July 13, 2007
(ATLANTA) What began as a weekend camp some 15 years ago has evolved into year-round, life-changing experiences, and children in foster care are all the better for it. Camp Horizon, which partners with departments of Family and Children Services in metropolitan Atlanta, is gearing up to give this year’s participants a week to remember.
More than 30 children in foster care, ages 8-11, will get to have a fun-filled week of horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, talent shows, and self discovery at Camp Horizon, July 22 – 28, in Rutledge, Georgia. The goal of the camp is to restore dignity, hope and fun into the lives of abused and neglected children.
“This is a wonderful outing that the children look forward to each year,” said Mary Dean Harvey, director of the Division of Family and Children Services. “Camp Horizon is a significant component in helping them in their healing process and we are grateful to Camp Horizon for its longtime commitment in reaching out to help so many children. We wish more could have this kind of experience.”
In addition to the fun the children will have, each child is provided with his/her own personal counselor for the week to give them undivided attention and support. Children also get to participate in self esteem workshops and personal development classes. The camp also offers children in state care who are a little older, ages 12-15, a weekend Leadership Development Program several times a year.
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These are children who have previously attended summer camp. Special outings are also held for foster kids year round.
Since 1992 more than 500 children have been a part of Camp Horizon. Currently the camp serves foster kids in Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb, and Rockdale counties. For more information about the camp and its year-round programs for foster children, contact the local DFCS offices in these counties.
For information contact:
Beverly Jones
404-657-1387
bjjones2@dhr.state.ga.us