Connecting With Kids, Even After Camp

The following is a letter from a Counselor in Ohio.  It speaks of the simple, yet powerful affect that one-week can have on kids from hard places.  The Royal memories that we help create bring tangible connections before and after we intersect their lives.

I have been a counselor for Royal Family Kids Camp for 6 years now. Each year at the end of camp I am upset to see the kids go.  Some kids go back to a good home, but some of the kids I don't know if they are going to a good place or going to be with others who love God.  

This year I was able to see a child outside of camp and was able to be one of those people that cared for them throughout the year.  I was the child's teacher.  I found a job as a second grade teacher at a Christian school.  Before the first day of school I wrote the kids a letter and sent it to them during the summer.  It just talked about what I was doing this summer and that I was excited to meet my class.  I mentioned that I was a counselor at camp as well.  

The first day of school came and one little girl was there very early.  Their family is always the first to arrive at the school.  She seemed a little shy at first.  She asked me if everything on my letter was true, even camp.  I told her it was and that I loved camp.  She stared at me for a few seconds and then asked if it was Royal Family Kids Camp.  I was shocked that she knew about this camp. I told her that it was.  The next question she asked was if I knew the songs.  I started singing the camp theme song and she joined in with me.  When the song was finished she shouted "Be right back!" and left the room.  I didn't even have time to respond.  A couple minutes later she came back with two boys.  They both had been to Royal Family too. One was her brother and the other a close family friend.  The three of them were so excited to find out I was a counselor for Royal Family.  They were all talking at once trying to ask questions and share stories.  I could have talked to them forever, but the other kids were coming in and school was starting soon.  

The next day the boys were back in my room and all of us sang some songs that both of our camps had done.  They were so excited and so was I.  The girl in my class was especially excited.  Her teacher was a Royal Family Counselor!  She brought in her camp shirt from the summer along with her photo album.  She showed me the pictures and talked about each one.  She loved her Counselor and I can tell that she is excited to have her again next summer.  

It is amazing that this girl could have ended up in any class, but she just so happened to be in mine.  She has shown me just how much Royal Family has meant to her.  The three of them still come into my room some mornings together just to tell a story or sing a song together.  Royal Family has such a huge impact on kids and they carry their memories with them even after camp is over.

Kalyn W. - Ohio Counselor

Camp & CASA Workers Experience to Always Have HOPE.

From one of our Camp Directors:

One of many things I've learned since last year's camp: Just because the camper's application says the child, who is 9, has been in care for almost 4 years, with 16 placements & 2 failed adoptions, does not necessarily mean this is a child with severe behavior problems! 

I requested to be this child's CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, so I could learn what had caused a young, precious child to have been through such an ordeal. That child had already attended 2 of our camps, & we never had had an issue with her. 

Her big sister was a different story. By being her CASA, I learned that a lot of the problem was The System & the foster & potential parents! This child had let us know that, shortly before camp, all 3 of her siblings had been adopted. 

Can you just imagine how she felt! I am HAPPY to say, and Praising the Lord, that she is in an amazing home with hopes of adoption in late May or June. 

PLEASE never assume anything about your campers. You just never know! 

RePost from our camp in Kearney NE

Why Royal Family KIDS Camp is important for Kids in Foster Care:

My Wife and I have been doing respite for a while now and recently had a young boy stay with us for little over a week. He was full of energy and ideas that kept us on our toes.

In that short time frame my wife noticed that his week was full of visits and appointments one after another and would start right after he went to school. We would start the day around 6:30-7 a.m. and he would be dropped off by a case worker to our home some nights after 8 p.m. It was hardly enough time to make sure he had dinner, bath and any homework that needed to be done before going off to bed.

A few days in my Wife looked at me with a look of sadness as we got him and our other two young kids to sleep and she said disheartened, "He doesn't have any time to be a Kid. This is why Camp is so important to these kids. He needs to go to camp this year."

She was right! There was no time to play, be silly, or just be a kid. He had a full time job after school with everything involved with his routine. After a while with that kind of schedule anyone would need a vacation, let alone a six year old kid.

Royal Family KIDS Camp is a week long camp that treats people royally and creates life changing moments that matter to kids in the foster care system that have been forgotten. All at no cost to the child or the caretaker and it is because of people in our community that volunteer at camp or scholarship the kids for about $500 a kid.

