HERITAGE CAMPS FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

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 Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families, Inc. (HCAF) serves as a post-​adoption resource and advocate for children, adults, and families with diverse heritages.

We accomplish our mission by facilitating events which provide culturally relevant and family-​centered experiences for every member of the family.

These events provide individuals and families with both a deeper sense of community and an individual identity. It is our goal that all adoptees will develop a knowledge of themselves and their culture of origin and that families will have a better awareness of, and sense of pride in, their adopted family member’s birth heritage. HCAF assists children, adults, and families in becoming a part of a larger community “just like themselves,” with shared experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

My Story

Jared Rehberg (Vu Tien Anh), Adult Adoptee

Since my family started attending Vietnamese Heritage Camp in 2005, our annual trip to the mountains has been the highlight of the year. As an adult adoptee who didn’t have access to camp growing up, I never had the opportunity to learn about my heritage as deeply as young adoptees can today. I also never had the chance to spend time and share experiences with adoptees; I didn’t see a large group of adoptees from Vietnam until 1995-2000. For families who attend camp and have seen the impacts that campers, counselors, and cultural community members have on their kids, you can imagine what it was like to not have those racial mirrors growing up. It impacted me greatly.

I love HCAF’s specialized programs on identity, engaging workshops, the staff leadership, and that Heritage Camps values the adult adoptee community so much. They always listen to new ideas and encourage and support us to be leaders in our special community — whether on the Board of Directors, as a member of the Advisory Board, as a camp director, or as a coordinator.

I love keeping in touch with the families and watching kids grow to become adults. As an adoptee, adoption will always be with me. My journey will last a lifetime. I’m grateful to have our camp family by my side. I will never feel alone.