Camper Letters

 

Montana Camp Visit

This summer I was able to visit with our Director's in Wyoming and do an actual camp visit in Montana.  I love this part of the country and the camp visit went well.  We made a strategic decision to visit some of the Chapters that we seldom get to each year and I was fortunate to get the Montana, Wyoming area.  Our visits are designed to stay connected with our Chapters, see the programs in action and learn from the ministry in real time.  Zoom calls and conferences are nice, but nothing beats walking and talking with volunteers and seeing kids run, jump, play and learn.

Great stage set up for group events and Chapel time.

Lots of extras for birthday gifts or forgotten essentials.

An obstacle course to burn off energy and a water slide to cool off.

More than a Tea Party!

Many Chapters hold a Tea Party at camp.  It allows children to get all dressed up (camp style), have delicate unfamiliar treats and feel like they are really special.  It also allows the volunteers to give the children the Royal Treatment.

Here are a few photos from various Camp.

Life size invitation for the photo album!

1955 Bel Air

Our Camp Directors in Montana bought (with their own money) a PURPLE 1955 Chevy Bel Air and will be taking it on tour around Montana to raise awareness for the kiddos in Montana’s foster care system and to raise support of ROYAL FAMILY KIDS.

Another great video from our Camp in Georgia.

Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/586352117?fbclid=IwAR0X02Y4UlMvXFJuM96jGUWTkM7RVgoGJr3oaD-3TmsHuxrua7u8uCAAifM

Training on Human Potential - Seeing the Unseen!

Do you know Leon?   A great American hero, but nobody saw his potential.   This video is a recent training I did to encourage our volunteers to always see the best in the children we serve and to even see the unseen potential.  

Foster Mom Thank You Letter

We received this letter from a foster Mom.  There is a lot of great content in here that allows us to see into the life of a Foster Parent and into the life of a child living with lots of issues because of trauma.  These are the kids that really need a RFK camp designed just for their needs so they can leave their traumas behind and just be a kid for the week.

Letter from a Foster Mom to Camp# 133 Cuyahoga Falls, OH. 2018

Dear Church, Staff, and members,

I don't know where to start other than to say "Thank You".  Those two words are so simple, but you have no idea how much weight I am putting on them.  

Last Sunday, I dropped my son off for camp.  This comes after months (and years) of struggle.  We had never been away from each other for 5 days and 4 nights since he had come to live with us.  The trauma, PTSD, mood disorders, ADHD and extreme behaviors have been something we have been trying to get through for 6 years.  

Most recently he was asked not to return to school to finish the year after a total of 32 days (that is 6 weeks) of suspension for one reason or another.  Even more recently than that, he had jumped out of his second story window 2 days prior to camp and ran away.  He was found not far from home a few hours later - but it was still a scary moment for everyone involved.  

I thank God for our family, friends, and neighbors who have joined our village to help raise our kids.  The network of families I have met through fostering are priceless.  Being able to start a conversation with "Well he got suspended because he threatened to strangle the principal" is so much less stressful when you don't have to deal with the shock and appall of others.  We don't want to feel judged, or looked down upon, or pitied.  The support we have among each other is so strong.  

With all of the support we have between us- life is so stressful.  Trying to keep a full-time career while getting called out on multiple occasions to pick up my child due to behavior or shuttling him back and forth because he has been kicked off the bus or caring for him full time plus working and teaching him because he is suspended, has been extremely difficult.  

I will admit it. I was taking selfies out of pure joy at the church when I dropped him off last Sunday.  I Snap Chatted it and even posted on Instagram.  The thought of FOUR DAYS AND NIGHTS sounded as great to me as an all-inclusive vacation in paradise!  Everyone would be able to breathe a little easier.  

That being said, I wanted him to have a great time.  I wanted him to have his five days and nights of a little paradise as well.  I'm sure I am not always a gem to live with either. :-).

Well, we made it through all five days without a phone call.  I was nervous coming to pick him up on Thursday.  Was he going to be the same kid I dropped off.  Was he going to be mad about something?  Upset? Broken down? 

I came to sign him out and was told "He had a great time! He smiled and had fun."  I was told "He was not without his challenges, but he made it through just fine."  Well, I thought, that guy lies pretty well - because I know what people mean when they say "challenges."  

I went to the next room to gather his crafts and medicines.  When I told nurse Andi who I was picking up, she gave me "the look."  That look of pity I get right before the principal tells me he is suspended.  Here it goes....he won't be welcomed back next year.  "Oh my goodness" she said.  "He was just the sweetest boy! I just love him so much.  He gave me hugs every day and helped the other campers.  He has to come back next year!"  As a natural skeptic, I looked at my friend with the "eye roll" - yeah right- she got my kid mixed up with another.  

