THE TIES SHOPPE!
Gifts from The Ties Shoppe....
- Celebrate world cultures!
- Are unique, lovely, interesting!
- Benefit orphanages and maternity homes internationally!
As Ties families travel, we come across so very many places in need of help to buy food, medicines, cooking and heating fuel, education and all the many, many things we take for granted. The sale of items at The Ties Shoppe gives us an ongoing source of funds to help with those much needed expenses of caring for children around the world.
So, as you shop, please know that a child somewhere in the world will receive a more nutritious meal, is getting better health care or is sleeping in a warmer bed because you too see the beauty of shopping with a purpose!
Visit our Shoppe! HERITAGE JOURNEY WORKSHOPS Are you hosting a culture camp, conference or event? Looking for a GREAT speaker, with a MEANINGFUL topic? The Ties Program proudly offers the following topics. If you are interested in a speaker for your event, please contact The Ties Program.
Here are a few of the topics we present:
___ IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY: How to Create a WOW! Journey. Most families finish a homeland journey saying, "Wow! We knew this was going to be big for our family. We just didn't know HOW BIG!" What makes the journey so amazing and life changing? What experiences in-country lead to that sense of "Wow!" and what messages do the "Wow!" experiences provide to kids?
____ THE BIG PICTURE ON HOMELAND TRAVEL More and more, parents are realizing that a heritage journey is one of the most significant factors in the identity building process of internationally adoptive children. So, what's the journey all about? How does individual travel compare to group travel? What should you look for in a program? What age is the best age? How can families prepare? What adoption exploration is possible in country? How do the kids react before, during and after the trip?
_____THE INTERSECTION OF WHO AND WHERE: A Birth Country Visit This is a guided and narrated Powerpoint presentation addressing these important questions: What is a heritage journey and what is the purpose? What age is the right age? What types of individual arrangements are possible? How can families prepare for the journey? How do the kids feel about traveling and how does the journey continue?
____ HERITAGE TRAVEL: What Age is the Best Age? With increasingly more preparation being done by adoption professionals about the importance of heritage travel, families are realizing that in time, their children will benefit from embracing their birth culture first hand. In putting together the pieces of their identity, it is important for kids to make a connection with their place of birth or founding, the orphanages where they lived, their caretakers and perhaps birth family. But in how much time? What age is the "best" age for a homeland journey? (Note: this is the number one question families tend to have. Therefore, this workshop can be added in an abbreviated version to any other workshop.)
____ Homeland travel: Reactions of the Kids More and more, families are embarking on heritage journeys to their children's countries of birth. This workshop explores how children react prior to the trip, en route and afterward. What are common pre-trip emotions? What are the issues that arise during the trip? How do the kids process the experiences they have had afterward? And, as parents, what can you do to be supportive of all those reactions? How can you help your child on this most amazing journey of identity? CAMBODIA TIES The Ties Program is expanding to Cambodia! Click here for more information. PLACES WE'LL BE--MEET OUR STAFF The Ties Program staff & Speakers Bureau speaks often at culture camps, adoption conferences and events. We look forward to meeting you at one of these many venues:
China Culture Camp at Wide Horizons for Children
Saturday, March 8, 2008 (Becca Piper, Founder/Director)
For families with children in Kindergarten and up. Sponsored by Wide Horizons for Children and FCC-NE. www.whfc.org
FRUA WI Culture Weekend
Saturday, March 8, 2008 (Bea Evans, director and Laurie Glass, Ties Program Speakers Bureau)
American Club
Kohler, WI
www.orgsites.com/wi/frua/
Latin America Adoptive Families of Wisconsin Fiesta (LAAF)
Saturday, March 15, 2008 (2 p.m.-7 p.m.) (Bea Evans, director)
Cardinal Stritch University Conference Center
Milwaukee, WI
www.laafwi.org
Families for International Children (FFIC-Grand Rapids)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 7 p.m.
Becca Piper (founder/Director) accompanied by Jaclyn Skalnik, MSW and Beth Evans
David D. Hunting YMCA on Lake Michigan Drive, Downtown Grand Rapids. Parking is in the DASH lots on either side of the Y.