We are getting ready for camp this year and are looking forward to giving kids some time to just be a kid.

RFK in Australia

Here is an update from RFK Australia.  Their name is Southern Cross Kids' Camps.

                                                       

2016 is underway and three SCKC camps have already been held. On New Years Day, SCKC Knox kicked the year off with around 30 campers attending camp. This was followed by SCKC Casey starting on January 10th with over 30 campers. Camp Directors Peter and Suretha Moore have been involved with SCKC Casey for many years, however this was their first year as  Directors, taking over from Christine Smith and John Lynch.  Peter described the experience as 'highly rewarding, but quite exhausting'.  As soon as Casey camp finished  South- East Sydney was on, with more kids who need love and attention receiving just that.  Three camps down, eight to go. 

Keep Moving Forward

One of the values we try to teach the kids we serve is, Keep Moving Forward.

I found this and thought it was  a good reminder.

Our Story in a New Book

Hello Friends,

RFK has a new book and Janet and I have Our Story as chapter 14 pg. 123.

The book is a collection of stories from many volunteers who have had their lives transformed by the RFK experience.

In our chapter, we describe our journey as volunteer Camp Directors, some miracles along the way and our eventual call into full time ministry at the RFK National office.

It all started with a Trash Can, p. 124-125.  You 'll have to read it.

I can only get 5-10 copies to send out right now.  I'm hoping to have our chapter made into a booklet by next year and get it into more of our donors hands.

Until then, if you are interested in the book, it's $12.00 with shipping, just let me know.   A Legacy of Hope.

                                       

It really is full of great stories, very inspirational stuff of changed lives.  There are a few campers, but it's mostly volunteers who have been deeply changed by the children we serve and felt a personal, and a God calling to jump in the deep end and do more.  It's a lot like Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

What Does a Director of Training Do All Year?

Here's our training schedule for 2016.  Yikes!!!

Club Training              Fullerton CA              Jan 7-9

Regional Training       So Cal.                        March 5

Regional Training       Portland OR                March 12

Regional Training       Madison AL                April 2

Regional Training       Fort Wayne Indiana    April 9

Regional Training       Waxahachie TX          April 9

Club Training              Fullerton CA               May 12-14

Camp Training DTI     Omaha NE                 June 4-10

Camp Training DTI     Costa Mesa CA          June 25 – July 1

Camp Training DTI     Cedar Hill TX            July 2-8

Camp Training DTI     Dublin Ohio               August 6-12

Camp Training PST     Colorado Springs       June 4-10

Camp Training PST     Costa Mesa CA          June 25 – July 1

Club Training              Midland MI                September ??

CLUB Training January 2015

Here we are training another great group of people to start two New Clubs and add leadership to a third.

Clubs and Mentoring have added an incredible level of depth to helping our volunteers connect with kids in Foster care.

How Do You Feel After Camp?

From one of our Texas Camps.  The Camp Director posted this on his facebook account.  

We created the debriefing cards you see on the table as a quick way to help volunteers debrief their emotions from a week of camp.

With her permission, I'm sharing this post written by one of our counselors at our time of debriefing. This college student beautifully captured how we all feel at the end of the week - and beyond.

"Sad" because I may never get to see my girls again. "Prayerful" because I will always be praying for my girls. "Unprepared" because it's always hard to say goodbye after 5 short days with them. "Humble" because I know that no matter how hard I think my life is, these children have been through so much worse. I am absolutely in love with this camp. I will be doing it every year for the rest of my life. This is my passion, this is my calling. I love all these sweet children with all of my heart and it never gets easier saying goodbye to them. Just 365 days til next camp!" - Emily Fenton

Adoptive Parents of the Year in NE. adopt RFK Camper

Hi Friends,

Here is a story coming out of Nebraska.  This family met their daughter at RFK and are being honored as adoptive parents of the year!

Kids like Joy are getting opportunities at Camp and Club and some even get adopted through the relationships built.

Thanks for your support to help kids like Joy.

http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/newsroom_newsreleases_2015_December_adoption.aspx

Missions Convention

Working the Table at the MVCC Missions Convention.

While there I met this former RFK Camper.  She had many fond memories of being a camper and has been adopted into a wonderful forever family.

Jonathan's Cross Country

Jon at Mt. Sac. Relays and League Finals.