Royal Family Kids CampAbout Me: At the time when I learned about Royal Family Kids (RFK), I was an undergraduate at Portland State University (PSU) (studying for my B.S. of psychology) who worked as a cashier at a grocery store. I had been wondering what I could do for my community - I wanted to start work that helped others in a considerate and personal level. A family friend who knew what I was longing for came to me with this camp. They had volunteered the year prior and said it was a life-changing experience. The idea of what this camp stood for, allowing children to have a chance to have fun, was very heartwarming, and soon I sought out a class that would recognize my work there and began training with the organization.
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A Brief History: A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Royal Family KIDS Inc. began in 1985 to give children in the foster care system the opportunity to go to a summer camp where they can just be kids for a week. In 2006, Community of Hope Lutheran Church in Wilsonville Oregon was granted permission to host this camp for local children.
Click here for more information about the camp and its history.
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My role at RFK/The organization's needs: As a volunteer-based organization, RFK is limited in how many children it can take in - the success and capacity are all based on the number of volunteers. We were able to take in 28 children this year, which was a rather large increase from previous years; As with many other organizations, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of volunteers dwindled steadily. Being able to see a busload of children with big smiles, and eager bouncy bodies wanting to meet their counselors and start having fun, made me and everyone else so grateful that we had an influx of young volunteers. I initially wanted to be a full-time counselor, but due to this being my first year with RFK, the board decided I would work best as a relief counselor, along with working in the Crafts Center, and Breakfast Club. A relief counselor takes over at 7pm-10pm to help get the kids ready for bed, allowing the full-time counselor to have a long (well-deserved) break. The Crafts Center was a hit with the children, and I helped get the tools ready and instructed the children on the expectations for that day's project. Breakfast club acted as a break for the counselors, and as a fun time for the children to be active and run around: tag, Red Light/Green Light, Capture the Flag, tug-o-war were all games that were played.
Goals: Going into this experience, I was just looking to make a positive connection with some of my campers and be there to support them. I knew I would meet my academic requirements (such as time requirements for the project), so I wanted to focus on what the camp is about: the kids. I'm extremely happy to report that I did make those connections within just five days. Through tears and laughter, I made sure to stick by my campers' sides and experience the camp alongside them. My work here incorporated the four goals that PSU values: 1) social justice/diversity/equity 2) ethics/agency/community 3) inquiry/critical thinking, and 4) communication. Through providing a camp that encompasses what it means to live a happy childhood, it helps target the injustices these kids have faced in the short time they've been here. We take kids from all walks of life, so it's best to be aware of any sensitive topics and treat each and every child with respect and kindness. The staff create a welcoming environment and in turn the kids' elation help make a tight-knit community that's based on trust and understanding. Inquiry can be found in every situation (this was the case for me as it was the first time I experienced any sort of camp, let alone one like this), and critical thinking occurs in instances where a child may be having a hard time or preparing for their arrival with the information you have on them. Lastly, this organization wouldn't work if communication wasn't a goal; From booking the venue, to arranging staff, to getting kids where they need to be communication is interwoven everywhere. To prepare myself to be the best relief counselor/staff member I could be I did study the information provided on my campers to learn their strengths and weaknesses, and I played to those. Engaging in activities with them, sitting outside with them when things were too overwhelming, letting them know what was going to happen next, finding cool things in nature and gifting them, among so many other things were things I practiced to build rapport with my campers.
Reflection: When I first arrived at the camp, I was nervous; Afraid I would feel alienated from both staff and campers, underprepared, or I wouldn't find it as amazing as other people claimed this camp was. As the days went on, those fears started to fade, and I found myself becoming bolder. I was trying new foods, ziplining and fishing for the first time, and making new connections with all those around me. I believe this behavior was rooted in wanting to set an example for the kids around me. I hope to continue this trend of being bolder and willing to try new things. The most rewarding part however was the relationship I cultivated with my campers. By the end of the camp, all my campers were comfortable and were asking me for hugs, with one camper I had a handshake, with another (who was known for being tough) they wanted to hold my hand when we walked and trusted me with their stuffed animal. By far though there was camper I made more of a connection with, and I met their family on Friday afternoon. As we sat and watched the slideshow of the week's activities, this camper asked me to come back for them next year. This was the moment I felt the most emotional, it was the moment I knew I completed what I came out to do: Make a child's day better by being there to support them. I don't plan on letting them down. After hearing about my experiences, my mother has shown interest in volunteering. What people told me about this camp is true, it is indeed life-changing, and I can see it becoming an annual tradition for me and my family. Until then, I hope to carry myself with the courage I cultivated and kindness I expressed throughout that week, and possibly work more with children, making a positive impact on their lives.