Camp HOPE Comes to Oregon!

When you imagine summer camp, you probably picture a wooded area, log cabins, and children in matching t-shirts rushing off to go canoeing. But summer camp can be much more than an enjoyable place for students to school vacations. Camp HOPE, which originally grew from the vision of the San Diego Family Justice Center and the National Family Justice Center Alliance, aims to break the generational cycle of family violence by offering healing and hope to children who have witnessed abuse.

Last summer, with the help of our supporters, Clackamas Women’s Services sent ten campers and two staff to Camp HOPE California. A second group of children was unable to attend due to regional wild fires. Rather than cancel summer camp, we took the opportunity to immediately put what we learned into practice by providing camp activities in our area. Implementing the model in Oregon showed us that there is a community need for a specialized, trauma-informed summer camp that gives young survivors of abuse structured opportunities for fun and healing.

This summer, CWS and A Safe Place are partnering to host the first official Camp HOPE Oregon pilot project right here in Clackamas County! The model is designed to increase campers’ hope for the future through positive social interactions and a variety of enjoyable and adventurous activities.  Like the traditional summer camp that you imagined, Camp HOPE Oregon will be filled with experiences like whitewater rafting, swimming, shared meals, lawn games, river floats, and nightly campfires.

Camp HOPE allows campers to experience support, camaraderie, and a sense of community in a safe environment. The goals of Camp HOPE Oregon’s week-long program are to improve campers’ enthusiasm and willingness to try new things, increase their positive engagement with peers, and successfully manage their moods in the face of challenges. Every child deserves fun experiences, as well as hope for the future. Camp HOPE Oregon will strive to offer both to its campers.