⭐ FRIENDS-TOGETHER PAST PROJECTS ⭐: 

CAMPS (2001–2010)

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From the very beginning, Friends-Together focused on creating safe, joyful spaces for families infected and affected by HIV. Camps began with a simple idea from Steve, voiced in a crowded room on the same day the decision was made to start Friends-Together: “I think we should have camps.” From that moment, an entire community stepped in to make it happen. Steve’s vision set the tone for years of transformative experiences.

 

Over the next decade, we hosted four camps a year at Camp Wingmann. Our “families” included single parents, grandparents and great-aunts raising their children, gay couples, and families of mixed HIV status. Many children were living with HIV, and many caregivers had already lost their children to HIV. More than half of the families were grandparents or extended family stepping in to raise children whose parents were no longer present.

 

At camp, children participated in traditional camp experiences full of fun and engaging activities, while families had access to essential life services, including:

• Legal aid for wills, living wills, and guardianship

• Medication education and adherence support

• Health sessions, meditation, and massage therapy

• Life-skills classes

• Age-appropriate support groups and activities

 

Thanks to these experiences and supports, the camps transformed lives. Many of the children we feared might not even reach third grade are now thriving adults in their thirties. Their survival, resilience, and growth are among Friends-Together’s proudest legacies.