(FOND DU LAC, Wis.) — The non-profit organization Camp Reunite partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) on December 28 and 29, 2023 to host holiday events at Taycheedah and Kettle Moraine Correctional Institutions. Camp Reunite hosts both an annual Winter Camp and Summer Camp for children ages 8-17 who have a parent currently in DOC care. The trauma-informed camps provide a week of activities and events designed to help the children build bonds, coping skills and resiliency. For two days during the week-long camp Winter Camp, the children are able to join their parent at their assigned location for an extended visit and holiday celebrations. After the day ends, they take a bus back to camp for evening meals, movies and bonfires.

This year, Camp Reunite's Winter Camp at Taycheedah Correctional Institution (TCI) offered parents and their kids two days of movies, crafts, games, and quiet time together in the facility's school building. It provided a shared holiday experience as Santa made an appearance to hand out gifts. The parents of the children had previously provided a list of each child's gift choices to Camp Reunite team members. Thanks to donations from Kapco's Kids 2 Kids, Camp Reunite was then able to provide their elf-like assistance to fully stock Santa's gift bag with presents. These two days of fun were also fully catered, which included a full lunch buffet, movie popcorn and frosted cookies.

We had the opportunity to sit down with two of the participating mothers and their children to talk about what Camp Reunite means to them.

Ashley and Ariah

Interviewer: (To Ariah) What is your favorite part about today?

Ariah: Probably where we are right now. (Ariah was snuggled near Ashley during the interview.)

Interviewer: What was your favorite activity from today?

Ariah: The bus ride here! I got to talk to my friends and I got to sleep. Because I woke up at 6:15 this morning. I woke up to music. They play music in the morning.

Interviewer: That's nice! How often do you get to come visit your mom?

Ariah: This is the only time I usually get to visit.

Ashley: She was able to attend the July one, also. So, this is her second Camp Reunite.

Ariah: In the summer one, you get to go swimming.

Interviewer: Wow! How about this week? What was your favorite present that you got today?

Ariah: Headphones. (Ariah received a set of headphones with cat ears on top.)

Ashley: Those were super cool. I need a pair of those for myself.

Interviewer: What about you, Mom? What does this program mean to you?

Ashley: This program means the world. Under the circumstances, this is the only time I'm actually able to see my daughter. This program has been able to open the door with me and my daughter with communication, and the love that we share between mother and child. I think that the biggest part, amidst the gifts and everything…it's very, very nice, but I do want to stress that having the relationship and the communication between me and my daughter has been the biggest gift of all. The biggest gift of all for me.

Interviewer: So, it's not just about the holiday events today, but overall being able to bond with your daughter, and have a sense of normalcy today?

Ashley: Absolutely. And…today, we get a little free rein. Even the difference between having a visit on site and having this, we have a lot of movement which is awesome. And a lot of entertainment for the children, more focused on the entertainment…which is amazing. Because honestly, she's never come to see me on the other side with visitation, but I can tell you right now this is way better.

Ariah: Because then all you get to see is them through the glass.

Ashley: In County (jail), yeah.

Ariah: And you only play with you and your mom instead of other children, too.

Interviewer: So, that is kind of a fun aspect. You get to play with everybody when these happen, right?

Ariah: And you also get to make new friends.

Ashley: Yep. Friends that are going through the same thing, right?

Ariah: (Nods in agreement)

Interviewer: That's great. How helpful is that, to be around kids who are going through the same thing?

Ariah: I thought I was the only one who had that (referring to having a parent who is incarcerated.) But now I know that I'm not.

Ashley: That's important.

Interviewer: That's really good. Is there anything else either of you would like to add?

Ashley: Anything I can do in my power to help here, and be able to donate my time, I would be happy to do that.

Interviewer: Is it safe to say after you complete your time in the institution, this is a program you would love to volunteer for, or even help start more of these Camp weeks?

Ashley: Absolutely. Being a supporter for the moms, being able to say I've been there, I'm thankful for the program, and I would just do anything to share the joy with other mothers here…getting the right education to the moms about this program is important, too. If we can create time where we can explain the program a little better, a little more fully about the situation, that would open up the opportunity to many other women and PIOCs (Persons In Our Care).

Interviewer: Kind of get it more well known, not just maybe at Taycheedah, but at other institutions and facilities, as well?

Ashley: Correct. And it gives you a big incentive ... I'm so happy. This program is wonderful. The people who do the camp … they're not just Camp Reunite, I understand that they have their own camp (Hometown Heroes). I appreciate the time, and they really bond with the children. (Talking to Ariah) And you got your hair braided by one of them last night? Which was so nice.

Ariah: And we can go to the other cabin with the older girls, we can go over there. And I know the other counselors…I basically know every counselor.

Ashley: That's good! And you're able to talk to them and everything?

Ariah: Yeah. We can talk to them.

Interviewer: (To Ariah) What's your favorite part about staying overnight at the camp?

Ariah: Probably that we get to run around, and we get to watch movies…and we get to see the other girls and play with them, too.

Viviana and Nathan

Interviewer: (To Nathan) How are you feeling about today?

Nathan: I like it. I like that I get to see my mom.

Interviewer: What do you and your mom like to do together during the holidays?

Viviana: Cook and eat, watch movies…

Nathan: Play video games.

Interviewer: You're doing a lot of that here today it looks like! What's your favorite part of today with your mom?

Nathan: Probably getting to see her and do stuff with her.

Interviewer: What's been your favorite activity to do with your mom today?

Nathan: Probably making this calendar (one of the many craft projects offered during the event.)

Interviewer: How about you, Viviana?

Viviana: My favorite part is going to be opening presents. It's been a lot of fun so far.

Interviewer: Is there anything you could tell us about the program and what it means to you?

Viviana: We're really thankful that this is even a thing. I know that not a lot of other facilities get to do something like this. And I know for the people that have a lot of time away from the family, it's really hard to stay connected and to really keep that bond. So, we get to spend a lot of quality time today. It's really fantastic.

Interviewer: Is this a type of program you'd like to see expanding into other institutions if possible?

Viviana: Absolutely. It's really important for mothers and fathers both to remember that children are our priority. A lot of the time, regardless of the mistakes and the bad choices we made, we can always turn everything around for them. For the first year that I was here, I didn't really get to see Nathan a lot. So as time went on…as your day-to-day life goes on here, it's hard to remember how it feels to be a mom. So, I feel like this program is really amazing because it really helps us to still focus, and stay connected. It's really important to stay connected.

Interviewer: That connection is important.

Viviana: Yes. And I really like that this program focuses on trauma and a lot of things like that. There's a lot of things that our kids don't realize that we're all going through, and we have the opportunity here to talk to them, and really bring these things to light. We can say to them, “our lives here aren't so easy." But today is a really different ambiance. We feel more human today than other days. It's really good for us to remember. It definitely helps you to stay motivated, as well.

To learn more about Camp Reunite and how you can help these programs grow, please visit www.campreunite.org. 