Our mission is to improve the health, safety, and well-being of children at risk of abuse or neglect in Santa Cruz County by providing a restorative camp experience. Our trauma-informed camp matches campers one-on-one with a counselor. This individualized match provides mentorship that can continue for years. Campers learn positive coping skills, create healthy relationships, and increase self-esteem while experiencing traditional camp activities in a safe, stress-free environment.
We are an all-volunteer nonprofit that hopes to raise money to send 20 kids, many of whom have been affected by the foster care system, to camp. Campers develop skills to make safe life choices and cultivate positive relationships that can be transferred to their community, school and home.
No family has or will ever be charged for their child’s participation at Camp Opportunity. Because of this, fundraising is critical to our ability to continue this work. The estimated cost for one child to attend camp for a week is $1,500. This amount includes campground rental, room and board, as well as funding for activities and supplies such as swimming, archery, tie-dye, and more. Our campers come from various backgrounds and living situations, all have been involved in the child welfare system, and many are at risk of abuse and neglect.
Since being camper and now returning as a counselor, camp has been one of the most stable and safest places in my life. I gained resiliency, community, family, trust, love, support, hope, peace and so much more that I will be forever grateful for.
Julian Hoschke, Santa Cruz, 27 years old
