Partners in HOPE

Campers arriving at Camp HOPE Oregon for its second summer in Clackamas County were greeted by cheering, costumed counselors holding handmade signs of welcome. The campers participating in the first week-long session, who ranged in age from 6 to 10, were placed in cabins with designated youth counselors. They quickly connected with their cabin groups, forming close-knit friendships.

“I saw hope when I made a new friend today,” one camper said during a nightly campfire check-in.

Camp HOPE Oregon is a summer camp and year-long mentoring program for children who have experienced domestic violence. Structured around Dr. Chan Hellman’s “HOPE Theory” research, Camp HOPE fosters hope and healing through adventurous activities, positive recognition, and relationship building.

A Safe Place Family Justice Center and Clackamas Women’s Services partner to host Camp HOPE Oregon in Clackamas County, and it was made possible by the partnership of Verizon.

Campers were surprised with a July 4^th Carnival, which featured a bouncy house, cotton candy, face painting, and a bubble machine that made human-sized bubbles.

Melissa Erlbaum, CWS’ Executive Director, was on site for each action-packed day at Camp HOPE. She said, “I have seen these campers immediately open up, smile more, try new things, and connect with friends at Camp HOPE. You get to see such a transformation in the course of a single week, and it’s amazing.”

Our heartfelt thanks to Verizon for their visionary support of Camp HOPE Oregon and to all of our key partners for making  these transformative experiences possible for children in our community:

Verizon Foundation, Oregon Crime Victims’ Services Division Victims of a Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Fund, Children, Youth & Families Division (CYF) Clackamas County, Kerr/Labbe/Lowe Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Jubitz Family Foundation, Lake Oswego Rotary Club Peacebuilders Committee, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas County Peace Officers’ Benevolent Foundation, Soroptimist International of Portland, Nana’s Closet-Milwaukie Elks Lodge #142, and Bridgetown Campers RV Group