CAMP HOPE AMERICA-PATHWAYS

What is Camp HOPE America - Pathways?

Camp HOPE America – Pathways is an evidence-based camping and year-round mentoring program designed for youth exposed to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Our goal is to help foster pathways to hope and healing for children who have experienced or been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) by creating the opportunity to help them break the generational cycle of violence in their families.  Children that take part in Camp HOPE, experience a hope-based curriculum that is designed specifically to help them navigate their way to violence-free and abuse-free futures.  The focus of the lessons, activities and campfires are to help children believe in themselves, believe in each other, and believe in their dreams.  During their time at camp, we have prepared for them a safe place where they are then able to process the abuse they have endured, seek positive alternatives and be less likely to turn to violence and rage as an answer.  The trauma informed staff and counselors come alongside the youth at Camp and help them in this process through cultivating healthy relationships, boundaries, and leadership in the youth by modeling compassion, self-care, respect, and hopefulness. 

Just to give you a small glimpse into the week of Camp Hope-Pathways

Every year we take 36 youth, 8-12 years old, and 36 teenagers, 12-17, to Mount Hermon Kidder Creek in Etna California where they have cabin mates along with 2 counselors per cabin.  The youth get to experience fun and adventure in nature where they have a chance to grow by learning new and challenging high adventure activities such as, horseback riding, going down ziplines, climbing through ropes courses, and even white-water river rafting.  

National Statistics

...Shasta County’s families are faring worse than many throughout the state and nation when it comes to exposure to Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs). The ACEs study linked traumatic childhood experiences with health status and behaviors of participants. The study showed alarming links between ACEs and risky behavior, psychological issues, serious illness (including mental health), and is the leading causes of early death. The ACEs study was replicated in 2012 in Shasta County and found that of the 281 Shasta County residents who participated, 29% of respondents reported five or more ACEs in their life compared with just 9% in other parts of the country. Shasta County is 52% higher in substantiated child abuse and neglect than the state’s average.

What is my donation used for? 

• The average cost to send 1 youth, out of 72, to camp is $425.
• We rent two buses as transport for the week.
• Every day in between meals we provide snacks and sustenance for campers and counselors.
• Every camper, counselor, and staff get a custom designed t-shirt for the week of Camp.
• In our year-round mentoring program, we invite our youth and counselors to monthly events where we reconnect and spend time together at places like Rare Air, Water Works, Exodus Farms, and Viking Skate.
• In preparation for Camp, we supply miscellaneous things like toothbrushes, towels, water bottles, and toiletries to all and any of our youth who are in need of such things.