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Highlights of Last Year's Camp
Last year's theme, "Christmas in the Philippines" was a whole lot of fun! FHC 2007 had something for everyone as it included music, dance, martial arts, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve Celebrations. Families from all across the country came to celebrate Filipino food, culture and adoption. There were old friends to re-connect with and new friends to make.
The days were active for everyone! The energetic Filipino-American Counselors
committed to connecting with the kids and sharing their heritage, was again
one of the highlights of camp.
Preschool and elementary aged kids spent their time with peers and counselors,
learning dance, Filipino martial arts, sharing Filipino stories, and making
colorful Parols for Saturday Night’s Christmas Eve Mano Po Procession.
We also continued with “HeART Talks” program for elementary age
groups focusing on adoption related issues that were geared towards giving
them the tools they need as they grow up!
Middle
and high school-aged kids had their own activities. This year the high school
group participated in a variety of activities that included the high
challenge course, and zip lines. The Middle School activities included canoeing,
the climbing wall, and Filipino Martial Arts.
The highlight for both groups
was a “Survivor Philippines” where they were divided up into
tribes and tested their skills on the Philippines in some very lively games.
Each
group also participated in a Resilience Panel discussion with a professional
Social Worker and adult adoptees to discuss some of the adoption and racial
challenges they face at this critical time in their life.
Through the “More
than Me” Project, the Middle and High School groups also created care
packages for children in the Philippines undergoing cleft palette surgery.
Parents also enjoyed their own workshops. The workshops included “Adoptive
Parenting” based on Sherry Eldridge’s book, “Twenty Things
Adopted Kids Wish their Adoptive Parents Knew”, a Travel Panel, and a
very moving Adoptee Panel. The Filipino-American Community of Colorado (FACC)
not only gave us insight into the customs of celebrating a Filipino Christmas,
but also taught the adults a traditional Filipino Dance at Christmas as well
as how to make some delicious Filipino Deserts at Christmas.
Everyone came together for some fantastic Filipino lunches at an old Colorado
Homestead and National Historic Museum. While eating Pancit and Chicken Adobo,
the World Champion of Filipino Martial Arts along with the National Champion
of Filipino Martial Arts, demonstrated their lethal capabilities for everyone
during Saturday’s Lunch.
After the workshops on Friday afternoon, many of the families went for a swim.
Later that evening, we all went to the volunteer cabin to share in a meal together
and have a watermelon spitting contest.
After Saturday’s workshops, the families, counselors and volunteers
from FACC came together for a very festive Filipino Christmas Party. All the
kids processed with their Parols to the elders of the evening, and gave their
Mano Po respect to our special FACC guests. After the procession, the adults
did a brief Filipino Christmas Dance for the kids before the real festivities
began. Over a dozen different games and activities common during the Filipino
Christmas season were part of the festivities. Everyone had a lot of fun playing
an array of the Christmas games for various prizes.
During Sunday’s Closing Ceremony, we had a wonderful slide presentation
of all our memories of Camp. After the slide show, our pre-school/elementary
groups, along with the Filipino-American Community of Colorado performed
several tribal dances for us. As the parents watched their kids perform, there
was
not a dry eye in the crowd.
Long after closing ceremonies, families and new found friends eventually
said their good-bye’s and committed to seeing each other again August
7th of 2008. Until then, the internet will have to do.
Thinking about giving camp a try but want to know more?
