Less Than 90 Days To Go!

I am so excited I can't stand it.  Camp is coming, camp is coming!  And it's less than 90 days away.  Yipppeeeeeeee!  Alley, Coco and I are hip deep in preparing for this unique learning adventure program and Alley and I will be traveling to Denver in mid-February to the American Camp Association National Conference to get even more inspired (if that's even possible).  Sailing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, arts & crafts, environmental appreciation and cultural exploration make up some of the exciting CampCaribe curriculum.  Self-esteem workshops around the campfire, local school visits, volleyball, ethnic dance and a lot of giggling will round it all out.  I am so excited for our first group of girls and what they'll learn.  There is nothing better than empowering a child and trying to create balance where there is none.  Every child should be given the gift of a tropical sunset.  I can't wait.

With commitment, dedication & love,

Tracey, Camp Director

CampCaribe

Adventurer Back Packs

One of my very dear friends donated back packs (with wheels) to all CampCaribe Adventurers!  Wooo hooooo!  That means everyone will have an Adventurer Backpack to carry during our trip.  So, leave your cute little purses at home and get ready to have some funnnnnn!

With dedication, commitment & love,

Tracey, Camp Director

CampCaribe

American Airlines Comes Through!

Something told me to pick up the telephone and call the Group Department at American Airlines this morning and it was my/our lucky day!  Wooo hooo!  Be on the lookout for your Adventurer's travel itinerary in the Parent Handbook you will receive early next week.  Less than 90 days to gooooo...

Happy New Year from CampCaribe!

U.S. Forest Service Public Service Announcement

Tameeka's Girls

"I am the proud mother of two exceptional young ladies, TaMara (13) and Cydney (12). Without appearing biased, I must tell you that they are not your average tweens. TaMara has sustained a 3.9 GPA since elementary school. She is a competitive member of her middle school’s running team. She carries a demanding load of college-prep courses and has a compassionate spirit for humanity, in that she gives of her time to care for the pets of others. Cydney is truly a girlie-girl in every way. She is a vibrant and self-motivated student maintaining a “B” average and is always seeking ways to improve herself. She is a true fan of the arts. She writes and performs music with her older brother. Both girls are avid readers and sincerely love time with each other and their family. The exciting perspective of these two young ladies keeps me on my toes and assures me that as adults they will contribute greatness to our world. I am their number one cheerleader and anticipate the days ahead with them thriving to their successes."  -Tameeka, a California mom trying to give her girls the gift of a tropical sunset.

American Red Cross Training

Alley, Coco and I are all certified by the American Red Cross in First Aid as well as Adult, Child & Infant CPR.  (Alley even has the AED (difibrilator) certification!)  I just wanted to remind everyone of the importance of safety and preparedness and encourage parents to sign up for a class as well.  You never know when you might be called upon to help save a life!

With commitment, dedication & love,
Tracey, Camp Director
CampCaribe

My Angel Wears an Afro

Graphics by Ahmad Hassan

Several months ago, Shea Rose, a performer and student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, sent me a heartfelt e-mail telling me that she came across OneBrownGirl.com® and CampCaribe and was excited about the brand and its mission.  She told me she wanted to be of service in some way and that her music needed to have meaning.  She then told me she wanted to collect donations for CampCaribe through performance and in addition, she would be donating her performance fee to CampCaribe.  Wow.

"As I continue on this journey, I know now that my calling is to serve the community around me and beyond...music and my voice are the tools that I've been given to do so. Altruism and philanthropy were missing in my recipe for a very long time! The "ME" obsession that the industry (music and entertainment) creates and requires was starting to become taxing and toxic to my soul.   So this is a CELEBRATION!!! A new chapter....I'm looking forward to exchanging and sharing this great adventure with all of you."  Shea Rose

On Friday, December 11, 2009, my angel, Shea Rose, will be performing at The Alchemist Lounge in the Boston (Massachusetts) area in an effort to raise funds for CampCaribe.  If you're in the area, please go.  If you aren't , please send her a shout-out to let her know how much of an angel she is.  It's the least we can do.

With commitment, love & genuine thanks,

Tracey, Camp Director

CampCaribe

Pre-Camp Bonding with The Princess & the Frog

On Monday, November 30, 2009, I took 4 Brown Girl princesses to Walt Disney Studios to see a pre-screening of The Princess & the Frog and to participate in The Ultimate Disney Experience afterwards.  As you can see by the photo above, we had a fantastic time!  (The girls even had a chance to mimic a Senior Animator on the film as he drew one of the main characters.  And to top it all off, he even signed their artwork!)

The purpose of the outing was to gather together confirmed Adventurers and prospective Adventurers before camp in April as a great way to break the ice and make the girls feel comfortable so that there is no pressure fitting in.  As you probably know, and according to the American Camp Association, "[e]xciting activities, quality staff, special events, meaningful rituals, and camp spirit are great features of camp, but they can never make up for the importance of fitting in."   

There are 8 openings for CampCaribe's nascent learning adventure program with two confirmed as of this date; I hope to have the remaining 6 slots filled by December 31 or January 15 at the latest, so that we can get some more bonding time in even if we have to Skype to do it!

With all of my heart and commitment,

Tracey, Camp Director

CampCaribe

Because of Camp

The Latest (and Greatest!)

Waving hello to everyone. I have been busy as a bee.

As you may or may not know, CampCaribe was graced with a fiscal sponsor. Simply put, that is great news for parents as registration fees are now tax deductible. (Paying for registration before the end of the year will be a fantastic tax deduction.)

For those children whose parents or guardians cannot afford to send their loved one to CampCaribe, having a fiscal sponsor creates an opportunity for me to fundraise for 4 lucky Adventurers. And while I have sent out fundraising letters to friends, colleagues and strangers, I am willing to go into my pocket to make this nascent program a reality. CampCaribe will happen.

I have tons of decisions to make; I have to partner with an organization that advocates for multi-cultural girls and firm up 4-8 lucky Adventurers before the end of the year, not to mention all the admin, grant writing and continuous planning. Someone even suggested that I "fake it" and put up a bunch of fake pictures of children playing on the beach, etc. to entice people to register (as if camp has already occurred), but this program is what it is: A baby on the edge of birth. Anyone that can appreciate the beauty of this emerging learning adventure program will buy in. There will be no Faking the Funk here. Consider how fabulous a baby chickie is once it is hatched. What a joy! And then consider how different this Web site will look 7 months from now. There is something unique and wonderful about being first, not to mention being a part of an adventure like no other.

Let me know if you have any questions about anything. April will be here before you know it. And as usual, I am soooo excited! Chat soon.

Tracey

Camp Director, CampCaribe

Member, American Camp Association