Personal Experience
Each child who comes to camp has a story, some more noticeable than others. Some of the children are either withdrawn or in your face , compliant or aggressive, or merely hungry for love and attention. Some are suspicious, demanding, skeptical, rebellious, sexually awakened, disillusioned, and scared to show how much they long for acceptance.
They feel guilt for crimes they have not committed or were forced to be apart of, shame for the secrets that have been revealed, responsible for family break-ups and bewilderment at the shattering of their world. Almost all of these children long for the parents that they have been taken from, regardless of what the parent has done, he is still Dad, she is still Mum. Many of these children find at Kids Camps New Zealand, a haven - an opportunity to succeed.
Most of all, they find acceptance without any strings, love without any reciprocal gratification expected, and an atmosphere of family.
At breakfast on the last day of camp, Sarah (8) was asked if she had enjoyed camp. She replied that she had. She was then asked "Of all the experiences you have had at camp this week, if you had to pick just one, which would be the very best?" Sarah thought carefully for a few minutes and then replied "The very best thing this week is my buddy, because she has been with me all week and she likes me." Positive relationships are so important to all of us, but especially to these children.