2012 Directors: Cindy Anders, Jolynne Reynolds
"It's a very important tradition in our family. It's a reminder that our child has another culture that should be celebrated."
"The experience of sharing our story and not having anyone even bat an eye. It was GREAT!"
"The most valuable thing about REECA Heritage Camp is the chance to see ourselves reflected back to us by so many other families from so many other states, backgrounds, values, etc. There was such a wealth of information and problem solving techniques made available to us. The generosity, patience, and availability of the heritage camp staff was amazing. Our kids really loved seeing how similar their orphanage background and experiences were to other Russian kids and enjoyed the opportunity to use their native tongue. It was an absolutely outstanding and invaluable opportunity for us all!"
Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian Camp (REECA) is one of the few camps of its kind in the country, specifically designed for families with children adopted from Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Our acronym is a mouthful - REECA, but our campers come from a variety of countries; Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and more and we want to acknowledge that and assure you that everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!
It is sometimes easy to think that because your internationally adopted child looks more like you than perhaps a child from Guatemala or Korea, that you won't face issues surrounding your child's cultural identity as they grow up. This is certainly NOT the case, as more and more studies are showing that cultural identity is key to healthy self-esteem for all adopted children, not just those who look more obviously different from their parents. REECA Heritage Camp is a place to explore your child's cultural identity while also learning from so many other families "just like yours."
REECA Heritage Camp is also a place where children with varying disabilities are welcome and encouraged to attend with their families. We realize that this can feel daunting for you as parents, but we are here to help you and your family have a good camp experience in any way we can.
This inclusiveness has made for a very culturally and educationally rich heritage camp experience for all of the families who attend. It is amazing to eat Russian food, sing Ukrainian folk songs, learn dances from Belarus, enter an entire room devoted to the Kazak culture, and then also to find out about sensory integration, or how to maximize your child's learning potential, and to gain support for the entire family, all in one long weekend! REECA is one of ten camps facilitated by the highly respected Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, a non-profit organization, which has been conducting heritage camps for adoptive families for 20 years.
This year's camp theme was "The Wonders of REECA." We explored unique and amazing parts of the former Soviet Union countries through the astounding number of designated World Heritage Sites located there. Through this exploration of the wondrous sites to behold, kids of all ages and their families came away from camp with an enriched sense of pride in who they are and where they came from. With this theme, our parent volunteer coordinators were able to design entire spaces to highlight Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Moldova, etc., so children born in those countries were able to learn more abut them, and share them wiht their camp friends. It was really a lot of fun for the kids. Rafting and outdoor activities wree again a big hit with the middle and high school kids, as were their cultural workshops and the adoptee panel, made up of adult adoptees who could relate to what theye were thinking and feeling at this stage in life. We were also honored to have a delegation from the Ukraine State Department for Adoption and Protection of the Rights of the Child at camp to speak with parents and observe camp activities. They were very impressed by what we are doing at camp, and by our adoptive families!
We realize that as your children grow, they may be dealing with issues faced by any adopted child, especially when they are born in another country, different from their parents. For a few days at our camp, they are with a sea of families who are like theirs, and with children who came from the same part of the world as they did. Though we celebrate and strive to highlight the different birth countries of our campers, the similarities of being internationally adopted children from that same place in the world is what really bonds the children, and their families so immediately at our camp.
Camp planning for this year will be underway soon, including choosing a camp theme for 2012. Watch this site for updates as guest presenters, workshops, and activities are solidified.
We hope to see you at camp in July. For further information, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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