Next, we moved to the sanctuary where we waited.  Kids start coming through the door.  People are clapping.  I waited.  Suddenly, he comes through the door and his eyes meet mine and he smiled.  I knew something was up when he didn't wave like the other kids, but soon realized it was because his hands were full.  I gave him a big hug and he immediately pulled out the crosses he had made for his brother and sister.  He took out his photo album that was full of wonderfully happy pictures.  He was so excited.  He was filthy!  But he was so happy.  

I will admit it.  I was the one crying that day at the church...out of pure joy.  My heart was ready to burst with how happy he was.  He was loved.  He wasn't judged.  He was able to have his five days and nights of all-inclusive paradise.  He was able to be a kid without the stresses of everyday life of a kid from the system.  

Thank you.  From the bottom of my heart...thank you.  

Adventure Camping At Joshua Tree National Park

Took the kids to Joshua Tree for a two night campout.   Desert camping is interesting in Joshua Tree, only do it in the winter months!  Joshua Tree has a number of good hiking trials, but it's mostly know for its rock climbing and bouldering.  Bouldering is not rock climbing with ropes, its just climbing around on huge boulders and piles of boulders.  Some piles are more the 100 feet high.  The landscape and the geology is so interesting.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend.  

There is something special about fresh pancakes and coffee while camping.

This pile is over 100 tall.

Nice view from on of the rock piles

This rock looked normal size until Jon climbed up and put the "window" into perspective.   

Camp Photos

 Although we didn't have too many camps this year, we still had lots of connections with the children we serve.  Here are a few pictures from one of our Camps in South Dakota.

Part of camp is just a place to have fun.  Fun allows growth for the body, the brain, and the psyche.

Individual times together.

Group time.

Healthy adults and fun kids interacting.

You cant have camp without fun-loving crazy adults who want to serve!!!

Juhala Family Christmas Newsletter 2020

 

Family Photos From 2020

 We couldn't fit as many pictures in the year-end newsletter this year.  I guess the kid's lives have more content these days.  Here are some of our favorite shots.

Celebrated Janet's 50th!

Janae acting it up for the Children's program at church.

Jons 21 birthday.  COVID shut down most everything in April so we bought sandwiches and stopped by the beach!

Glenn Garvin's church rented a forklift to unload food for a feeding program.  I talked my way into doing a forklift training class for Glenn, Jon, and Janae.  I love forklifts.  Such fun.

BBQ and homemade ice cream.  Summer favorites, again and again!

Family Zoom meetings.  A new family tradition!

We said goodbye to DJ.  Many tears.

Months later we welcomed our new family member, Maverick. 

. Jessica's new job.  Trainer for Scooters Coffee.

Jessica's future Hubby...Josh!

Check out the Staying Alive special.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpYIWBpGft4

What a year!

Royal Family KIDS Becomes ‘For The Children,

Royal Family KIDS Becomes ‘For The Children,’ Expands Mission to Protect Children in Foster Care

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Royal Family KIDS, an international alliance of 252 chapters dedicated to interrupting the cycles of neglect, abuse and abandonment of children in the foster care system, will now be known officially as For The Children, effective November 2020- www.ForTheChildren.org

Royal Family KIDS, an international alliance of 252 chapters dedicated to interrupting the cycles of neglect, abuse and abandonment of children in the foster care system, will now be known officially as For The Children, effective November 2020.

In making the name change, the organization is emphasizing its continued growth beyond its traditional programs of intervention camps and mentoring opportunities for children in foster care.

While For The Children will continue to oversee these trademark camps and mentoring programs that have formed the foundation of its work, the urgent and changing needs of children and families in the child welfare system require a broader, more systemic approach.

“For 30 years, our staff, volunteers and local municipal partners have dedicated their time, talent and treasure to help transform the lives of vulnerable children across the U.S. and the world,” said Paul Martin, President and CEO of For The Children. “Yet, extreme gaps in meeting the needs of these children and their families — especially considering COVID-19 — remain. I see an “epidemic within a pandemic” offering our 20,000 volunteers immediate opportunity to intervene and provide direct services, advocacy, and leadership.”

As the new entity evolves, For The Children will expand its work in fostering, adoption, advocacy, awareness, volunteer engagement and wrap-around services. The need for a more effective, comprehensive and resilient approach to child welfare is critical.

“The child welfare system in the United States is in crisis,” Martin said. “On any given day in America, more than 400,000 children linger in foster care. Due to COVID-19, those numbers will greatly increase in the months ahead. Family-induced childhood trauma is our nation’s greatest health care problem. We must better in our communities to give these innocent children the support that they need, not only for their sake but for the future of society.”

As part of its global advocacy mission, For The Children will launch the For The Children Pledge to ensure that every child can “live a life free of neglect, abuse, and violence.”

For more details on the Pledge, please visit https://www.forthechildren.org/pledge-for-the-children

Contact Information Tiffany Everett
For The Children http://www.forthechildren.org 443-473-1072

Emily Ferrell

For The Children

http://forthechildren.org