Heritage camps are not like “tennis camp,” or “chess camp,” or even just “sleep away camp,” which are about children’s hobbies and interests. Heritage camps are about your child’s very being – celebrating who they are and where they came from. When you send your child to tennis camp or sleep away camp, they may come home playing better tennis or having learned some fun new songs. When they go to heritage camp, they should come home knowing more about their inner most person, feeling like a little of that hole in their lives is filled, something we as parents simply can’t do as well as the cultural role models our children meet at camp.

Why would you want to miss that?

Those words were written by Pam Sweetser, executive director of Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, formerly known as Colorado Heritage Camps.

For thousands of adoptees and their families over the past two decades, Colorado Heritage Camps has become part of the tapestry of their lives. An annual pilgrimage to restore the soul, build friendships and nurture the family.

Throughout the summer, families gather at one of eleven (yes 11) camps that focus on various world cultures. Most camps run Thursday to Sunday. Camps generally begin with Friday morning opening ceremonies, a colorful mix of cultural entertainment, introductions of guest speakers, community volunteers, and the amazing camp counselors who serve as excellent role models.

Then the kids, from preschool to high school, all with colorful camp T-shirts, divide into their groups, and parents head off to learn about their roles at camp. Every parent has a role at camp— setting up a lunch, working at the camp market, introducing speakers at parent workshops, assisting with one of the fabulous camp parties—these are just some of the critical “jobs” parents take on to make camp a success, and to become connected themselves.

In the days ahead, the kids are involved in a huge variety of age appropriate activities– everything from cultural dance and music to arts and crafts to customs and language to games and sports to folktales and cooking, and more. For middle school and high school kids, there are also outdoor activities like zip lines, ropes courses, climbing walls, and rafting.

Children of all ages have the opportunity in one specially designed, age-appropriate workshop to express thoughts and feelings about being adopted or being a minority in a safe, open environment. All of the workshops are designed to foster a sense of cultural pride in the kids, to boost their self-esteem and to give them the chance to be with kids who are like them in so many fundamental ways.

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families has two other unique and wonderful programs. “More Than Me” gives the middle school campers an opportunity to focus and act upon the needs of others. And “This is Me” is a unique set of activities developed for high schoolers that seek to assist them in the development of a positive bicultural identity.

The setting varies—some of the camps are held in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, others in the city of Denver. Lunches are frequently authentic (and delicious) cuisine from the country or part of the world being celebrated (and hot dogs are typically available for those who prefer them!) Evenings bring nights of fun cultural and family events, dances, skating parties, auctions and camp fires. S’mores….yum! Usually, there are family events as well as middle school events and high school events, giving kids that all important “hang out time.”

Some camps have family field day activities on the last morning of camp, then a festive Closing Ceremony complete with slide show of the camp, which is so memorable! Other camps simply have Closing Ceremony and goodbyes. No, not goodbye, more like “See you next year” and in the meantime, we’ll stay in touch. We’ll celebrate each other’s joys, and mourn each other’s losses because we’ve become family. That’s what Colorado Heritage Camp is about.

Again, why would you want to miss that?

Colorado Heritage Camps—Register and be part of the experience!

THE CAMPS:

African Caribbean Camp

Cambodian Camp

China Camp

Domestic Adoption Camp

Ethiopian Heritage Day (part of African Caribbean Camp)

Filipino Camp

Indian Nepalese Camp

Korean Camp

Latin American

REECA (Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian) Camp

Vietnam Camp

by guest author Michaelyn Sloan

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly. You leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you.”― Anthony Bourdain

Photo by Boyer Family

Shortly after returning from Vietnam Ties, this quote caught my eye. I silently nodded, and reflected back on the two amazing weeks in Vietnam, and the “marks” that had been indelibly etched into each of our souls during our Ties trip.

Our group of adoptive families traveled from all across the United States. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City several days before New Year’s. The city was alight with brilliant Christmas decorations (the likes of which we had never seen before) and directly outside our hotel stood an amazing stage with a laser light and sound show.

