Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

African/Caribbean Heritage Camp
YMCA, Estes Park, CO
African/Caribbean Heritage Camp (ACHC) remains one of the few camps of its kind in the country. Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families developed ACHC for families who adopted:

African American and bi-racial children
African children (from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and other African nations)
Haitian or other Caribbean children

This camp is a blend of cultures, and the kids and families have blended too – all with the common identity of being born into the African/Caribbean or African American culture, internationally or domestically. This blending of cultures and families has created an enriching, supportive space for campers of all ages.

UMOJA Camp
Green Lake Conference Center
Green Lake, WI
We are a camp for the entire family that offers both educational and cultural sessions. Each evening is a celebration of the black culture by dancers/drummers/art. Throughout Saturday there are numerous sessions broken up into age groups. Programming starts at age 3 and goes through adulthood. Babysitting is provided for children 2 and under.

Kamp Kurat
Somerset Beach Campground
Somerset Center, MI (1-hr W of Ann Arbor)
Kamp Kurat, a weekend heritage camp for families with children from Ethiopia, began the summer of 2014. Our inaugural weekend was held at Somerset Beach Campground, about 1 hour west of Ann Arbor, MI. We launched our camp with two main hopes: To celebrate Ethiopia and to build friendships.

Chinese Family Camp
Cedar Lake, IN
The Midwest Chinese Family Camp unites a multi-generational community of extended Chinese American families for a week of fun and recreation in a modern lakeside retreat setting. Family Camp is known to provide relief from the routines of everyday life. It provides the opportunity for families with similar backgrounds to meet each other. At camp, we recognize the significance of having inherited and adopted cultures. We socialize, share our Chinese American experiences, and celebrate our culture and heritage. Since 1958, our annual gatherings have continued to create and sustain deep and lifelong friendships that are truly priceless.

Chinese Heritage Camp II
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO

We enthusiastically celebrate the Chinese birth culture of our campers, while also emphasizing the shared experience of being adopted into U.S. culture. It is that connection — with other families, a child’s cultural heritage, the greater community, and role models — that affirms a child’s self-worth and belonging.
At Chinese Heritage Camp II, we are very fortunate to have supportive presenters, entertainers, and counselors from the Chinese community in Colorado. Many of our counselors and presenters include Chinese adoptees. They are the racial mirrors our children need to see, learn from, and often develop lifelong relationships with. The rich Chinese culture is infused in all aspects of camp, for an authentic & fun experience!

Chinese Heritage Camp
Snow Mountain Ranch
Fraser, CO
Chinese Heritage Camp was one of the first camps in the country exclusively created for families with children adopted from China. It is one of the 11 camps facilitated by the highly respected Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families. Chinese Heritage Camp offers programs for infants through high school. This camp is a celebration of Chinese culture, and of adoptive families. This blending of culture and families has created an enriching, supportive space for our campers of all ages. We enthusiastically celebrate the Chinese birth culture of our campers, while also emphasizing the shared experience of being adopted into U.S. culture. It is that connection — with other families, a child’s cultural heritage, the greater community, and role models — that affirms a child’s self-worth and belonging.

Joyous Chinese Cultural School & Camps
The Joyous Chinese Cultural School was founded in 1996 through CCAI to fortify strong birth heritage connections and cultivate a healthy sense of self by providing positive and engaging cultural education for adopted Chinese children and their families. It is a distinctive place for the adoption community to spend time with families who are just as diverse as their own. Our mission at JCCS is three-fold:

Creating a supportive and culturally conscious learning environment that is empowering for adoptees, families, and the community
Nurturing a positive sense of self and pride in a cultural identity that is not immediately familiar but forever personal
Encouraging adoptees and adoptive families to fully embrace and celebrate their multicultural identities

Our Camp China
Black Mountain, NC
A weekend summer heritage camp designed for the whole family. Camp China is held annually in western North Carolina at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC. Please visit our website for additional information and to register.

Korean Heritage Camp
Snow Mountain Ranch
Fraser, CO
This camp is a celebration of Korean culture, and of adoptive families. This blending of culture and families has created an enriching, supportive space for our campers of all ages. In fact, it is often said at KHC that it looks and feels as if we are in Korea, because of the outpouring of support from the Korean community – eating the food, hearing the language, playing the games, discovering the culture, and learning from Koreans about what it means to be Korean. Come join us!

