MPHome

Prensa

2005

Mi Pueblo is a weeklong Latin American Culture Camp, providing fun and cultural awareness for children adopted from Latin America and their siblings. The Camp, sponsored by the parent support group, Concern for Children, is held every summer during the third week in June in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Information about the Camp is disseminated through a newsletter called La Prensa de Mi Pueblo. You can read the latest edition by clicking on the La Prensa button to the left. Information about the June 2005 camp can be obtained by clicking on the Mi Pueblo 2005 button to the left. More current information is forthcoming or can be found on our NEWs page of at the CFC Yahoo Group.

Mi Pueblo, which means "My People," "My Village," "My Nation" in Spanish, is one of only a handful of similar camps for children of Latin American heritage. While most campers are from throughout Northeast Ohio, some have come from Columbus, Cincinnati and Athens, Ohio and the states of California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The camp provides children, who range in age from 18 months to 14 years, with a positive and fun environment in which they may learn about the cultural heritage of their birth countries, and can gain pride in both their heritage and themselves. Classes in dance, music games, crafts, culture and Spanish language all focus upon the traditions of Latin American Countries.

    In addition, campers are treated to special guests through- out the week. Past years have included presentations on the animals from Central and South America, Latin America art and citizens from a number of Latin American countries who talk about growing up in their native lands. Latin American bands and Dance Theater troupes have also entertain campers. Culminating the week’s activities is a Fiesta celebration on Friday nights. Campers, dressed in traditional costumes, present dances and songs they learned during the week. Each year Camp activities focus upon a theme. Recent themes have included "Latin America Through the 20th Century" and "The Nature of Latin America."

     The classes at the Camp are taught by members of the Cleveland Latino community, giving campers positive role models who share their heritage. All other Camp operations are covered by more than 60 volunteers including parents of the campers anxious to learn about the culture of their children’s birth countries. Over twenty teen and young adult volunteers, many of who were adopted from Latin America also give support. The campers develop a special bond with the teens, seeing young adults who are "just like me." A special evening for the teen volunteers is held during the week of camp.

     The sponsor of Mi Pueblo is Concern for Children, a nonprofit parents support group in Northeast Ohio that assists families to adopt from a number of countries in Latin America, and provides continuing support and education for families after the children arrive in the U.S.A.

Mi Pueblo

Latin American Culture Camp

Sponsored by Concern for Children