The main boulevard had been closed off for pedestrians—a delightful break in the city with a million (or more) motorbikes. Mingling with hundreds of Vietnamese families who came to enjoy the festivities, we sampled foods from street vendors, moved to the music and watched the various acts on stage. The consensus of our group was no other New Year celebration in any of our lifetimes would come even close to this experience! Mark. (Life, and travel surely leave a MARK!)

Moving south to the Mekong Delta, we boarded sampans taking us up the river to a Vietnamese village. We learned about making rice paper, rice cakes, popcorn (Vietnamese style) and coconut candies, and yes, did a little sampling too. While some of us drank tea flavored with the local honey, some of our more adventurous participants allowed themselves to become entangled by a large boa constrictor one of the local boys had as a pet. Lunch was a feast with “elephant fish” as the main course. Mark. Mark. Mark.

Each year World Ties, a sister organization to The Ties Program, gifts a Vietnamese family with a sampan as part of a humanitarian aid project. In 2012, the recipient family was a widow and her two daughters. We left knowing they would now be able to earn a living through the sale of fruits and vegetables to other nearby villages, ending a life of destitution—the result of having no male figure in the home. Huge Mark.

On our last morning in the Mekong Delta, we once again boarded a sampan and visited the colorful floating market of Cai Rang and “shopped” on the boat ride back to our hotel as the captain’s sister modeled and displayed a variety of traditional clothing, crafts and arts. Mark, Mark.

Interspersed through our days, the kids had “Connect & Chat” times that took place during manicures in the market, and over milk shakes and pastries in Vietnam’s great French shops. The parents had their own “Talk Times” which provided needed processing time.

Individual families made adoption connection visits with orphanages, hospitals and adoption facilitators. Some met birth family. All had unique, life changing experiences. BIGGEST MARK.

Midway through our travels we said good-bye to families who were traveling on Vietnam Ties—South, and the remainder of us flew north to Hanoi.

Changing our flip flops and shorts for heavy scarves, gloves and rain apparel, we delighted in finding our way through the winding cobblestoned streets of this beautiful city. Hanoi is filled with endless markets, and centers around a beautiful lake where local people perform morning exercise or walk in the morning mist.

In Hanoi, we visited an SOS Children’s Village where children are cared for in homes by a mother who commits herself to raising six to eight children. We also visited Bo De Pagoda, an orphanage for more than 160 children, where we played with babies, bounced balls with toddlers and braided the hair of teenage girls. And, we “taught” English (“My name is— and “What is your name —-?) at a school, to 1st and 2nd graders, ending with “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Hokey Pokey” – much to their amusement and that of their teachers. Marks exchanged everywhere.

Next, we traveled to what has been described as one of the world’s most beautiful places, Halong Bay, overnighting on a magnificent junk which made its way through a water landscape of more than 3000 islands. We kayaked, fished and did Tai Chi on the lower deck with one of the boat’s masters and watched some of our fellow, Danish travelers dive into the icy cold waters of the bay. On our last morning we boarded rowboats that took us to a floating village of over 1,000 people. Multiple marks.

One of the most significant “marks” involved a North Vietnamese rice farmer and his family. One of the adoptees traveling with us wanted to experience what her life might had been like had she been raised in a local village, so we arranged a visit to a local rice farmer and his family. Greeted at the edge of the village, we walked through a village of stone homes surrounded by gardens with lattice work arches finally arriving at a gate that led to the inner garden and home of our host. Sitting on the floor, we dined on dishes of rice cakes, meats, vegetables, and soup. We raised our tea cups as they toasted us in Vietnamese and we toasted back “Good luck….good health……good life!”

Photographs in the home indicated that our host had been in the military and as we prepared to leave our Vietnamese guide, Chi, pointed out that he had been in the North Vietnamese army. Curiosity got the best of me and I asked his age. The translation gave me the answer – he and I were the exact same age! As a college student during the Vietnam War (referred to as the American War by the Vietnamese people) my host had been “the enemy.” Memories of protests, and marches during the 70s flooded me as we looked at each other and then slowly he stepped forward and we embraced each other. A wow mark at many levels.

Ties has a saying that reads “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on another part of the world.” These breathtaking moments, where we somehow feel “marked” by the experience, are truly the reason why.

