Camp HOPE America

Course Description: The Center for Disease Control reports that 64% of individuals experience one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) before reaching 18 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). When ACA reaches their goal of serving 20 million campers in 2020, they’ll be providing care for 12.8 million children impacted by trauma. This course will explore how trauma-informed care can be approached within a camping context, and offer practical solutions, techniques, and approaches for youth development and camping professionals. These tools will empower leaders at camp to care for youth who have faced adversity and to adequately equip and train their staff to do the same. Course Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will: 1.     Understand the ways trauma impacts the children they serve; 2.     Learn how trauma-informed care in a camp setting is a distinct approach that can benefit all camps; 3.     Gain practical solutions, techniques, and approaches – including stories and tangible takeaways – to care for campers who have faced adversity; 4.     Take away important considerations for camp leadership and staff when creating and implementing schedules, activities, and camp traditions – all from the lens of trauma-informed care in a camp setting. Training Length: Approximately 75 minutes Your Instructor: John Hamilton is the Director of Camp HOPE America. He collaborates with the Camp HOPE America team, human services organizations, and camps or conference centers to bring a Hope-filled experience to campers around the country. John works with experts in several industries, learning from their perspectives, and working to bridge the gap between the camp industry and social work field to incorporate trauma-informed care in the camp setting. John holds a master’s degree from Western Seminary, where he focused on leadership, social justice, and hospitality. He specializes in forging unlikely partnerships, developing unified teams, and moving people from theory into practice. John and his wife, Lana, live in San Diego with their four daughters, Sadie, Kallan, Eleanor, and Wren. Course Curriculum:  Lesson 1: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care in a Camp Setting (20-25 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Pre-Course Self-Inventory 2. Introduction 3. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Trauma 4. Trauma-Informed Care in a Camp Setting 5. Schedule and Overall Considerations Lesson 2: Morning Schedule (13 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Rise and Shine 2. Breakfast 3. Challenge by Choice Activities and Rotations 4. Trauma Responses and Types of Stress Lesson 3: Case Scenario Learning Check (10-15 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Case Scenario Video 2. Quiz on Case Scenario Lesson 4: Afternoon Schedule (5 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Lunch Time 2. Waterfront and Free Time Lesson 5: Shower Time and Case Scenario Learning Check (10-15 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Video 2. Case Scenario Video 3. Quiz on Case Scenario Lesson 6: Evening Schedule (9 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Dinner 2. All Camp Games 3. Night Time Routine and Lights Out Lesson 7: Conclusion and Self-Inventory (5-10 minutes) Lesson Overview: 1. Moving Forward and Setting Goals 2. Post-Course Self Inventory

 

Camp HOPE America is the leading year-round camping and mentoring program in the country for children and teens impacted by domestic violence. We are focused on creating collaborative, trauma-informed, as well as hope-centered and healing-centered pathways for trauma-exposed youth to believe in themselves, in others, and in their dreams. Learn more about the journey and mission of Camp HOPE America through this introductory course. You will explore the basics of the program’s model and methodology, as well as learn how to get involved in the Camp HOPE America community – whether that’s as a participant or a HOPE Giver!

Course Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of Camp HOPE America’s impact through testimonials and video footage.
2. Learn the basics of Camp HOPE America including the program mission, model, requirements to run a successful program, and existing locations.
3. Understand the different ways to get involved with Camp HOPE America on both the national and local level – as a participant, volunteer, donor, or future staff member.

Training Length: 90-105 minutes

 

Course Directors:

Casey Gwinn is the President and Co-Founder of Alliance for HOPE International and the Founder of Camp HOPE America and is also the visionary behind the Family Justice Center movement, first proposing the concept of the Family Justice Center model in 1989. In 2002, he founded the first Camp HOPE America in San Diego and it is now moving across the country. Casey is a national expert on domestic violence, including prosecution, strangulation, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), and best practices. Prior to this position, Casey was the elected San Diego City Attorney.

 

 

 

John Hamilton is the Director of Camp HOPE America. He collaborates with the Camp HOPE America team, human services organizations, and camps or conference centers to bring a hope-filled experiences to campers around the country. John works with experts in several industries, learning from their perspectives, and working to bridge the gap between the youth development and social work field to incorporate trauma-informed care in the camp setting and healing-centered engagement. John holds a master’s degree from Western Seminary, where he focused on leadership, social justice, and hospitality. He specializes in forging unlikely partnerships, developing unified teams, and moving people from theory into practice. John and his wife, Lana, live in San Diego with their four daughters, Sadie, Kallan, Eleanor, and Wren.

 

 

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Introduction to Camp HOPE America (10 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Introduction
2. Camp HOPE America – Oregon Video

Required Materials:

1. Affiliate Video

Lesson 2: Purpose (10 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. HOPE Science
2. Camp HOPE America Mission
3. Greater Significance and Statistics

Lesson 3: History (10 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Camp HOPE America Origins
2. Growth and Expansion

Lesson 4: Intro to Camp HOPE America 101 (20 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Camp HOPE America Model
2. Camp HOPE America Values
3. Camp HOPE America Map

Lesson 5A: Referring a Child (15-20 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Referral
2. Enrollment
3. Registration
4. Affiliate Locations

Lesson 5B: Starting a Program (15-20 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Requirements
2. Lead vs. Allied Affiliates
3. Application Process
4. Readiness Logistics and Timeline
5. Application Link

Lesson 5C: Supporting a Program (10 minutes)

Lesson Overview:

1. Donating Nationally
2. Donating Locally
3. Volunteering