RSVP to The Ties Program
FRUA's 2008 Conference
March 28th - 29th, 2008 (Bea Evans, Director)
Busch Student Center, St. Louis University
St. Louis, MO
For conference information: http://www.frua.org/conference/2008/2008.shtml
The 35th Annual New England Adoption Conference
Adoption Community of New England, Inc. (ACONE)
Saturday, April 5, 2008 (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) (Bea Evans and Deb Shrier, MSW, Ties Program Speakers Bureau)
Mill Pond School
Westborough, MA
For online registration: http://adoptioncommunityofne.org/pages/annual-ne-adoption-conference/35th-conference-brochure.php
Korean Culture Camp at Wide Horizons for Children
Saturday, April 12, 2008 (Michaelyn Sloan, Ties Program Speakers Bureau)
Marlborough, MA
Korean Culture Camp is a fun-filled day for multicultural families to learn about Korean culture and make friends. Children will participate in age-appropriate cultural workshops, while teens take part in a program designed especially for their age-group. www.whfc.org
Wide Horizons for Children Homeland Journeys Info Meeting
Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Michaelyn Sloan, Ties Program Speakers' Bureau)
Waltham, MA
RSVP to The Ties Program
Celebrate Romania Culture Camp
June 14, 2008 in Minnesota
www.CelebrateRomania.com
Korean Heritage Camp -Colorado Heritage Camps
June 19th-22nd, 2008 (Tara VanderWoude,Ties Program Speakers' Bureau)
Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser CO
http://www.heritagecamps.org/korean.html
Bethany's Multicultural Festival
June 21, 2008, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Grand Rapids Campus
Bethany Christian Services
Indian/Nepalese--Colorado Heritage Camps
July 10th-July 13th, 2008 (Sandy Maher, Ties Program Speakers' Bureau)
Snow Mountain Ranch Fraser, CO
www.heritagecamps.org/eastind.html
Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Camp
July 11, 2008
St. Olaf College, MN
http://www.catalystfoundation.org/?module=static&idcat=3
Cambodian Heritage Camp--Colorado Heritage Camps
July 17-20, 2008 at Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser, CO (Becca Piper, Founder/Director)
http://www.heritagecamps.org/cambodia.html
KAAN 2008 Conference
Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network
Wyndham O’Hare, Chicago, Illinois
July 18 through 20, 2008 (Jaclyn Skalnik, MSW)
http://www.kaanet.com/2008_conference/
Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian (REECA) Colorado Heritage Camps
July 24th - July 27th, 2008 at Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser, CO
http://www.heritagecamps.org/russian.html
La Semana Culture Camp
July 28-August 1, 2008
Lakeville, MN
http://www.lasemana.org/
Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Camp
August 2, 2008 (Becca Piper, Founder/Director)
New Jersey
http://www.catalystfoundation.org/?module=static&idcat=3
Chinese Heritage Camp --Colorado Heritage Camps
August 29th - September 1st, 2008 (Jaclyn Skalnik, MSW)
Snow Mountain Ranch Fraser, CO
IN THE NEWS AND IN THE KNOW ARTICLES
Note: Some of the material here will be country specific in terms of their "headings." However, the experiences, emotions and reactions of a Ties Program are universal. We enourage you to read liberally to understand the broadest scope of the journey ahead.
- Leceta Chisholm Guibault writes on Why Open International Adoption in Adoption Today Magazine. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/louis/adoptiontoday0407/ . The article begins on page 40 (at the top of the page that opens you can type in 40, then click on the arrow).
- Bill Phillips writes about his family's experiences traveling with Chilean Ties 2005 in an article published in the December/January 2007 issue of Adoption Today. We invite you to read his article at http://www.adoptinfo.net/atfeature.html.
- Craig Porter recounts his family's experience with India Ties in this very colorful article from the Detroit Free Press which was syndicated in other newspapers around the country.
- Here's what Adopt Vietnam had to say about Becca Piper's culture camp presentation.
