September 26, 2024

Before coming to Mercy Home, many of our young people never had the opportunity to attend summer camp. In fact, some of them rarely ever ventured far outside of their own neighborhoods. But at Mercy Home, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and experience the healing power of nature. That’s why trips to camp are so important for our young people.

This summer, several of our young men went on an amazing adventure to Camp Miniwanca in Shelby, Mich., where they spent four days. It was a great opportunity for them to build healthy relationships with their peers and staff and spend quite moments in nature recharging their batteries.

Participation in team-building activities was an important part of the experience. One activity that helped bring our kids together required them to balance the entire group on an unbalanced, wobbly platform. Three of our youth took the lead and helped direct their peers on where to stand and move on the platform. There were moments of frustration, but they did not let their emotions get the best of them. Our coworkers encouraged youth to work as a team to accomplish a shared goal—and they succeeded!

“It was nice to see [them using] hand gestures and guiding each other, and giving each other that space to be a leader,” said Program Manager Victoria Lagunas.

But while some untimely rain limited the water activities in which our youth could participate, it didn’t damper the overall fun of camp. Despite the lack of sunshine, the youth made the most out of their time, participating in indoor rock climbing, arts and crafts, and a basketball game against our coworkers. Eventually the sun came out long enough for a refreshing swim.

“I wanted them to just be kids and not have to worry about external stressors,” said therapist Sierra Gibson. “[We wanted to] create an experience that was worthwhile, and make sure they have fun.”

Just before they left camp, the youth decided to climb a steep sand dune. One of our young men had a difficult time climbing the same dune last year, but he was determined to make it to the top again this year. Before he ascended the steep incline, he reflected on his past struggles and his personal growth throughout the year. Ultimately, his firm resolve carried him all the way to the top—the first to make it there!

“We had conversations with the youth about what it takes to accomplish something you didn’t think you were able to do, and how you can surprise yourself when you set your mind to do something,” Lagunas said.

On the last day of camp, their guide asked our boys to pick something from the grounds to represent their goals. They also talked about and reflected on challenges they’ve overcome and new goals they want to set. The youth tossed their objects into the campfire, each object contributing to its growth.

It was Lagunas’s first trip to camp with Mercy Home and she was grateful to see the boys step out of their comfort zone and have the space and time to unwind and have fun.

“It was really neat to see them be grounded and be kids,” she said.

Camp provides our young people a chance to face their fears and know the feeling of pride for accomplishing something despite challenges. And it gives our kids and coworkers an opportunity to provide encouragement and strengthen bonds by helping one another achieve goals.

The boys left camp feeling refreshed for the new school year. Throughout the summer, our young people went on camping adventures throughout the Midwest, as well as service trips to the Southeast. We are so grateful for our generous friends who gave our kids a meaningful camp experience that they will always remember.