REBOUND OF WHATCOM COUNTY

Our year-round program of Roots Family Enrichment provides free parent training based on brain science working in tandem with what we teach the children in our care. While the parents are learning how to recognize, address, and prevent angry outbursts and triggers, their children are in childcare learning the same abilities in a developmentally appropriate way. The Roots Program creates a community of peer support and acceptance which we believe is vital. Local churches, corporations, and community members have provided financial, in-kind, and volunteer activities that support the work we do.

Ray of Hope is the cornerstone summer camp that can directly impact school aged children (ages 5-12). Ray of Hope Summer Camp hosts up to 120 children with a staff of 30. We strive to provide a 1 to 4 adult/child ratio as the social and emotional needs of the children are high. Ray of Hope is a 5-week camp, licensed as a child care through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Our camp is specifically designed for children who are in the foster care program, have suffered physical or emotional abuse or neglect, generational poverty or neglect, cyclical domestic violence, substance abuse, death of a loved one, incarceration, and/or homelessness. These children have often been recommended to us by educators, social workers, state employees, or word of mouth. Staff participate in an intensive two-week training on how to serve this vulnerable population, completing training in CPR, trauma informed practices, Conscious Discipline, etc. Ray of Hope offers daily meals for all children and is M-F, 8:30-5:30. We offer social/emotional awareness lessons in the morning that includes how to disagree peacefully, how to recognize and manage big emotions, and how to be a safe friend. In the afternoon, we strive to give the children a summer to remember with outdoor activities, making ice cream, picking berries, playing at Lake Whatcom, and going on simple fieldtrips.