What is Camp Hope?

Camp Hope is a four-day, three-night sleep sleep-away camp run by the youth group from the Chinese Bible Church of Maryland (CBCM) during spring break for a group of kids from Little Lights Urban Ministries located in Southeast DC. It’s held at Camp Bennett in Brookesville, Maryland.

The goal of Camp Hope is not only to share the love of Christ, but also to provide a constructive activity for Little Lights kids during their spring break. Instead of being stuck at their homes, these kids are given a chance, even for a few days, to experience life outside the Potomac Gardens housing projects. For some, this is their first time in their lives when they can go to sleep without constantly hearing the frantic noise of a busy street outside their windows.

Not every kid from Little Lights can go to Camp Hope. Only those who consistently attend the Little Lights after school programs and do well are rewarded with the opportunity to go to camp. Camp Hope remains to be one of the highlights of the Little Lights academic calendar. All of the kids look forward to coming back to camp year after year.

Camp Hope consists of VBS type activities like lessons, arts and crafts, games and music all centered on a yearly theme. Past camp themes have been grace, forgiveness, and ‘agape’. We also pair up our Teens Group kids with a Little Lights kid to do one-on-one discipleship throughout the duration of the camp. Our camp schedule includes a number of one-on-one times each day for our Teens Group kids to really get to know their assigned Little Lights kid.

Camp Hope consists of VBS type activities like bible lessons, arts and crafts, games and music all centered on a yearly theme. Past camp themes have been grace, forgiveness, ‘agape’, choices, and grace. We also pair up each of our CBCM teens with a Little Lights kid to do one-on-one discipleship/mentoring throughout the duration of the camp. Our camp schedule includes a number of one-on-one sessions each day for our CBCM teens to really get to know their assigned Little Lights kid.

All camp activities are planned and executed by our CBCM teens with adult supervision. The CBCM teens start planning four months before the camp starts. Each teen is responsible for one or more aspects of the camp. Not only do our CBCM run the camp, but they also have to look after the Little Lights kids. Since Camp Hope is a sleep away camp, the Little Lights kids don’t get to go home at the end of the day. This forces our CBCM teens to show love and act Christ-like even when they’re tired and cranky especially at the end of each day. It’s amazing how our CBCM teens really step up and serve these Little Lights kids.