"...at
Scottie's Place they were able to test themselves and experience
a whole new world that didn't care about where you lived or
what kind of shoes you wore. The increase in self-esteem and
confidence was just astounding."
-
Dearsley Vernon, A Child's Place
FOREWORD
SCOTTIE'S PLACE is a one of a
kind camp for children whose lives have been disrupted by
homelessness. SCOTTIE'S PLACE is a refuge from life in a shelter.
It is a place where children climb mountains, breathe fresh
air, watch for deer and falling stars. It is an old-fashioned
kind of place, a warm and nurturing homestead nestled in the
mountains. 
SCOTTIE'S PLACE teaches survival skills - how to thrive in
the wilderness, how to survive in society. SCOTTIE'S PLACE
touches the imaginations of children and inspires new hopes
and dreams for their future. It is a camp for wounded children
to experience wilderness adventure and inner healing.
Homelessness brings ruin to 1.4
million children each year in this country. These children
are stripped of their possessions and their homes and isolated
from their friends, family and community. Their lives are
chaotic, their growth is disrupted, they eat poorly and know
hunger. Education becomes a luxury, leaving few opportunities
for a successful passage into adulthood.
Feelings of loss, shame and fear
color the world of homeless children. They find themselves
disconnected from society. Programs directed at homeless families
focus primarily on the parents; only the most basic needs
of children are met. In their daily fight for survival, homeless
children lose their childhood.
The unique wilderness programs
at SCOTTIE'S PLACE focus solely on children and are designed
to empower the homeless child physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Outdoor adventure builds self-esteem, increases
stamina and endurance and fosters determination and adaptability.
Children experience new challenges
and opportunities, discover unknown talents and resources
within themselves. SCOTTIE'S PLACE strives to impart a new
sense of responsibility in children toward themselves, their
community and the earth. SCOTTIES PLACE provides hands-on
education in a supportive, trusting and safe environment with
an emphasis on developing life skills which will remain with
the children long after they have left camp. Children
learn to grow and gather food, use tools, care for animals,
succeed individually and as a team. Camp leaders work with
children to encourage problem solving, goal setting, effective
communication and cooperation. While at SCOTTIE'S PLACE,
a child might bake bread, plant a tree, build a shelter, lead
an expedition. The elemental nature of survival skills and
wilderness adventure builds inner strength and offers children
a new sense of connection to this planet earth, our home.
