A Blooming Place for Kids' camp gives abused and neglected kids a safe place to share feelings.
By MEAGHAN FORBES
Published August 5, 2005
At camp this summer, a 9-year-old boy learns to walk away from a conflict.
Another child is able to release buried emotions.
For most kids, summer camp means independence and time away for fun and games.
But for the 23 boys and girls attending A Blooming Place for Kids' two-week camp, it means a time for discussion, healing and building a sense of community outside their everyday lives.
"This was a 30-year dream of mine," said Jan Horn, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization.
Horn, 55, started Blooming Place in Clearwater three years ago to help children ages 8 to 15 who have been abused or neglected. Her goal is to build esteem, confidence and camaraderie - all within two weeks.
"We try to build good character development through interactive sports, art and nature," Horn said. "(The kids) can really be model citizens even though they've grown up in adversity."
Horn says most of the children have been abused all of their lives, spending most of their time in and out of foster care. There's lots of anger, she said, and initially they think they're the only ones having to deal with their particular situation.
But that outlook changes by the end of the camp session.
"It was nice to know I wasn't alone and there were other people there going through what I was going through," said Katie Patterson, of her first camp experience with Blooming Place two years ago. Patterson, 17, is now a counselor-in-training. She and her two biological sisters were adopted by a family in Odessa last October, but they still come to camp to help others and sort out their own problems.
This year's camp was held from July 17-29 at Cedarkirk Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center, a 170-acre property off Thompson Road in Lithia.
Within the walls of dormitory-style housing, campers laugh, cry, sing and play together.
"The first week of camp is getting to know each other," Horn said. "By the second week, they're ready to open up."
This year was the second for seven of the 23 campers. Five are on their third visit.
"My campers can always return because issues are still there," Horn said.
With a ratio of five campers to one counselor, trust and confidentiality are easily built. It gives the children strength.
"I was really impressed with what some of the kids shared," said Mark Orendorf, a Cedarkirk program director who sat in on some of the open sessions.
"At first I thought, "What's two week's going to do?' But with the amount of growth I saw in those two weeks, I think it's something (the kids) really need," Orendorf said.
Campers also enjoyed the good old-fashioned fun that usually comes with sleepaway camp. Activities included canoeing, rock-climbing, fishing, water balloon tosses and sports.
"I had a fear of boats, but now I learned that I don't have to be afraid since I went canoeing," said one 8-year-old girl.
"We've had some major breakthroughs this year," said Horn, who will spend the rest of the year raising money for next year's camp. She said it costs more than $30,000.
The first event is a charity golf tournament at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in September. After that, Horn will raise money through smaller events and donations from sponsors.
"I'm very proud of this accomplishment," she said.
Donations can be made with a credit card by calling the office at 727 445-9482 or online at www.bloomingplaceforkids.org Sponsorships for next year's camp are also available.
