This summer, I had the incredible privilege of serving as a camp counselor for Camp Roots to Rise. As both a mental health provider and someone who deeply believes in the healing power of community, I can honestly say this has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my year.
On the last day of camp, I asked each camper one simple question:
“When you think of camp, what comes to mind?”
Their answers painted a beautiful picture.
“Friends.”
“Fun.”
“Excitement.”
“Making new friends.”
“Spending time with my friends.”
“The scavenger hunt.”
“The field trips.”
“The food!”
One camper’s favorite part was simply “the red swing and the blue swing.” Another smiled and added, “And now… waiting for Mom.” One child told me they had expected a gaming camp but ended up loving it anyway. Another quietly shared that when they think of camp, they think of “not being alone.”
As the conversations continued, another theme began to emerge.
Several children told me they were sad that camp was ending.
“I wish camp was two weeks instead of one.”
“I’m sad it’s over.”
Hearing those words touched my heart because I understood exactly how they felt.
Last year, I left camp with tears in my eyes. Saying goodbye felt incredibly difficult. This year, the sadness is still there because I’ll miss seeing these amazing kids every day. I’ll miss the laughter, the conversations, the adventures, and the little moments that made each day so meaningful.
But this year, I don’t see the last day as an ending.
I see it as a continuation.
The friendships continue.
The confidence continues.
The kindness continues.
The memories continue.
Everything these children have learned about themselves and one another continues long after the buses pull away.
Those simple answers may sound ordinary, but together they tell a much bigger story.
Camp Roots to Rise is about far more than activities.
It is about belonging.
It is a place where children feel seen, heard, included, and valued. A place where they are reminded that their voice matters and that they matter.
One of the things I admire most about Camp Roots to Rise is its commitment to making camp available to every child, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Thanks to generous donors, grants, and community support, children who might not otherwise have access to an experience like this are welcomed with open arms.
That philosophy speaks directly to my heart.
As a mental health provider, I believe that healing and opportunities should never depend solely on someone’s financial circumstances. Every child deserves to be cared for, supported, and given the opportunity to grow. Camp Roots to Rise embodies that belief.
Throughout the week, I watched children grow in ways that are difficult to measure but impossible to ignore.
I watched children who were unsure of one another become friends.
I watched children learn healthier ways to communicate during conflict and show genuine care for one another’s feelings.
I watched them encourage each other, celebrate one another’s successes, and discover confidence by trying new things.
I watched children experience cultures they may never have encountered before. They learned powwow dances, cooked alongside a talented chef, listened to the powerful rhythms of Kenyan drumming, and explored traditions and perspectives from different communities. Every experience invited curiosity, respect, and appreciation for the richness of our diverse world.
One of the most meaningful lessons woven throughout the week came from our Roots to Rise founder’s vision of living in harmony with Mother Earth. Children were encouraged to see themselves not as separate from nature, but as part of it. They learned that caring for the earth is also caring for one another and for the communities we share. They were invited to become stewards of the earth, showing respect for the land, appreciating its gifts, and recognizing that each of us has a responsibility to leave our world better than we found it. Those are lessons that extend far beyond one week of camp and will hopefully remain with them throughout their lives.
There is one more part of Camp Roots to Rise that deserves to be celebrated, and that is the incredible people who make it possible.
Throughout the week, I had the privilege of watching our mentors, counselors, staff, volunteers, and leadership pour their hearts into these children. Every interaction reflected patience, compassion, encouragement, and genuine care. The mentors were trusted role models, celebrating successes, helping children navigate challenges, and reminding them every day that they mattered.
From the founder and the leadership team to every mentor, counselor, volunteer, and staff member, each person plays an essential role in creating the culture that makes Camp Roots to Rise so special. It isn’t just one person or one program, it is a community of people united by a shared vision.
Behind the scenes, we meet regularly to celebrate what is working well, reflect on how we can continue to improve, and remain aligned with the vision for Camp Roots to Rise. There is a deep sense of unity, collaboration, and mutual support among the team, and I truly believe the children feel that. They aren’t just cared for by individuals, they are embraced by an entire community.
Camp Roots to Rise serves an important need in our community. It provides children with belonging, encouragement, positive role models, cultural experiences, opportunities for personal growth, and a safe place where they are reminded that they matter.
Our hope is that this is only the beginning.
We dream of expanding this program so that even more children and families can experience everything Camp Roots to Rise has to offer. We envision welcoming even more cultural educators, community partners, mentors, and supporters so that future generations continue to grow with compassion, curiosity, confidence, and a deep appreciation for one another and for the world around them.
To our community, I hope you know that your support of Camp Roots to Rise is about so much more than funding a summer camp.
It is an investment in children.
It is an investment in belonging.
It is an investment in cultural understanding.
It is an investment in compassion.
It is an investment in stewardship of our earth.
It is an investment in hope.
When we invest in our children, we are investing in the future of our communities, our relationships, and our world.
Camp Roots to Rise is planting seeds that will continue to grow for generations.
If you ask me what comes to mind when I think of Camp Roots to Rise, my answer is simple.
I think of hope.
I think of community.
I think of children discovering that they matter.
I think of mentors who lead with compassion.
I think of a team united by a shared vision.
I think of children learning to care for one another, their communities, and Mother Earth.
And I think Camp Roots to Rise is planting seeds that will grow into a kinder, healthier, and more connected future.
For that, I am deeply grateful to have been a small part of its story.