Learn more about Vietnam Ties.        Read what other families have to say.     Watch Vietnam Ties Video.

Last Saturday, while facilitating workshops at NW-IChild’s Heritage weekend, I shared how much I’ve learned about adoptive parenting from listening to parents and kids.  The lived experience of people touched by adoption provides a rich knowledge base.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a leader in adoption related research.  Researchers there are conducting a survey regarding the needs of adoptive, foster, and kinship care families. The goal is to learn what contributes to positive outcomes for children, youth, and families.   If you are an adoptive parent, here is an opportunity for you share your experiences as our understanding of how to impact kids positively continues to grow.

Individuals who are adoptive, foster or kinship care parents are eligible to participate. It is important to hear from as many families as possible, both those who are experiencing challenges as well as those who are not. The information you provide can help direct advocacy efforts.

The completion of the survey takes about 15-20 minutes, on average. Participation is completely voluntary, and the information you provide is strictly confidential and anonymous. The study has been approved by the UMass Amherst Institutional Review Board (#2011-1185).

If you are interested in taking the survey you can connect to it through this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FBHCRQX

Please feel free to share this information with any individuals you know who may be interested in this survey.  Thank you!

Rachel Farr
rfarr@psych.umass.edu

Jen McDermott
mcdermott@psych.umass.edu

• Vietnam gatherings & events
• Vietnam adoption support groups
• Dating
• Vietnam films
• Identity
• Vietnam books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Vietnamese language
• Vietnam blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Vietnam
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Vietnamese adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) VIETNAM TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Vietnam. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Ukraine gatherings & events
• Ukraine adoption support groups
• Dating
• Ukraine films
• Identity
• Ukraine books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Ukrainian language
• Ukraine blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Ukraine
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Ukrainian adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) UKRAINIAN TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Ukraine. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Russia gatherings & events
• Russia adoption support groups
• Dating
• Russia films
• Identity
• Russia books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Russian language
• Russia blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Russia
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Russian adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) RUSSIAN TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Russia. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Romania gatherings & events
• Romania adoption support groups
• Dating
• Romania films
• Identity
• Romania books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Romania language
• Romania blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Romania
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Romania adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) ROMANIAN TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Romania. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Peru gatherings & events
• Peru adoption support groups
• Dating
• Peru films
• Identity
• Peru books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Peruvian/Spanish language
• Peru blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Peru
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Peruvian adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) PERU TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Peru. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Paraguay gatherings & events
• Paraguay adoption support groups
• Dating
• Paraguay films
• Identity
• Paraguay books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Paraguayan/Guarani/Spanish language
• Paraguay blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Paraguay
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Paraguayan adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) PARAGUAYAN TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Paraguay. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.

• Korea gatherings & events
• Korea adoption support groups
• Dating
• Korea films
• Identity
• Korea books
• Adoptee loyalty
• Fitting in & standing out
• Korean language
• Korea blogs
• Birth parent search and reunion in Korea
• International adoption resources
• Race
• Reflections from Korean adoptees

RETURN TO (OR VISIT) KOREAN TIES ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMELAND JOURNEYS PAGE 

We are open and available for covering topics you’d like to hear about as they relate to being adopted from Korea. Drop us a line below about something we’re talking about, or something you would like us to talk about. We look forward to hearing from you.

ADOPTEE LOYALTY

Adoptee loyalty tends to play a strong role in an adoptive family, and can strongly influence an adopted person’s response to birth country travel. Yet, quite often at workshops, when we ask for a show of hands as to who understands the concept, only a few hands go up.

Many adoptees feel a loyalty to their adoptive families that effects what they are comfortable sharing. They may feel uneasy acknowledging their true interests about visiting their birth country (or perhaps the interest is not there yet, or maybe it never will be).

For kids who have an interest in their birth country but are conflicted by adoptee loyalty, their inner thoughts may sound like this: “I was always afraid to mention my interest in my birth culture or birth family. If it hurt my Mom and Dad’s feelings, and they didn’t love me anymore, who would love me?” Don’t be fooled—even kids who are “pushing your buttons” frequently acknowledge this inner conflict.