Jan 15, 2021
We are excited to share that Camp Colley Foundation was featured in January’s issue of Arizona Highways Magazine. Our goal is to provide access to nature to underserved Phoenix children for learning and growth. The article captures the essence of our work and we are honored to be featured by such a time-honored publication within our community. Click this link to read the article now! AZ Highways Article The article by Kelly Vaughn of Arizona Highways Magazine reads: For so many American children, a pilgrimage to summer camp is a rite of passage. The smell of the campfire; the gooey, sticky sweetness of roasted marshmallows; and making new friends under a blanket of stars, far removed from screens, school and the stresses of everyday kid-dom. But not every child has that opportunity. And that’s something Camp Colley hopes to change. Established in 1999 and operating continually ever since, the camp — named for James Colley, the longtime leader of Phoenix’s parks and recreation programs, and located near Happy Jack on the Mogollon Rim — enables children from underserved communities in the Phoenix area to experience the beauty and mysteries of nature and wilderness, often for the first time in their lives. “We see so much change happen when these kids step off the bus and sit in a circle out in the wilderness for the first time,” says Richard Berg, executive direc- tor of the Camp Colley Foundation, which oversees the funding and operation of the camp. “Initially, there’s a genuine discomfort, but by the end of the week, the kids are rolling around in the grass. It’s a wonderful thing — to...
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...
Nov 28, 2016
Perspectives from Youth in the Camp Colley Job Training Program In Phoenix, 1 in 5 of our young adults ages 16-24 are neither working nor in school. It is the highest rate in the nation. This demographic is referred to “Disconnected Youth” or “Opportunity Youth.” In 2015 Camp Colley partnered with ACYR to provide job training and work experience to disconnected youth as a continuation of our mission to help youth transition successfully into adulthood. There are three main aspects to the Camp Colley Job Training and Social Emotional Learning for Disconnected Young Adults Program: “soft skills” training, on-the-job training, and life-enriching experiences in nature. Soft skills training, such as preparing a resume, learning how to interview for a job, and basic communication skills are taught at ACYR before the intern goes to camp to have on-the-job training. The third component of the work experience program is the life-enriching experiences that come from time spent in nature. The outdoor activities and immersion in nature is available to the work-training participants during off-work hours. For many of the young adults in this program it is the first time they have been exposed to outdoor recreation and the transformative effects nature has on mental and emotional wellbeing. Included below are the experiences and perspectives of several interns from Camp Season 2016. “I learned how to communicate better with my peers, and I made many new friends.” -DD “I felt I grew more as a person there to be able to finally mature and see why it’s so important to follow and lead.” -CB “Going to camp was a good experience for...
Nov 23, 2016
Camp Counselor Perspective: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is Paramount One of the counselors at Camp Colley this summer was a graduate student pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at ASU. She shares her insight about youth development through participation at Camp Colley. Learning happens on two levels at camp. There are skills that campers know they are learning through participation in each day’s activities. These include shooting an arrow at the target, paddling a canoe correctly, and making a bird feeder. Although campers may not realize it at the time, they are also developing life skills. Through these same camp activities, youth are transformed as they learn to work as part of a team, cope with new challenges and adversity, assess risks and analyze possible outcomes. This social-emotional learning will help them be successful in all their endeavors throughout life. One example is teaching boating safety. Skills to participate in the activity- such as paddling, positioning, and three points of contact are taught alongside the lifelong skills that are naturally incorporated such as teamwork, sharing the spotlight, cooperation, and patience. Incorporating social-emotional learning into activity instruction is a natural fit and one of the reasons the nature experiences youth have at Camp Colley are impactful for life-long learning and success. Connect disadvantaged youth to what they need to succeed. Donate...
