Every Wednesday and Thursday during June and July, the halls and all three stories of Lubbock Impact’s building were filled with excited giggles, over the top theme day decorations, and new experiences as kids ages 5-13, participated in Kid’s Camp. Each day the kids raced through the double glass doors to discover the new day’s theme, where they encountered everything from a camping day to a luau to a full farmer’s market and much more! The smiles were big and bright (even on the faces of the older kids who are hard to impress). For a few hours a couple of days each week, we got to craft, sing, experiment, taste test, learn and dance our worries away.
Aside from any excuse to do fun activities for the kids, what’s the bigger picture behind events like Kid’s Camp? The first piece to our mission statement states that we exist “to empower…”; that starts with investing in young lives. Each day of kid’s camp provided opportunity for investments in the lives of children that on a deeper level, foster a sense of community, provide an opportunity to teach valuable life skills and give practical relief from daily roadblocks such as hunger.
Breaking the Cycle
When we look at the strategy of poverty alleviation, the simplicity of connection is a vital factor in breaking the cycle; this investment starts at a young age. Events like Kid’s Camp help foster connections for young minds not just with their peers but also with mentors, teachers, volunteers and representatives from other organizations within our community. When we discussed the importance of this, Lubbock Impact’s Program Director, Haley McBrayer mentioned “one of our kiddos overheard a friend saying that they needed a jacket, and he was able to tell them where to go, who to call, and how he could get a jacket. It truly starts young, and the older they get, the more they become invested in those around them.”
When they come in the door and are greeted with the smiles of staff, volunteers and their peers who are genuinely excited to see them, a safe space is created. With each activity, they are learning teamwork, healthy boundaries and disciplines that they can carry with them to school, their homes and wherever else they may be. Especially for the kids who are going into school for the first time this fall, these experiences allow them to slowly acclimate and begin to learn what will be expected of them before they enter a classroom setting. Each step is intentional.
As McBrayer looked back over the summer and the impact that was made in the lives of each child that participated in the Kid’s Camp activities, she saw a noticeable difference. “Two months ago, [the kids] were at the back of the room, just wanting to blend in and now they ask to be leaders of the activity groups and help lead the younger kids.”
Over the summer seeds of trust and relationship were planted and now hope has begun to blossom into lasting change for this next generation.
