Type of services:
Out-of-School Time learning and group mentoring experiences for children and youth impacted by trauma (i.e. domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse)
Camping and mentoring experiences for children exposed to domestic violence
Program setting:
Onsite programming is made available at local Community-Based Agencies that are Affiliate chapters of Camp HOPE America, in collaboration with their community partners, and their Partner Camp (an outdoor youth development camp provider within their service area). We work with 37 different trauma-informed and hope-centered partner camps in 23 states.
Kidder Creek Camp (Etna, CA) – Kidder Creek is an adventure camp near the California/Oregon border; Camp HOPE is also developing a property on the Central California Coast near Arroyo Grande, CA (Bethel Ranch).
Length of program/number of sessions:
4-5 days or 5-6 nights of immersive overnight summer camp with an additional ongoing dosage of 1-2 hours per month on average for participants enrolled in the program. Each agency affiliated with Camp HOPE America provides a minimum of
6 days (five weeks per summer at present)
Type(s) of trauma/concerns addressed:
Children enrolled and participating in Camp HOPE America programming have experienced multiple victimizations such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, and exposure to family violence, known as polyvictimization or complex trauma.
Children exposed to domestic violence and physically and sexually abused children
Types of service providers:
Camp HOPE America Affiliates represent Family Justice Centers, Multi-Agency Centers, Child Advocacy Centers, Domestic Violence Shelters, Law-Enforcement, City and County Government and other youth and children’s Community-Based Agencies. With robust collaborative agencies our service providers include Child Trauma Specialists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Case Management Workers Behavioral Management Aides, Marriage and Family Therapist Social Workers, Psychologist, Psychiatrists, Nurses, Youth Development Professionals, and more. In addition, our summer program staff and Hope Coaches (volunteer mentors) are all trained to uphold best practices from a trauma-informed and hope-centered lens.
Family Justice Center professionals; Community-based domestic violence agency professionals including child-trauma therapists and mental health professionals; youth development professionals; teen and college age youth counselors; and adult volunteers.
Additional information:
Camp HOPE America is the largest evidence-based out-of-school-time learning and mentoring program in the United States to focus on children and teens exposed to domestic violence. It started in San Diego in 2003, expanded statewide in California in 2012, and now serves 4,500 participants from 48 organizations in 25 states. Our mission is to help children impacted by trauma find pathways to hope and healing.
Camp HOPE is the first dedicated camp for children exposed to domestic violence. It started in San Diego in 2003 and has now expanded into a statewide model in California. In 2013, 375 children, youth counselors, and adult mentors participated in Camp HOPE.
Unique/Innovative Characteristics
The Camp HOPE America Program is a strengths and character-based out-of-school-time learning and mentoring model with a six-day, overnight program, and follow-up communal and group-based activities during the school year. The program focuses on three key elements: 1) “Challenge by Choice” activities, 2) affirmation and praise for developing observed character strengths (i.e. Hope, Resilience, Zest, Grit, Optimism, Self-Control, Gratitude, Social Intelligence, and Curiosity), and 3) themed, small group discussion and therapeutic-based activities focused on helping children set goals and then pursue those goals around the science of hope.
Camp HOPE America’s summer learning experience involves a 1:3 or 2:6 staff to participant model and Pathways year-round learning involves our group mentoring model with a Hope-Coach (Mentor) ratio of 1:6 and Affinity groups for children and youth to opt into.
Challenge by Choice camping model; Values-based; character trait-focused; Whitewater rafting; Ropes courses; Horses; Affirmation; Encouragement; Teens/College students serving as counselors/youth mentors; Small group discussions; Theatre elements with themed skits on bullying; what to do when parent’s fight; believing in others; believing in yourself; believing in your dreams. Adult mentor/youth counselor to camper ratio of 1 to 2.