Route J-1

Camp Homeward Bound J-1 Camp Counselors with Participants | Photo Credit: Camp Homeward Bound

I loved being up in New York to kick off  the second summer Route J-1 roadtrip. After a day of inspiration at Liberty Island, I headed upstate to Bear Mountain, NY.  Just an hour or so outside of the Big Apple, and you are in pristine nature.

Camp Homeward Bound Lake View

Since 1984, this beautiful place has been the home of a special camp called, Camp Homeward Bound. Created by the Coalition for the Homeless, CHB is the nation’s first summer sleep-away camp designed specifically for homeless kids in the New York shelter system.  Camp director, Beverly McEntarfer, told me that nearly 40 percent of CHB’s campers have endured physical abuse or neglect and have emotional or behavioral issues exacerbated by the instability of homelessness.   Thanks to CHB, many of those kids experience a life-changing summer respite from city life in a shelter.

Camp Homeward Bound J-1 Camp Counselors with Director Beverly McEntarfer

Bev introduced me to a special group of J-1 international camp counselors who play a huge role in the camp’s success.  After only a couple of hours with them, it was obvious their cultural influences on the camp, and the significance of their participation.  Many of Bev’s J-1 counselors come from Camp Sizanane, a Global Camps Africa camp for disadvantaged kids in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sizanane and CHB have a cooperative relationship, and many of these counselors have been back to CHB many years over.  In their words, learning from American camp professionals has accelerated their professional development. The North American camp system is so well-developed, they feel that every day at CHB is like drinking from a firehose of learning.  That being said, Bev feels that CHB is more complete with the cultural influences each of her international counselors brings. Each counselor’s unique cultural backdrop shapes their interactions with campers. With a camp full of kids who have had challenging home lives, a counselor with an accent who breaks into song, or a counselor whose culture drives a new approach is sometimes enough to break down a child’s barriers and allow for growth.  For these counselors, working at CHB is about giving their talents to the next generation and about being the person they want to be – right now.

Beverly McEntarfer, Director of Camp Homeward Bound

Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight