is the foundation for building self-confidence and resilience. Camp Colley is...