Camp Choson
Camp Lakamaga
St. Croix, MN
Camp Choson is a Korean culture camp designed for Korean-American children, youth and their families. Camp was originally started for Korean adoptees, but has grown to include Korean-Americans from all family backgrounds. Resident Camp (grades 7-11) is six days, while Day Camp (K-6) is five days. Our current venue is Camp Lakamaga, a Girl Scout Camp near Forest Lake, Minnesota. More details about camp and the activities included in camp can be found at their website.

Kamp Kimchee
Kamp Kimchee is a Korean culture camp for Korean adoptees and their families. Classes are offered for 4-year olds through 12th grade. Classes offered include: Korean social studies/culture, Hangul (Korean Vocabulary), Korean Music, dance, Tae Kwon Do, artistic expression and self esteem.

K.A.M.P. (Korean Adoption Means Pride)
Pella, IA
Korean Adoption Means Pride (KAMP) is a culture camp that provides fun and enjoyment for the entire family. Pre-school children have scheduled playtime each day, while registered KAMPers (kindergarten through high school) have classes in Korean music and dance, language, TKD, art, and etiquette. Annual workshops and presentations for parents include topics related to adoption and Korean history/culture. We welcome Midwestern families to our organization and provide KAMP details on our website.

Camp Moo Gung Hwa
Day Camp
Raleigh, NC
Camp Moo Gung Hwa is a day camp designed to enhance adopted Korean-American children’s knowledge of Korean culture and to promote their self-esteem. Classes and activities, taught by members of the Korean community and adult adoptees include history, language, literature, dance, Tae Kwon Do, music, cooking and arts and crafts. Introducing the children to their native culture helps them build a sense of identity and encourages healthy self-esteem.

Camp MuJiGae
Korea Culture Camp
Schenectady, NY
We are so excited to be celebrating our 33rd year of camp! Our mission is to provide a social and cultural program for Korean-American children and their families. Most of our families are connected through adoption. We offer a day camp program for preschoolers through 12th grade. Our classes are taught by members of the Korean community and Sookmyung University students from Seoul. Our Senior Campers (6th-12th grade) are treated to special evening activities just for them! We’re kicking off camp with our Family Day, a celebration of Korean performances and a delicious Korean meal! Visit our website for more information or to register.

Sae Jong Camp
Camp Westminster
Roscommon, MI
Sae Jong Camp is an overnight summer camp focused on Korean-American culture and identity. It is a fun-filled week of education, summer activities, and self-discovery. To learn more about Sae Jong Camp please visit our website.

Korean Culture Camp
Minnehaha Academy
Minneapolis, MN
KCC is a non-profit organization entering its 32nd year! Please check out our website for this year’s camp details.

Camp Moon Hwa
Rochester, MN
Our culture camp is a chance for children to celebrate and share Korean heritage and culture, meet old and new friends, and have lots of fun. Most of the attendees are Korean adoptees or their siblings but anyone interested in Korea is welcome. Camp is held daily from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM. All children ages 5 and older are welcome.

Camp Pride Korea
Ithasca, IL
Camp Pride is a culture day camp for Korean adoptees and their siblings. Classes are offered for children 4 years old through 12th grade.

KAAN
Minneapolis, MN
KAAN (Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network) is a nonprofit founded in 1998 to build a national Korean adoption community with adoptees at its center. Our mission is to improve the lives of Korean-born adoptees by connecting the community and providing opportunities for dialogue, education, and support. We welcome people, especially adoptees, of other backgrounds as well, who often have relevant wisdom and experiences to share.

Destination Korea Camp
Carrollton, TX
TEEN DESTINATION CAMP is a gathering for Korean adoptees that will be entering the 7th grade in the fall of 2019 and those who have just completed the 12th grade in 2019. This is a wonderful time for teens to be together to make new friends and renew old friendships. Adult adoptees and adoptive parents will facilitate the activities for Teen Destination. Semihan Korean Church will be providing additional support and activities for Teen Destination.
Teen Destination will be held at Semihan Korean Church, 1615 West Belt Line Road, Carrollton, Texas. There will be time for activities; such as team building and mentoring, eating Korean food, and games and activities to build life-long friendships.
DESTINATION KOREA CAMP experience will be filled with various activities related to Korean culture. Our mission is to provide cultural and educational opportunities for families formed through Korean adoption. We also provide opportunities for adoptees, parents, siblings, grandparents and cultural communities to share common experiences, to build lifelong relationships, to develop a sense of community, and to enhance individual identities.

