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Congratulations to Robert Corna, the director ofTiny Tears, on winning the Special Features Documentary Film award at the Philadelphia Film Festival on June 28!
Over thirteen years ago, a committee of concerned men and women came together to develop what is now known as Camp Dreamcatcher. The mission of Camp Dreamcatcher is:
Through the years Camp Dreamcatcher has also developed special programs that have become a vital part of its ongoing support of the children and their families. These programs include:
OUR NEW OFFICE ADDRESS IS: 617 WEST SOUTH ST. KENNETT SQUARE, PA 19348 We welcomed 160 campers, ages 5-17, to an action packed week of camp, which was held on the grounds of Camp Saginaw in southern Chester County. The campers enjoyed swimming, basketball, boating, miniature golfing, concerts (thank you John Flynn), an adventure challenge course, go-cart racing, arts/crafts, a hip-hop dance show, Native American storytelling, horseback riding (Thank you Dansko Shoes and volunteers), a camp wide carnival (Thank you Moon Bounce Adventures), cooking classes, visits from "therapeutic dogs" (Thank you Canine Partners for Life) and our annual talent show and dance. In addition, the kids and counselors participated in therapeutic groups including music therapy, movement therapy, guided imagery, yoga and massage. The teen program includes educational groups on addiction, HIV/AIDS, relationships,depression, HIV medication adherence, body image, abuse and family violence. The 11-13 year-old campers will attend a puberty education program which will include discussions on relationships, body changes, body image and peer pressure. We offered two programs for the 16 year-old campers: the Counselor in Training program and our new Leaders in Training program. Graduates of our Counselor in Training program joined us as Junior Counselors for the camp session. It has been a pleasure for us to watch the children grow up in the "Camp Dreamatcher" family and now move into leadership roles at camp and within their own communities.
A total of 260 counselors, medical staff, professionals and community members volunteered over 13,500 hours of service to make the week an unforgettable one for everyone involved. My deepest appreciation goes out to all of these wonderful folks!! If you would like to be part of this life changing experience, please click on forms and send your application in after January, 2009. Patty Hillkirk will be heading back to school once again this coming Spring! We are excited to report that Camp Dreamcatcher will once again partner with the Social Entrepreneurship and Community Leadership students at Penn State Great Valley. The Camp Dreamcatcher team will conduct a feasibility study to explore the need for building a "community camp", which will be winterized and handicapped accessible. The site will be used by Camp Dreamcatcher and will also be offered to non-profit organizations serving children with special needs. This past Spring, the PSU Great Valley students developed a business plan for us and the feasibility study will identify the community support for this project. Thank you Dr. Barrie Litzky, Cyndy Walton and the PSU Great Valley students for giving us this wonderful opportunity. For upcoming events and other ways you can support Camp Dreamcatcher, please check out the latest in our News section. Click Here to download the Camp Dreamcatcher brochure (.pdf format)
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Camp Dreamcatcher offers the children a safe, supportive and nurturing place to express their feelings of fear, sadness and anger, with adults who understand, and with children who may share their burdens. The largest program offered by Camp Dreamcatcher is a one-week therapeutic and educational camp held on the grounds of a camp in southern Chester County.
We also welcomed one child and one caregiver from Thailand, Uganda and Brazil to camp. The children are featured, along with Camp Dreamcatcher, in the documentary film, "Tiny Tears". Having the children at camp was a dream come true for Patty Hillkirk and Robert Corna, the director. Robert joined us once again for the camp session - to film the sequel to the first film. We want to thank Robert Corna and his crew for once again entering this process with respect and compassion for the campers. The experience has been full of empowering, fun and emotional moments for the campers and volunteers. Thank you Robert from the bottom of our hearts.