- Heather Ames, immediate past Director of Post Adoption Services for Wide Horizons for Children addresses these questions:
Do younger children benefit from a homeland tour? Can they tolerate two weeks of travel? How will they feel about visiting their orphanages? See http://www.whfc.org/resources/articles/ChinaTies.htm
- The Ties Program was recently highlighted in Today's Wisconsin Woman
CULTURE CAMPS CULTURE CAMP: THE FOUNDATION
FOR A GREAT IN-COUNTRY EXPEREINCE
The Ties Program is pleased to be able to post information about various culture camps. We think that you’ll find participation at camp is a great way to prepare for the time when your family travels with The Ties Program. Culture camp and similar programs provide a big piece of the foundation kids need to have successful in-country experiences. A few years ago when talking with Pam Sweester of Colorado Heritage Camps she remarked, "The way I see it, culture camp brings the country to the families and The Ties Program brings the family to the country!" That pretty much sums it up!
Celebrate Romania
June 13-15, 2008
Minnesota
Celebrate Romania fosters positive relationships between children and adults while building positive feelings about each family's international heritage. During the course of the weekend, Romanian culture is celebrated and opportunities to discuss adoption are provided. The theme of this year's event is The Ties That Bind.
camp website: www.celebrateromania.com
Mis Amigos 2008
July 27-Aug 1
Silver Spring, MD
Mis Amigos Culture Day Camp is for adopted children of Latino heritage and their siblings. This annual summer camp is a celebration of their birth cultures and of the adoptive families to which they belong. Children who have attended Mis Amigos in past years say that the camaraderie with other adopted Latino kids and the great classes make this one of their best camp experiences of the summer. http://www.lapa-ncr.org/mis_amigos/index.shtml
7th Annual Midwest Ichild Heritage Camp (MWIHC)
July 10-13, 2008
Green Lake Conference Center, Green Lake, WI MWIHC is a camp for families who have adopted or are in the process of adopting children from India. We offer a casual camp setting where families can be around other families like themselves, while building a healthy appreciation for the Indian culture through education, crafts, games, speakers, and fellowship together. We are in our 7th year of camp and generally have 20-35 families attend.
Camp Mabuhay
July 25-27, 2008
Columbia, MD
Celebrating Filipino culture for the entire family in Columbia, MD in our 13th year. The Filipino community has generously donated time, energy and resources along with our adoptive families to make our camp a success. Reservations can be made at campmabuhay@yahoo.com on a first come first served basis; space is limited.
http://www.filipino-adoptees-network.org/campmabuhay
Colorado Heritage Camps
Weekends through the summer
Various Colorado Locations Pam Sweester – contact person
hcamps@juno.com
www.heritagecamps.org
Colorado Heritage Camps annually sponsors the following heritage camps: African/Caribbean, Indian/Nepalese, Korean, Russian/Central Asian/Eastern European (REECA) Chinese, Cambodian, Filipino, Latin American, and Vietnamese. Each Heritage Camp encourages the entire family to discover the rich and distinct heritage of their adopted child by providing activities and workshops centered around that particular culture. Music, dance, arts and crafts, cooking, costumes, customs, rituals, games and more, make camp a hands-on cultural experience! It is the perfect opportunity for adopted children to develop a sense of pride in where they came from, and to share it with families.
African/Caribbean Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) July 17th - 20th
Cambodian Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) July 17th - 20th
Chinese Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) August 29th - September 1st
Chinese Heritage Camp Too (Denver,CO) August 1st - 3rd
Indian/Nepalese Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) July 10th - 13th
Filipino Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) August 7th - August 10th
Korean Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) June 19th - 22nd
Latin American Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) June 26th - 29th
Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO)
July 24th - 27th
Vietnamese Heritage Camp (Fraser, CO) August 7th - August 10th
Families for International Children (FFIC)
Heritage Camp
June
Grand Rapids, MI
www.fficgr.org
Day camp for children from preschool age to teens. Sessions include the language, arts, customs, clothing, games, and foods of campers’ birth countries. This year, classes available for Eastern European, Chinese, Latin American and Korean children. Nearly 150 volunteers make this camp possible for 300 children each year.
La Semana
www.lasemana.org
La Semana is a week long culture day camp for children in grades K-7 plus high school 'ayudantes’. La Semana means 'the week' in Spanish and we make it an extraordinary one for hundreds of children adopted from Latin American countries. La Semana is held annually in July/August in Minnesota and attracts adopted children from across the U.S. and even internationally. We have adopted Latino children and teens from several countries. We finish La Semana with a big Fiesta on Friday night.
