2012 Co-Directors: Valerie Towery & Sarah McCarthy
"Our daughters integrate into this group IMMEDIATELY. This is the only place this happens. It's very nice to have this opportunity!"
"This was our fourth year at camp and it continues to be an amazing experience for our entire family"
"The counselors are the best part of camp! We participate in a lot of local events with FCC but I realized my daughter does not have much contact with teens and young adults who are Chinese-American or adopted. I think being part of this large group/community was very affirming for her. Also, the Heart talk sessions for me and I think for her as well, although that material has not surfaced yet. But something has shifted, in a positive/forward moving way."
Chinese Heritage Camp II is one of few camps of its kind in the country, specifically designed for families with adopted children from China. Committed to exploring both the cultural and the adoption aspects of growth as an adoptive family, it is one of ten camps facilitated by the highly respected Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, Inc. Chinese Heritage Camp II is held in the Denver metropolitan area, close to the major airport, Denver International, and many exciting urban venues. This is the smaller of our two Chinese Heritage Camps, which lends itself to making strong connections between children, and their families, and with the local Chinese community members who come to spedn time with our families every year.
Chinese Heritage Camp II is a family camp with programming for every member of the family. Children participate in age appropriate cultural activities taught by Chinese Americans who enthusiastically share their expertise with adoptive families. Asian American counselors serve as role models and mentors to the children as they participate long with them. Adult family members attend cultural and adoption related workshops ranging from Chinese cooking and customs to the blessings and challenges inherent in our adoptive families.
This year's camp theme was "Picture China," and it was a wonderful way for families to take snapshots (literally and figuratively) of the country and culture where their adopted children were born. It brought us a camp full of memories for sure. From our Chinese-American volunteers sharing their own pictures and feelings of China, to scrapbooking, to creating Chinese murals, to taking a photography workshop (high school campers), to our wonderful as always camp slide show, pictures of China and Chinese children were everywhere! It was a colorful and memorable way to celebrate Chinese culture for every age!
We also always spend time at camp exploring the unique gifts and challenges that come with our mostly transracial adoptive families. We realize that as your children grow, they will be dealing with issues faced by any child of color, no matter their country of birth. At our camp, they are with a sea of families who are like theirs, and with children who are in the majority for a few days. Though we celebrate and highlight the birth country of our campers, the similarities of being adopted children of color in mostly transracial families is what really bonds the children, and their families so immediately at our camp
Camp planning for this year will begin soon, and we'll work hard to top 2011's great program! Watch this site for updates as the theme, guest presenters, workshops, and activities are solidified.
We hope to see you at camp in June. For further information, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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