What it is:
At REACH Ministries, it is our priority to provide a space for families and single adults, all of whom are affected in some way by HIV, to come together as a community and support one another. We desire to provide a place that is judgment free, where REACH community members can trust one another in a relaxed and fun setting, while sharing their experiences and stories. REACH Camp offers that safe haven, a place to develop community with people in similar situations.
Camp is where trust is built. It is an escape into a carefree world that those affected by HIV don’t experience for most of their daily lives. Attending camp has a major impact on the lives of the kids, their families, and adult Campers, which is why many have never left in the past twenty-six years. This continuity has given REACH a unique opportunity to develop close relationships between families, staff, and volunteers. Through the early years, as our kids lost parents to complications of HIV/AIDS, they were raised by relatives and in some cases shuffled from one home to another. Some were placed in foster care and these foster homes became part of the REACH family and have never left. It’s a beautiful example of God’s love, as our families grow and expand, that camp continues to be a safe community that no one leaves.
What to Expect:
REACH partners with medical professionals from Children’s Hospital of Seattle, Madigan Army Medical Center, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Community Health Care in Tacoma, and various other health organizations, as well as churches and individuals to bring campers to Camp and provide a stigma-free, fun, and safe place.
Camp is four days of programs and activities that promote creativity, community building, story-telling, reflection, retreat, fun, freedom of expression, and risk-taking. Important life lessons are taught through experiences on the zip line, climbing wall, team-work, nature walks, and creative expressions (art, music, photography, dance, and improvisation).
While kids and teens spend time with their counselors, parents and adults are provided with discussion groups to dialogue with one another, as well as free time to relax and rejuvenate. They continue to tell staff this is an integral and special part of the REACH community, as they spend time with each other, meet new families, and interact with REACH staff and medical professionals to discuss topics specific to HIV/AIDS, adoption (if applicable), and general family life issues.
