This camping experience of a lifetime is for young African American youth, ages 8-17 who are interested in being challenged to their full potential in life. The male program (Simba Circle) was instituted in 1993 when a group of African American community leaders recognized that there was a need to mentor young black males into becoming healthy, non-violent adults.  The actual male camping experience began in 1994 through grant support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  In 2004, The Simba Circle broke off from the ELCA and is incorporated under the umbrella of Rescue, Release, and Restore, Inc. a non-for-profit 501 c 3 entity.  The actual female camping experience (SIMSA) began in 2007.  During these camping experiences youth are introduced to an Afrocentric orientation to life focusing on these six basic elements: The Centrality of Community, Spirituality, Harmony with Nature, Reverence for Ancestors, Personal Centeredness, and Survival. The leaders who envisioned these camping experiences realized that in order to break the cycle of violence they needed to instill these six basic elements into the future youth generation’s lives. These programs are designed to allow youth to develop a positive relationship with adults. In particular, the youth will be able to interact with adult Nation Builders/Mkungas (mentors) in a non-threatening environment. The programs work to increase the youth’s relationship skills and help them to cope with society’s pressures to engage in inappropriate behaviors. 

          The camps provide the youth with a clear understanding of the program as well as the foundation for the topics areas that are covered throughout the year as they continue to meet with the adult mentors. The camps are held in rural Lutheran Camp locations and provide an opportunity for our young males/females to experience a different environment. Through conversations with the youth and their parents, it was discovered that the males/females very rarely venture outside of their communities. The overall goal of the camps is to allow the youth to step outside of their normal mode of thinking and comfort zones. The youth participate in team building activities that encourage them to connect with other youth and adults as well as to overcome fears. During the camping experience, the young males/females begin to build positive relationships and alliances in order to begin working for change in their community. This is achieved through the development of support groups and mentor relationships.

            During the camps, the youth are assigned to a tribe. Each tribe consists of two adult Nation Builders/Mkungas and other youth. The tribes reside together in their own cabin where they begin to build their support group and network as they complete different assignments and tasks as a group. Although the tribes must complete their own assignments, they also work in conjunction with other tribes to complete assignments and tasks as a village assigned by the older adult mentors (Elders). Within these groups and relationships, the youth participate in a program of activities and workshops which focus on several pertinent issues of today and the impact that they have on them.

          The young males/females also participate in annual retreats, city-wide conferences, annual Rites of Passage Programs, and bi-weekly workshops which include, but are not limited to:

          The camp sites are accredited camps of the American Camping Association, maintaining high standards in health and safety, program, personnel, training and management.  They are non-profit organizations serving all people regardless of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin and are governed by a Board of Directors.

Camp Staff