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Red Ribbon Trails is a therapeutic retreat program for Illinois families affected by HIV/AIDS. The program offers family members opportunities for recreation, respite and therapy. Red Ribbon Trails was begun in 1997 as a collaborative effort among members of FCAN’s Downstate Caucus to provide Downstate families an opportunity for recreation and respite, and to ease the isolation experienced by HIV-affected families living across the state.
FCAN and a consortium of collaborators designed Red Ribbon Trails to address the multifaceted needs of HIV-affected families and children in Illinois for recreation, respite, and therapy. The uniqueness of Red Ribbon Trails is its emphasis on the entire family unit.
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Retreats offer family members:
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Social support
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Recreation
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Therapeutic interventions |
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Respite
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Information about HIV/AIDS
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Grief counseling and support
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Parenting education and support
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Opportunities to create long-lasting family memories |
Individual counseling and massage therapy have also been made available to adult campers. Family free time, where campers may take advantage of optional activities, is scheduled each afternoon. Evenings are set aside for family time around the campfire*, games, storytelling, talent shows, dances, and other group activities.
Click here to download a Red Ribbon Trails brochure.
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Summer Camp
August 14-17, 2008
Timber Pointe Outdoor Center
Four-day/three-night summer camps are held at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, centrally located on Lake Bloomington in Hudson, Illinois. Swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, canoeing, scavenger hunts, games, story telling, camp fires, massages, and therapeutic sessions are some of the services offered to participants in a peaceful,
wilderness setting.
In addition to therapeutic and educational groups, children and adults participate in typical “camp” activities, such as:
Swimming
Horseback riding
Arts & crafts
Canoeing
Scavenger hunts
Games
Storytelling
Music
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Spring Retreat
March 4-6, 2008
Bloomington
Three-day/two-night spring retreats are held at an indoor facility with swimming facilities in or near Bloomington/Normal, Illinois.
In addition to therapeutic and educational groups, children and adults participate in typical “camp” activities, such as:
Swimming
Arts & crafts
Games
Storytelling
Music
All family and volunteer applications for the Spring Retreat are due no later than March 14, 2008
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The goals of Red Ribbon Trails are:
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To coordinate model family camp and retreat programs serving HIV-affected children and families living in cities, towns, and rural areas across Illinois |
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To strengthen HIV-affected families by providing them with recreational, therapeutic, and educational programming in a retreat setting that provides respite for families in which positive memories can be created and helps them cope with their life situations |
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To ease the isolation experienced by HIV-affected families by providing an environment free of stigma in which family members can build peer networks of support |
Four-day/three-night camps have been held at the Timber Pointe Outdoor Center on Lake Bloomington since the summer of 1997. Three-day/two-night spring retreats have since been added and have been held at an indoor site with swimming facilities in or near Bloomington/Normal Illinois. Sessions tailored to children typically include swimming, boating, horseback riding, and arts and crafts. Adults are encouraged to participate in more therapeutic programming designed specifically for them. Individual counseling and massage therapy have also been made available to adult campers, who also have free time for arts and crafts or a boat ride while they are at camp. Evenings are set aside for family time around the campfire, games, storytelling, and other group activities.
The response of campers and volunteers to the annual retreat has been overwhelmingly positive, and several families have returned year after year. During retreats, HIV-infected and affected family members are provided with social support, people to talk to, therapeutic interventions, information and education about HIV, skills-building exercises to help family members better cope with HIV and its associated stressors, recreation and respite, and the opportunity to create long-lasting memories.
Here’s what some campers had to say about Red Ribbon Trails:
“I really liked the camp area. It really gave me a sense of peace and freedom to enjoy the outdoors … the best thing I enjoyed was seeing children and adults coming together and sharing experiences and leaving their sickness behind them.”
“It’s great for the kids to be able to have a safe place to talk about this disease.”
“It was just a very relaxing, pleasant weekend. Everyone was friendly and helpful.”
“I liked feeling free and open.”
When campers were asked what they most enjoyed about the retreat/camp, they had this to say:
“The open feelings and being able to converse with people of similar circumstances.”
“Seeing old friends and making new ones.”
“The people – they made me feel like I was with family.”
Other campers had this to say when asked what they enjoyed most about some of the sessions in which they participated:
“Talking openly with other people who understand what you are talking about.”
“The opportunity to share with other parents.”
“Listening to other people talk about their problems … it’s not just me hurting.”
“Open discussions and hearing others talk about their lives.”
Red Ribbon Trails welcomes HIV-affected families with children between the ages of two and seventeen from across the state. Volunteer opportunities are also available, both on-site at camp and as part of the collaborative planning committee.
Timber Pointe Outdoor Center
Timber Pointe Outdoor Center is accredited by the American Camping Association. Click here to take a tour of Timber Pointe Outdoor Center.
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