Children in therapeutic foster can deal with more challenges due to experiencing trauma, making the path to finding their place in the world more complex.
Just because these children need a bit of extra assistance doesn’t mean it should stop them from having enriching experiences like attending summer camp. On June 9-10, 2022, Catholic Charities hosted the third annual Respite Summer Camp in partnership with MATFORCE, a substance abuse prevention organization in Yavapai County.
Grant funding from MATFORCE brought the free summer camp experience to life for therapeutic foster children across Northern Arizona. MATFORCE works closely with our foster care programs to prevent alcohol and drug use among youth and caregivers.
Therapeutic Foster Children Enjoy Summer Activities
Children of all ages arrived at Mingus Mountain Camp eager to make new friends and participate in classic summer camp activities. As they ran and played games with staff and volunteers, their joy and laughter filled the air.
Soon, MATFORCE arrived with creative demonstrations and games to teach the children about safety and mindfulness. The kids played charades to help them identify different emotions and did some role playing to learn how to react to dangerous situations, like being offered drugs or alcohol.
“It’s cool [the kids] can come here and play games. [They can] do some learning but have fun at the same time,” said Londyn, a Catholic Charities volunteer.
Assistance from MATFORCE, Volunteers and Camp Staff
As the day went on, the children enjoyed a delicious homemade lunch and participated in the other activities the camp had to offer. They tested their courage on the zipline and ropes course and practiced their hand-eye coordination with archery.
Catholic Charities’ Therapeutic Foster Care program is grateful to MATFORCE as well as its volunteers and the Mingus Mountain Camp staff. They ensured that the event ran smoothly and provided anything
the children needed, whether it was yummy food to fuel their day or words of encouragement.
“I’m so grateful for Mingus Camp allowing us and these children the opportunity to learn new skills like archery and have a fun time at summer camp with their peers. I’m thankful for our volunteers for
assisting us to be able to put on this camp,” said Dana Hale, Program Manager for Therapeutic Foster Care.
If your parish or community group is interested in helping make the world a better place for foster children, see all the ways you can promote and support our Foster Care & Adoption programs.
