Click here for the Top 10 Reasons for going to Korean Heritage Camp

Korean Heritage Camp is the flagship heritage camp, entering its 18th year! We are proud to be one of many camps held around the country for Korean adoptees, but we are slightly different than most. The majority of Korean Camps are for "kids only." Our camp is for the entire family, from infants through teens, and for parents!

There are Korean immersion activities and workshops for all age groups at camp, and our parent workshops are on a par with most major adoption conferences. Everyone works together to make camp successful, so there are many opportunities to get to know other families that share in the adoption experience. Here, experienced parents and older adoptees are always willing to share helpful information with the next wave. Everyone loves to see our littlest campers as well, with child care and preschool opportunities that allow even the newest adoptive parents to fully participate.

Additionally, adult Korean adoptees have the opportunity to attend camp as counselors (must be 18 years or older) or community volunteers. They gain the same cultural appreciation and understanding as their younger counterparts, while sharing their own adoption experiences. We have been fortunate to meet so many amazing adoptees from around the country through the years. We also welcome members of Colorado's Korean community who help us keep the camp culturally relevant each and every year as counselors, workshop facilitators, meal planners and chefs, activity consultants, and more! We also have had the good fortune of hosting many leaders and role models from the Korean-American community in the U.S. at camp each year. It is always exciting to see who wants to join us each year!

We have also found that many families don't want to give up their annual KHC experience just because their kids graduate from high school and become counselors, so watch for special opportunities for alumni and graduate campers (those who may not want to be counselors but still want to be part of camp after graduation) as well! New families are always welcome, and we hope you'll join us this year! Plan to get your registration in early so you don't miss all the exciting events and memorable moments to come.

Korean Heritage Camp will be held June 18-21, in the beautiful Rocky Mountains near Winter Park, Colorado. The YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch facility www.ymcarockies.org is a family vacation destination in itself. NOW is the time to request registration information to be placed on our mailing list.

Plans for KHC 2009

We have already begun work on KHC 2009. Our theme is "Postcards From Korea". This theme will be richly woven throughout all programs and events and should lend itself to a multifaceted look into Korean Culture and Adoption Issues.

Look for some new fabulous presenters and of course the return of some favorites from past years too. Special Presenters we have invited include:

• Brooke Newmaster of Chang Mi Dance and Drum. Chang Mi a traditional Korean dance group, encourages adoptees and other Korean Americans to embrace their heritage and also promotes a positive awareness of Korean American culture in the community.
• KabaModern Dance, is a dance group originating from Irvine, California. Kaba Modern began as dancers that performed the hip-hop portion of the Cultural Night UCI. Since then, Kaba Modern has performed competitively in multinational competitions and gained recognition in the media. The visiting KM team includes members that appeared on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.
• Derek Kirk Kim, is an award-winning Korean-American cartoonist. He won both major industry awards in 2004, the Eisner and the Harvey, for his debut graphic novel Same Difference and Other Stories, which was originally serialized on is website. He also won the 2003 Ignatz Award for promising new talent for the same novel.
• Joy Osmanski, is a Korean- American actress. Her numerous television roles include co-starring on the show The Loop as Darcy, on Grey's Anatomy as the intern Lucy, and as Tracy in Samantha Who? Osmanski was born in Seoul, South Korea and adopted by American parents. She graduated from Principia College with a degree in Creative Writing and Studio Art, and from the University of California, San Diego with an MFA in Theatre. She is married and lives in the San Frisco area.
• Joy Dietrich, Korean Adoptee and film maker whose film "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" has won eight film awards. The film introduces audiences to the world of Asian American young women and delicately addresses the abnormally high rate of depression and suicide among Asian American girls, creating a work of great compassion and poetic beauty.
• Sasha Lee is a Korean-American who lives in San Francisco. Sasha's childhood was steeped in an atmosphere of Buddhist tradition. Born only five years after the Korean War, Sasha was fortunate to experience the old Korean ways, before modernization. Some of her fondest memories are of being raised by her Buddhist grandmother, worshipping in the family mountain temple in the company of monks, chanting, observing sacred rituals and participating in ancestor worship ceremonies. Sasha is an expert in the Classical Korean use of Chinese astrology and Feng Shui.
• Zoe Yung Mi Blank, a 16-year-old musical prodigy who has learned to celebrate her Korean-American heritage. She plays many instruments and excels in Alternative music.
• Grace Kelly, a saxophonist, singer songwriter composer, arranger...and all at the age of 16. Grace has already recorded and/or performed with many notable musicians including Lee Konit, Phil Woods, Dave Brubeck, Hank Jones, and Harry Connick Jr.

Each of these people have said they are able to come to KHC this year and very much want to be a part of camp. However, we will have to find the funding to get them all here, plus all of our wonderful local Korean-Americans and adoptees who help us every year at camp with cooking, presenting workshops, and being counselors! Donation information is below, if you'd like to help make this another fabulous year for KHC!!

The preschool and elementary children's program promises to be a fun filled age appropriate camp experience. The children will learn about life in various regions of Korea. There will be opportunities to create unique projects in the Korean Village, learn traditional Korean children's songs, practice Hangul, play Korean games and most importantly spend time with families and counselors as we celebrate adoption and the richness it brings to each of our families. The campers will also have an opportunity to correspond with Korean penpals and truly share "Postcards from Korea."

Middle school and this year, our high school campers will participate in More than Me, which is our way of "giving back" to Korea through organizations who need assistance there. The middle school group will have choices of activities ranging from Korean cooking to canoeing, and will be able to interact with some of our amazing Korean role models. Our high school group will also interact with our special presenters, and with adoptees just a bit older than they are who have "been through it" and can share meaningful experiences. Team building, bonding, and connecting are the keys to both the middle and high school programs at KHC! There will be many workshops for adults including trans-racial adoption; parenting teens; parenting Asian children; Korean cooking; Korean culture and history, and more. As parents we share experiences and listen to one another, and learn from experts to help ourselves become better parents.

Programs from childcare through adults will offer an exciting schedule of options and opportunities for interaction with our Outstanding Korean Community Members. Special events include an opportunity to learn the Korean Card Game Hwa-tu, white water rafting for the high school group, a carnival for the kids, musical presentations, Korean cooking classes and more! With the outstanding programs and guest presenters, Korean Heritage Camp 2009 is not to be missed!

Thinking about giving camp a try but want to know more?

Click here to read our Frequently Asked Questions and
"Four Days in the Life of Heritage Camp"

For more pictures of Korean Heritage Camp 2008 click here

Even though we do have very strong support from the local Korean community, we are always looking for more volunteers to work with the kids, teach workshops, cook meals, etc., and to be counselors at camp.

As a non-profit 501 C(3) organization, Korean Heritage Camp is always seeking financial assistance to help keep camp costs reasonable for families, and still provide an outstanding program. This year we particularly need help to bring in our wonderful guest artists and speakers. If you'd like to help, please go to the Donations section of this web site, and thank you very much in advance.

We can also use donations of frequent flier miles to help defray costs of out of state speakers. If you have miles you can donate please email us at info@heritagecamps.org


We hope to see you at camp this summer. For further information, please contact us.

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Colorado Heritage Camps | Denver, CO USA
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