Pat Deck's four beautiful daughters.You may not believe it if you live in the midwest like me, but summer is just around the corner! It's time to start thinking about vacations, swimming, camping, reunions, picnics and..... summer camp! Sending your child to summer camp is a wonderful way of creating fun and memories, but a cultural summer camp for you adopted child can do even more. Here's what Pat Deck, our co-director of Parent Education for theAsianBridge has to say:
"My children have attended Chinese school since they were 2 or so. My oldest who will soon be 13 is now taking Mandarin in her middle school as a seventh grader. She loves the class and the girls have always enjoyed attending Chinese school every Saturday. They get to go to school with kids who all have a "forever day", who all know they have a birth mother and adoptive parents who love them, and they all look like each other and have parents who look different. Having these friends who have so much in common with them has so many benefits. My children have friends for life. They are connected by their culture, by their friendships and with their families. Adoptive children need to connect with each other to share their thoughts, fears and joys. My four girls all have learned simple Chinese childrens' dances that have allowed them to understand the schools and activities they never got to experience. The have learned simple childrens' songs and they have learned to write in Mandarin both with characters and in Pinyin. They have proudly demonstrated their learning to their classmates in their local school, by dancing, sharing Chinese New Year, using the language and showing their friends that they may look a bit different, they are proud of who they are and who they are becoming. As these children learn about their roots and their past, they are able to embrace the present and look to their future with confidence. I am proud to parent these charming young ladies as they learn who they are and who they will become. "
Has your child gone to a summer camp to learn about their birth culture? If so, we'd love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with our readers.
Below is a list of summer camps offered around the country (and even some in China). If you've never considered it, I encourage you to check them out.
Camp Choson, Hudson, WI (Korea)
Camp Chingu, Pittsford, NY (Korea)
Camp Friendship, Palmyra, VA (Korea)
Camp Friendship, Stirling, NJ (Korea & China)
Webpage: http://www.campfriendshipnj.com/
Contacts Lynn Bocchini and Cathy Feeney
Webpage: http://www.campfriendshipnj.com/
Contacts Lynn Bocchini and Cathy Feeney
Camp Hwarang Teen Camp, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Phone: 612-644-3251
The day camp will be held on Saturday, June 25th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Korean Presbyterian Church, located on 1020 E. 101st Street in Indianapolis. The camp is conducted by representatives of the Kajok Camp Board, the Korean Presbyterian Church and other noted experts from the local Indianapolis Korean community
Camp Moo Gung Hwa - North Carolina (Korea)
Webpage: www.campmoogunghwa.org/
Email: epoore1@juno.com
Camp Moo Gung Hwa is a day camp designed to enhance adopted Korean-American children's knowledge of Korean culture and to promote their self-esteem. Classes and activities, taught by members of the Korean community, include history, language, literature, dance, Tae Kwon Do, music cooking and arts and crafts. Introducing the children to their native culture helps them build a sense of identify and encourages healthy self-esteem.
Camp Moon Hwa, Minnesota (Korea)
Webpage: members.aol.com/moonhwa
Phone: 507-281-5838
Camp Mu Ji Gae, Albany, NY (Korea)
Webpage: http://www.campmujigae.org/
Email: suttonc@parsonscenter.org
Phone: 518-426-2600, 518-355-8705
Camp Namu, Arendtsville, PA (Korea)
Webpage: http://www.lutherancamping.org/
Email: campnamu@lutherancamping.org
Camp Moon Hwa, Minnesota (Korea)
Webpage: members.aol.com/moonhwa
Phone: 507-281-5838
Camp Mu Ji Gae, Albany, NY (Korea)
Webpage: http://www.campmujigae.org/
Email: suttonc@parsonscenter.org
Phone: 518-426-2600, 518-355-8705
Camp Namu, Arendtsville, PA (Korea)
Webpage: http://www.lutherancamping.org/
Email: campnamu@lutherancamping.org
The Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania is adding a new program to its ministry lineup. This summer it has organized a pilot heritage camp for families who have at least one member adopted from Korea. The camp will include Bible study and worship, adoption-related discussions, a variety of Korean culture activities, and time to enjoy the outdoors. Registration materials and more details will be available online by March 1
Camp Sejong, Branchville, NJ (Korea)
Webpage: www.campsejong.org/
Email: lpriore2@optonline.net
Phone: 201-391-5598
Camp Sejong, Branchville, NJ (Korea)
Webpage: www.campsejong.org/
Email: lpriore2@optonline.net
Phone: 201-391-5598
Founded in 1990 by adoptive parents, Camp Sejong has grown into one of the premier Korean culture camps in America. While most of our campers have come from the New York, Philadelphia and Boston metropolitan areas, we have also drawn campers from as far away as Virginia and Illinois and even Korea.
Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Culture Camp, Northfield, MN (Vietnam)
Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Culture Camp, Northfield, MN (Vietnam)
Chinese Children Adoption International, Centennial, CO (China)
Colorado Heritage Camps, Fraser, CO (Multi-Cultural)
Webpage: http://www.heritagecamps.org/
Email: hcamps@juno.com
Concordia Language Village, Minnesota (Multi-Cultural)
Webpage: clvweb.cord.edu/prweb/
Email: clv@cord.edu
Phone: 800-222-4750, 218-299-4544
Webpage: http://www.heritagecamps.org/
Email: hcamps@juno.com
Concordia Language Village, Minnesota (Multi-Cultural)
Webpage: clvweb.cord.edu/prweb/
Email: clv@cord.edu
Phone: 800-222-4750, 218-299-4544
Dillon International Heritage Camp, Tulsa, OK (Multi-Cultural)
http://www.dilloninternational.org/
Families For International Children Heritage Camp, Grand Rapids, MI
Families For International Children Heritage Camp, Grand Rapids, MI
Designed to help adopted children experience the culture of their birth country through art, dance, music, stories and cuisine. The day camp is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northern Trails Middle School.
Families With Children From China, South Jersey, NJ (China)
Hand Around the World, Roselle, IL (Multi-Cultural)
Holt Heritage Camp, Oregon, New Jersey, Nebraska (Multi-Cultural)
Webpage: www.holtintl.org/camp/
Webpage: www.holtintl.org/camp/
Iowans for International Adoption, Cedar Falls, IA (Korea)
KAMP, Iowa (Korea)
KAMP is a culture camp for adoptive families with Korean children 5-18. Recognizing that adoption is a family issue, KAMP seeks to provide educational and social experiences not only for Korean adoptees, but also for their parents and siblings.
KampKimchee, Brainerd/Baxter, MN (Korea)
Kamp Chin-gu, Minnesota
Webpage: www.kam3000.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F42B2387-59DA-4545-965F-5F6153E15682}
Email: mailto:mpeterson@abraauto.com%20or%20scpark@attbi.com
Phone: 612-747-1557
Webpage: www.kam3000.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F42B2387-59DA-4545-965F-5F6153E15682}
Email: mailto:mpeterson@abraauto.com%20or%20scpark@attbi.com
Phone: 612-747-1557
This seven day camp is packed full of excitement and life lessons. From the minute groups arrive, they are challenged and encouraged to participate in a number of activities that are designed to stretch them both physically and spiritually. Students will do things that they probably have never done before and learn to trust themselves, their friends, and their God in new ways.
Korean American Pride, Utah (Korea)
Email: zippedoda@msn.com
Phone: 801-280-6559
Contact is Gary Beutler
Korean Culture Camp of Eastern Michigan (Korea)
Webpage: http://www.koreanculturecamp.org/
Email: info@koreanculturecamp.org
The Korean Culture Camp of Eastern Michigan is a one-week summer day camp in Michigan (between Lansing and Flint). Campers are Korean adoptees and other children interested in Korean culture, age three through middle school. The camp runs from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm each day and provides fun activities to teach the children their cultural heritage. These activities include art, music, taekwondo, stories, Korean language and Korean food. The class counselors are college-age Korean-Americans. Through the activities the children also get to meet other Korean adoptees and make lasting friendships.
Korean Heritage Camp, Oklahoma (Korea)
Email: bev@dillonadopt.com
Our Korean Kids International Adoptee's Camp, Kentucky (Korea)
Phone: 502-244-8067
Sae Jong Camp, Michigan (Korea)
Webpage: www.saejongcamp.com/
Email: info@saejongcmap.com
Phone: (248) 705-9804 - Jeanah Hong
Sae Jong Camp is a summer camp for children of Korean heritage held at Camp Westminster on beautiful Higgins Lake in central Michigan. At Sae Jong Camp, our campers explore their Korean-American identities, learn about their Korean heritage, and make friendships to last a lifetime. Sae Jong Camp 2004 dates are as follows: Session 1: Sunday, August 8 – Saturday, August 14, 2004; for adopted Korean-Americans only Session 2: Sunday, August 15 – Saturday, August 21, 2004; for all Korean-Americans (adopted, 2nd gen., 3rd gen., etc.) Please visit our website at http://www.saejongcamp.com/ for the latest information and updates. If you have any questions, please email info@saejongcamp.com
Smith College Culture Camp (Korea)
Email: mkim3@smith.edu
Phone: 413-585-6293 - Crystal Kim,
The Smith College KASS (Korean-American Students Association) is offering a day-long Culture Camp that offers children an opportunity to delve further into the Korean culture. We are very excited about this unique opportunity to make a difference beyond the scope of our campus! We aim to explore the arts, language, folk tales, food, and rich tradition of Korea through numerous fun activities throughout the day! The ages of children who attended Culture Camp last year were from 4 to 12 years old, but we welcome children of all ages to join in the fun.
Wide Horizons for Children Culture Camp (Korea)
Xilin Asian Community Center, Naperville, IL. Camps are held in cities in China. (China)
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