Camp RYSE's mission is to foster joy among refugee youth through inquiry-based learning and leadership development. Every year, we rely on generous donations to purchase supplies and resources for students and pay staff.
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Ten Fun Facts:
1) HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: Camp RYSE was founded in 2011. Back then, camp was thirty kids and a few college students meeting for half days in the basement of St. Michael's Church on Oxford Street, reading photocopied books, and going to the park to play. We were small, scrappy, and full of joy.
2) AMAZING STUDENTS: Our campers come from all over the world and speak over 15 different languages Swahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, Karen, Burmese, Nepali, Hindi, French, Sango and Kunama.
3) AMAZING STAFF: The majority of our staff are Camp alumni -high school and college-aged refugee youth representing the identities, lived experiences and language skills of our youth. Our staff are almost all people of color and first or second generation immigrants.
4) PRETTY COOL CAMP MASCOT: Our camp mascot is the Spirit Bear! He is awarded each day to the camper who embodies the 5 parts of Camp RYSE's Spirit the most: Excitement to learn, Respect, Team Spirit, Growth and above all, FUN!!
5) YEAR-ROUND LOVE: During the school year, BRYTE (Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment) provides academic support to a majority of our campers. School-aged refugee youth are paired with college and graduate students for one-on-one, in-home tutoring and mentoring. The program manages 140-160 tutor-tutee pairs!!
6) EMPOWERING (& SILLY) CAMP TRADITIONS: Every morning starts with All Camp Circle and a skit in keeping with the weekly theme. These circles are filled with students sharing themselves with the whole community--through dance, poetry, drawing, or stories.
7) CAMP BY THE NUMBERS: This coming summer, camp will serve approximately 100 students, ranging in age from 6 to 18. Most campers will have at least one sibling at camp.
8) ACADEMICS & ENRICHMENT: Students engage in hands-on learning in the morning focusing on English language acquisition, and math. Afternoons are spent swimming, playing soccer, dance, art, or going on field-trips.
9) IN THE NEWS: Many people have written wonderful things about Camp RYSE (formally known as BRYTE Camp) and BRYTE. You can read about one here!!
10) YOU CAN HELP: Every year, we rely on generous donors to make camp happen. We are so so so grateful for your support over the past 10+ years, we could truly not do this without you. Every dollar goes towards providing resources and supplies for our students and paying staff.
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