25 Years of Camp to Belong

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

Let me tell you about a pretty remarkable person She says that one ripple can make waves of change. She is steadfast in this belief and it has aided her in creating a factory of memories for America’s siblings in foster care. Thousands upon thousands of kids across 13 states and some in Australia, have benefited from that belief system. Now that you know what drives her, let me introduce you to Lynn Price, Founder of Camp To Belong.

Lynn was walking around living a happy childhood when she was rocked by the news she was adopted, moreover, she had a sister out in the world. A tough bit of news to absorb for an 8-year-old from Illinois When you get to know about Lynn Price, you will find that she doesn’t see the dark side of a situation No, Lynn instead looks for the positives in a situation, a trait surely learned at a young age With the knowledge of her newly found sister, Andi, was living on the other side of town They would see one another over the years, but it was college where their relationship truly blossomed into sisterhood

She attended a top tier college, found a talent in marketing and landed an impressive job when she left school. How impressive? Helping to launch ESPN impressive So valuable to the team at ESPN was she they asked her to open the Dallas office of the company It’s that enthusiasm for a project, mixed with an undeniable talent for getting the job done that has served her well in her life She would help the W Group, a satellite communications firm, expand their cable Television business, as well as The Golf Channel It appeared to be no ceiling for her career ascent and then tragedy in the form of her mentor and foster youth. In 1994 she sold her business and moved to Las Vegas to raise her family and volunteer as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and at a children’s shelter. You see, foster kids were never far from her mind as she went through life. In college she organized the fraternities and sororities to work on the prevention of child abuse. And there was of course, her own story and Andi. Now she was on the frontlines What she saw would be her call to action. boss passing away. With a new baby on the way and the loss of her mentor, she set off on her own.

Mystified by the statistics of siblings separated by foster care, 75% of those who enter the system are separated from their brother or sister, she was compelled to act. She’d had success bringing siblings together through her role as a CASA, but more was needed. Much more.

Running a business of any kind of on your own is a daunting task, running a communications firm from the ground up is a different animal to tame But Price & Associates excelled, even earning awards along the way.

It was her next move that would set the stage for a life devoted to America’s

These reunions of siblings needed to be done on a much grander scale and with much more frequency. But how and where could she create a safe atmosphere for these estranged family members to reconnect and solidify life-long bonds? Summer camp!

1995 Lynn Price used all that she had learned in her life, everything from marketing and organization to selflessness and empathy, to create Camp To Belong. It was to be a week long camping experience that would allow the kids to play, explore and get to spend time together. That was the key to the whole idea; together. “My sister, Andi and I missed out on sharing our childhood days - it is that need of developing a strong sense of belonging that Camp To Belong gifts to our resilient campers,” she has been quoted as saying in regards to the importance of siblings being together

Fast forward 25 years later. I’m driving through a part of the Appalachian Trail here in my home state of Pennsylvania I live an hour or two away from the newest addition to the Camp To Belong family of camps; Camp To Belong River Valley. I was slated to meet up with Lynn here a few days earlier Family obligations kept me away from our meeting but I wasn’t going to miss a chance to see the camp in person

I’ve been Lynn-adjacent since I started the magazine Something always gets in the way of us meeting face to face She has 13 camps and a camp in Australia she has to tend to She’s a highly sought-after speaker and on top of all that, a mother and an Ashoka Fellow which is a group of select social entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the globe. She’s a busy person, part of why she’s been so successful We’ll catch up with one another someday, I’m sure of it.

I don’t get to this part of the state that often. It’s gorgeous here. Winding roads carved through mountains Streams around every bend What a sight for these kids to see on their way to a week long adventure As I made my way, passing quaint houses and holiday cabins, I started to think about my brothers and sisters I didn’t know I had an older brother and sister until I was in my teens but was fairly close to my younger brother who l lived with He was too smart for the teen version of me to get too close to, he kind of intimidated me with his brain But when I went into care, I kept the best memories we had and would get to see him during the visits I’d take back to my hometown I got to thinking about how much fun it would have been to get to see him for a week each summer at camp We were both Boy Scouts, camp was something we shared I moved away. Would have been nice to have had a Camp To Belong to link up with him and watch him grow.

That’s what Lynn has created; a touchstone for these kids. A place they can come to and make memories without the worries of the world around them If at least for a week.

Entering the grounds of the camp, I started to get as excited as the kids must be My eyes darted back and forth at the many activity areas A horse stable A pond with a canoe on the shore at the ready A rope course An outdoor stage A pool I started to get jealous that I was only to spend a short time here. Cabins. Hiking trails What a week these kids were having!

After finding my way to their specific camp, I saw something that resonated with me. It was a girl, alone, hitting a tetherball around a pole She was clearly waiting on someone Just passing the time until that person arrived. Again, I think of Lynn Price, by herself, her sister on the other side of town, separated by circumstance. Waiting. The little girl I saw didn’t have to wait long for a playmate to arrive

The area was an oval of seemingly new cabins The air was clean and filled with the sounds of birds, critters scurrying about the forest floor and the most important ingredient that makes Camp To Belong so special; laughter of children. The weather was great, not too humid, though no one told the bugs that information. What a small price to be to be in nature for a week Among the smiling faces I found the Camp Directors; Jennifer Strohl and Samii Emdur.

It takes a special personality to give up yourself and your time for a cause. Volunteers have always had my admiration I’ve been fortunate enough to meet hun- dreds and hundreds of volunteers in my time as the Editor of this magazine and the size of their hearts never ceases to amaze. Hours away from home, time away from family and devotion to a cause without compensation is a mesmerizing mindset. This is what keeps Camp To Belong thriving It’s the people that make the experience special

The Camp Directors regaled me with tales of the week There was a Birthday Party Night, where the kids exchanged meaningful gifts for the birthday that would likely miss this year There was Inspiration Night, where storytelling leaves kids excited about their futures They told me all about the swimming, hiking, bonding, art, laughter and joy the week had brought with the same enthusiasm as the kids they were serving

Soon there would be more activities for them to tend to and we would say are goodbyes. Driving away I couldn’t help but think of a little girl in Illinois who just wanted to be around her sister and where that need has taken her.