FRUA Inc – Family Camp
Washington State
Would you and your family like to learn more about culture from Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia? If so, and you have a child adopted from a former Soviet-bloc country, the Heritage Camp Weekend is the place for you. Families will get a chance to relax, make friends, participate in camp activities, and learn more about Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia countries and their cultures. Camp will include cultural aspects from every FRUA INC country from which we have children in attendance. Come join us!

Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian (REECA)
Heritage Camp
Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser, CO
At Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian Heritage Camp (REECA), we work hard to represent each of the 5 or 6 countries and cultures our children come from. We are very fortunate to have supportive presenters, entertainers, and counselors from the Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian communities of Colorado and throughout the country. Many of our counselors and presenters are adoptees themselves. They are the cultural mirrors our children need to see, learn from, and often develop lifelong relationships with. The rich and varied culture of this region of the world is infused in all aspects of camp, for an authentic & fun experience!This camp is a blend of cultures, and the kids and families have blended too – all with the common identity of being adopted from a REECA country. This blending of cultures and families has created an enriching, supportive space for our campers of all ages.

Zhailau Heritage Camp
Geneva Point Center, Moultonborough, NH
Each July, we look forward to gathering again to celebrate our children’s birth culture together. During this memorable time, we nurture existing friendships and establish new ones with families from all over North America. Children have the unique chance to bond with other children whose families have strong Kazakh connections.

Kazapolooza
Kazapalooza is a fun-filled weekend-long reunion of families who have adopted children from Kazakhstan. It is held annually on the fourth weekend of June.

Adoption Family Camp
At Sun Lakes Park Resort
At this unique gathering of adoptive families from around Washington and beyond, we join together to have fun, to get to know one another, and to provide an environment for all adoptees where adoption is the norm, not the exception.

Camp Clio
Camp Jewel YMCA
“Why was my family created differently?” Adopted children, whether adopted internationally, domestically, or through foster care, share this same basic question. Though each child’s story is different, many of them face questions like “Who is your real mom? Why did she give you away?” Adopted children need a comfortable, non-judgmental place to try to understand their birth story – to realize others share these same issues and that they are not alone. Clio Village provides this opportunity in a fun, old-fashioned camp setting with other adopted children and adopted counselors who share their cabins and act as role models. Camp Clio is for adopted children ages 9 – 15 and is held during our 3rd Session.

Pact Family Camp

Pact Family Camps bring together families with adopted children of color to share their experiences, learn from experts and each other, and enjoy each other’s company. Many families have told us that their time at Camps had a profound effect, offering them a community they couldn’t find anyplace else. We are excited to be joined by adult adoptees of color who are renowned adoption professionals, researchers, and authors. Parents will hear from speakers and have conversations about parenting, adoption, and race that will help them be the best that they can be for their children. Kids will find other kids who are like them in very significant ways. For many kids, Pact Family Camp is one place where they really feel they belong. From the youngest children to older youth, each group will have many opportunities for sharing, making meaningful connections, and having fun.

Domestic Adoption
YMCA, Estes Park, CO
Even with adoptees born in the U.S., each child has their own heritage, background, and an identity that is distinct from their adoptive parents. While Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families was created specifically for international adoptees, countless domestic adoptive families recognized that so much of what we do meets a very critical need for those who have adopted children from the U.S. Networking with other adoptive and foster families, adult adoptees, and experts in the field of adoption are key components of camp. Each camp’s workshops include nationally renowned speakers and experts in their field. Camp provides resources, education, and dialogue on a variety of topics, such as navigating birth/first family relationships, holistic approaches to well-being, complex trauma, self-care for parents, and perspectives of adult adoptees. DAC is also about having fun together with other adoptive families – kids and parents developing relationships that provide friendship and support all year long. Come join us!

Gladney’s Camp Forge
Gladney’s Camp Forge is a five day, four night camping program serving Gladney adoptees. Campers will have opportunities to try new things, make friends, and explore ideas and issues that are unique to adoptees. A week of camp will be filled with games, laughter, learning, creating, growing, and exploring.