Korean Culture Camp
July
Avon, Ohio
Paul Hartman.- contact person
Email Paul
Korean Culture Camp is an annual event for children adopted from Korea who are between the ages of 7 and 17. Its purpose is to develop a positive self-image among Korean-American children. Through participation in games, crafts and music, and exposure to the foods, language and history of Korea, campers will develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage. Culture Camp also has plenty of regular camp activities, such as swimming, hiking, sports and a Saturday night campfire. The staff of adult Korean – American counselors oversee the program, which for many Korean adoptees is a unique opportunity to learn from adult role models and to form friendships with other kids who look like them and are adopted.
Camp Friendship Korea (New Jersey)
A Korean Cultural Camp
July 21-25, 2008
www.campfriendshipnj.com
Camp Friendship was founded in 1985 by the parents of Korean adopted children in order to provide a cultural experience for their children. They believed that such an experience would enhance their children's self-esteem while building a sense of national pride in their heritage and it's traditions.
Camp Friendship China (New Jersey)
A Chinese Cultural Camp
July 14-18, 2008
New this year is Camp Friendship China! A Chinese Cultural camp for Chinese adoptees and their siblings entering kindergarten to the eighth grade in September.
Mi Pueblo
June 16-20, 2008
Cleveland, Ohio
Bill Gruber – contact person
GRUBERWL@aol.com
www.CONCERNFORCHILDREN.org
Mi Pueblo is in its 16th year as an annual, one-week, Latin American Culture Camp for children adopted in Latin America and their siblings, sponsored by Concern for Children Inc., a nonprofit adoption support group. The camp is a day camp for children entering kindegarten thru 9th grade, and includes a day care for young children, and teens and young adult volunteers.
Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Culture Camp--TWO LOCATIONS!
Northfield, Minnesota - July 10-13, 2008 at St. Olaf College (www.stolaf.edu)
(located just 45 minutes south of Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Glassboro, New Jersey - August 1-3, 2008 at Rowan Universisty (www.rowan.edu) (located just 30 minutes from Philadelphia)
Catalyst Foundation is a non-profit, non-political organization working to improve the lives of orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children in Vietnam through educational scholarship and humanitarian relief efforts. We currently have projects serving 200 children and 100 families in the southern provinces of Vietnam in Dong Thap, Kien Giang and Ho Chi Minh. We also work to build cultural awareness and enrich the lives of children adopted from Vietnam through the Vietnam Culture Camp. caroline@catalystfoundation.org
www.catalystfoundation.org
Camp Moo Gung Hwa
Raleigh, NC
July 16-19, 2008
campmgh@yahoo.com
www.campmoogunghwa.org
Camp Moo Gung Hwa is a day camp designed to enhance adopted Korean-American children's knowledge of Korean culture and to promote their self-esteem. Classes and activities, taught by members of the Korean community and adult adoptees include history, language, literature, dance, Tae Kwon Do, music, cooking and arts and crafts. Introducing the children to their native culture helps them build a sense of identify and encourages healthy self-esteem. The camp began with luncheons in 1994 and progressed to a 3-day camp (known as Camp Hodori) in 1995. In 1996, the camp incorporated and changed its name to Camp Moo Gung Hwa. Moo Gung Hwa is the Korean national flower, whose nearest American equivalent is the Rose of Sharon. The camp has been held every year from 1997-present.
Camp Masala
Indian Culture Camp
June 13-15, 2008
www.campmasala.org
info@campmasala.org
Masala Indian Culture Camp is a weekend camp for children of Indian heritage and their families. Our purpose at Camp Masala is to enhance the self-esteem of your child and to establish an appreciation for and knowledge of Indian heritage and culture in a fun environment. It is a fun weekend for the whole family! A previous parent said it best: “I can honestly see and feel how important this event is to my daughter - she comes home from it pumped up a good ten notches or so about being from INDIA! YAY! I treasure the opportunity to mingle with families that look just like us. I am grateful to all of you for the sense of connection you provide to my daughter.” Camp Masala is held at the University of St Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. We look forward to meeting your family this summer!
2008 Theme: “Explore Northeast India: This year at Camp Masala we will take a virtual tour of the Northeast States of India - West Bengal, Sikkim and the 'Seven Sisters' - Arunchael Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.”
Camp Chingu
Pittsford, New York
www.campchingu.org/
Camp Chin-gu made the difficult decision this year (2007) to close camp. For 20 years is has been Korean cultural camp dedicated to helping children adopted from Korea and their siblings explore their Korean heritage. They are looking for help to re-energize so will leave their site name up until they have explored that idea. Best of luck Camp Chingu and thanks for all your years serving families.
Reunion for Children Adopted from Birobidzhan Region of Russia
Maryland
Reunion of the Birobidzhan Region of Russia and we are expecting about 30 families from across the United States! For more information, contact Teresa Saathoff ptdgarden@aol.com.
Sae Jong Camp, Michigan
Sae Jong Camp is a summer camp for children of Korean heritage (adopted, 2nd, 3rd generation, etc.) held in August at Camp Westminster on beautiful Higgins Lake in central Michigan. At Sae Jong Camp, our campers explore their Korean-American identities, learn about their Korean heritage, and make friendships to last a lifetime.
Webpage: www.saejongcamp.com
Email: info@saejongcamp.com
Phone: 248-705-9804 (Please leave a message.) LINKS WE LIKE If you have a link you'd like to have added, please email us!
GREAT SITES TO KNOW ABOUT
CAMBODIA
FAMCAM.....Families with Cambodian Children
FamCam is a parent support group for families who have adopted or are considering adopting children from Cambodia. FamCam's purpose is to provide education, support, networking and celebration of Cambodian culture throughout the year. www.famcam.org
CHINA
FCC...Families With Children from China
http://www.fwcc.org/
FCC is a nondenominational organization of families who have adopted children from China. The purpose of FCC is provide a network of support for families who've adopted in China and to provide information to prospective parents. The purpose of this site is to consolidate the information that has been put together by the families of FCC, in order to make it easier for future parents to consider adopting from China. We also try to provide pointers to other adoption and China related resources available on the Web.
INDIA
IChild
http://www.ichild.org/
ICHILD was founded in 1995, and is an internet-based, world-wide support group and source of information & resources for those interested in adoption from India & the Subcontinent.
KOREA
KAAN....Korean American Adoptive Family Network
http://www.kaanet.com/adoption/
Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network. Adoptees, Adoptive Parents and Korean Americans are involved in this organization, making it a most inclusive organization. KAAN is a network which links individuals and organizations across the United States and Canada.
PARAGUAY
Paraugayan Adoption Resources
http://www.pyadopt.org/
Evolving from an email group formed in early 1996, PYadopt.org enjoys being the information source for families adopting from or interested in Paraguay. As we reach out to one another for ideas, support and direction, we think of those still struggling to create their family
VIETNAM
Adopt Vietnam
www.adoptvietnam.org
Hundreds of articles on Vietnam adoption, travel, culture, and parenting. Information support site for FCV and APV.
Chao Ban Newsletter
http://www.chaobannewsletter.com
Popular print newsletter for Vietnam adoption with articles and news on Vietnam, Vietnamese culture, post adoption parenting, children's activities and more.
Families with Children from Vietnam
www.fcvn.org
National support organization for families who have adopted or are adopting from Vietnam. Local groups, national directory, photo gallery, resources, adoption stories, and more.
MULTI CULTURAL
FFIC
Families for International Children, Michigan
http://www.fficgr.org
A support group for and by families who have adopted internationally. Also see culture camp info!
LAPA
Latin American Parents Assc. – NY
http://www.lapa.com/
Latin America Parents Association (LAPA) is a not-for-profit organization registered in the State of New York. LAPA is not an adoption agency. It is an all-volunteer organization of families who have adopted or who are in the process of adopting children from Latin America. Our mission is to provide accurate and timely information as well as support before, during, and after the adoption process.
Comeunity
www.comeunity.com
One of the largest and oldest adoption sites, with several hundred articles on adoption, special needs, adoption mailing lists, book reviews, adoptive parenting, adoption resources, and more.
OTHER
Children's Disabilities Information
www.childrensdisabilities.info
Support for parents of children with special needs or disabilities, special focus on adoption.
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