Mother Jones - Comments for "Weekend at Culture Camp"

I would like to be in contact with Elizabeth Jones by her Email to share my Research in matter of adoption. I'm 42 years old, adoptee, consultant in Post adoption in Brussels, Belgium. My Email address is bimtilak@hotmail.com

Yours faithfully

christian DEMORTIER

I really appreciate the perspective of Kim Park Nelson. As a former staff member of a language and culture camp experience for elementary and secondary age individuals I have also wrestled with the nature of the understandings these children come to about the cultural group in focus. While the intentions are good, trivializing culture through games and activities for summer fun can be a double-edged sword.

When culture camps make an effort to bring in mentors from the children's racial and ethnic communities, and also find ways to keep those connections alive throughout the year, I think the benefit can be greater.

Ultimately, culture camp is just one of many things families can do to help their children learn about and connect with their ethnic community.

In my opinion I think that the culture camps are a little beneficial, but they can become more benefecial if more information is provided for the children. With more information the kids will gain better knowlegde of the culture and heritage.

What I've heard from kids and staff at "culture camps" is that the primary benefit is to not look different or feel different from kids around them. Less important is learning about the culture. More important is seeing there are others like them--sort of key for the adolescent.