13 camps in the US, 1 in Australia Over 10,000 kids reunited with their siblings. 2 books, Real Belonging: Giving Siblings Their Right to Reunite and Vision For A Change, A Social Entrepreneur ’s Insights From the Heart Named a CBS American Hero Ashoka Fellow Oprah’s Use Your Life award. A Presidential Service Award Membership in the National Speakers Association Creator of a million memories.

Twenty five years later, that little girl created one hell of a ripple.

Movie Review

By Chris Chmielewski Foster Focus Editor

It's no secret that one of the best perks of running Foster Focus is getting to see any foster care related films and T V shows before they hit the public. The bulk of them have been tremendous, a few left me hoping for a bit more and one or two have really blown me away. Know How, a production written and acted in by foster youth in the Possibility Project program, falls into that last category.

Let me stress this point. If I didn't tell you that this movie was written by foster youth, YOU'D HAVE NO IDEA If I didn't tell you that the principle players in this movie were actors pulled right from the foster care system, YOU'D HAVE NO CLUE. If I told you that this was a big budget Hollywood production with actors who come from acting schools from around the country, YOU WOULD TOTALLY BELIEVE ME

That's the beauty of Know How. It manages to be gritty and raw while being aesthetically gorgeous and visually on par with studio backed efforts.

Director Juan Carlos Pineiro Esoriaza brings his personal flair to Know How's overall feel Bringing the busy streets of New York City, with all its characters to the big screen is no small task and yet Pineiro Esoriaza not only achieves that feat but manages to create a sense of intimacy amongst the wildness of the world the characters find themselves

The screen brightens with awe-inspiring slow snapshots of New York City at night The neon clashing against the darkness of late night sky gives a visual strength to a heartfelt rap verse inviting the viewer into this thought provoking film.

Reality smacks you in the mouth as the key characters are introduced in a wave of short glimpses. The quick insights set the mood for the 2 hour intrusion into these youths lives

The point of this review is to entice you to watch the film which is making the rounds in the festival circuit now With that in mind, you won't be getting the entire plot here Instead, we'll take a brief look at the main characters and how they became part of this tapestry of a film dreams". She has all the tools to succeed but will she learn how to use them in time to graduate?

Next weaving their way through subway cars James and Austin, a set of brothers, played by Michael Kareem Dew and Gilbert Howard, left to the street depending on each other for survival. The actors do a phenomenal job of convincing the viewer that they are brothers who depend on each other to

We'll start with Addie played by Niquana Clark Addie plays a dual role as both a focal point and the navigator of the film's path, her voice is the guide through the treacherous look at the circumstances the foster youth in the film face She is a street smart under achiever, in the care of her unsympathetic aunt, with a cynical view on what life has to offer In her words she manages life in a city "full of subways and survive The struggle to eat, struggle to find a warm bed and reach out to a bad element to help get them through. Will James' hope and Austin's hunger to get money lead them off the streets to a good life or to a jail cell?

Another set of siblings composed of two sisters with polar opposite personalities Eva and Desi live with a father who wakes up to go to work and returns later only to rest for the next day of work They learn to take care of themselves Desi played by Ainsley Henry, who gives a brilliantly subtle performance, glides carelessly through life as Eva, a highly motivated student and unwilling caretaker who overcomes her surroundings on her way to a college acceptance Wonderfully played by Gabrielle Garcia, Eva's determination keeps the family together The demons of their father threaten to tear the family apart. How will they react to their time in care?

The film does a quality job of giving insight into the traumas that these foster youth have faced At no point is this more evident than the story line involving Megan a tortured soul with a lip ring Brilliantly portrayed by Claribelle Pagan, Megan is the epitome of the tragic foster youth Beaten and battered, abused and blamed she represents the hardest affected foster youth. She enters care amid allegations of abuse When she is separated from her sister, Kayla, portrayed effortlessly by Lee Jiminez, her rock, she is forced to face the world on her own. Is a residential treatment facility away from her sister the right place for such a fragile girl?

Before we meet the final players, attention needs to be given to the supporting cast. A mix of novice and veteran actors fill out this world created by those living it A few stand outs included those who played social workers and parents of foster youth Vincent Notice's depiction of a beaten down father who battles an addiction to drugs while trying to take care of two girls was especially poignant

The collective work of this ensemble cast leaves the viewer wondering if this was really most of the actors first time on camera There is a tone of wisdom, of subtlety which this cast possesses which usually takes actors years to accomplish The talent of the cast only serves to amplify the emotion and message that the viewer sees on screen.

Rounding out the cast of main players, a love struck boyfriend and girlfriend live estranged Maintaining a relation- ship can be difficult for any two people but when Marie, who lives life in a group home and her boyfriend Trey, who lives a normal life, it makes staying together nearly impossible Ebonee Simpson does an especially fine job of bringing the hang-ups that prevent many foster youth from having healthy relationships alive on screen

Watching DeShawn Brown bring Trey to life on screen, watching him make his character stay grounded while his girlfriend's myriad of emotions are hurled at him is a true lesson in patience

When you get to see this movie, when you get to see these scenes play out on film, when you get the chance to watch these young adult's lives bleed through the camera you may finally have an inkling, a glimpse, a sliver of understanding as to what life in care is all about And you may finally get the answer you've been looking for to the question of How do they make it? How do they survive? When you do get to see this film you will "Know How".