Shauna [not her real name] is a ten year old child who's Mother first sought counseling for her at
CARE Children's Counseling center when she was eight years old. Her mother had just left an eighteen
year abusive marriage with Shauna's Father. Growing up Shauna had witnessed on-going emotional abuse and
occasional physical abuse by her Father towards her Mother. When her mother had attempted to leave
the relationship previously her Father would carry a gun around the house threatening to kill himself.
Shauna came into counseling a highly anxious Child. She was behind academically and had difficulty
sleeping at night. Shortly after Shauna started counseling he Father in fact did kill himself. One
of Shauna's greatest fears came true. Her Mother had an emotional breakdown and Shauna went to live
with her Maternal Grandmother in Sebastopol.
That summer Shauna was enrolled in Cool Kids Camp. Because Shauna was fearful of new situations, she
was very ambivalent about going into a new situation for four days. In counseling she worked through
some of this anxiety and was even beginning to look forward to camp starting.
Cool Kids Camp was a huge success for Shauna. Her Grandmother noticed positive changes when she returned.
In her Grandmother's words..."The camp really helped her to feel a part of something. She made friends
at camp which was good for her self-esteem. The camp took kids from where ever they were at and made them
feel a part of something. Nobody was left out. She came back seeming more mature and independent, more
self-confident."
In Shauna's words..."I hope I can go back next year. It was an experience to remember. There was always
so much to do. I really liked one of the counselors, she always wanted to do things with me. I made
good friends. There was one other girl in my cabin who was not living with her Mother either. If I can
go back I really want to go on the ropes course."
In her Counselor's words..."The camp was great for Shauna. She felt like she belonged and she had fun!!!
She has been through so much this last year that she forgot what is was like to be a kid and have fun. The
camp offered her a place to do that. The Camp helped her to gain self-confidence and overcome some of her
fears."
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