Camp Choson is a Korean Culture Camp.

BACKGROUND

Camp Choson was originally created by adoptive parents for their Korean adopted children. As adoption numbers reduced and many Korean adoptive youth grew older, the demographic, need, and direction has changed, but the need for a space that supports, models and nurtures a connection to Korea as an important and positive part of children’s narrative hasn’t changed.

● Knowing the path many BIPOC and mixed-race youth hold, we hope to provide a culturally rich environment that is conducive for many on their journeys of discovery into who they are and where they came from. We see narratives and identity formation as key and to be nurtured through positive role models, access to cultural content, professional resources, and an immersive experience of being around primarily Korean adopted and mixed Korean youth, counselors, and leaders.

● Korean adoption has been an integral part of who we are from the board down to campers. We explore the uniqueness of that situation, how we can connect to Korean culture and what the middle ground looks like.

OUR MISSION
(Who we are and what we do today)

Fostering positive connections to and identity formation with(in) Korean heritage, culture, and community

VISION (How we see ourselves, our people, and our space moving forward)

Creating an immersive space that supports, models, and nurtures the many understandings and experiences of having Korean identities, so individuals can see themselves and their connection to Korea as an important and positive part of their narrative.

VALUES (What we value)

Positive Narrative

▪ Fostering positive self-image and identity connected to Korea and learning to celebrate oneself and their cultural connections

Community

▪ A place for individuals connected to Korea to unite with a community that has similar stories and experiences

Healing

▪ Engaging youth of Korean and mixed-Korean backgrounds as they live, play, and work in primarily white spaces

▪ Attending to the confusion, trauma, and curiosities of Korean adoptees’ individual and collective stories

Growth

▪ Helping people understand their connection(s) to Korea, Korean culture, and other Korean individuals

Discovery

▪ Discovering and deepening understanding of the Korean language, culture, tradition, and history

Camp Choson is governed and sponsored by the St. Croix Korean-American Cultural Society, a non-profit, 501c-3 Corporation, whose Board is composed of all volunteers.