In Our Own Back Yards: an interfaith, service-based summer camp experience designed to open the eyes of campers to the harsh reality of poverty in the Charlotte Mecklenburg community.

Adult Retreat Date: February 6th, 7th & 8th

Click here to download brochure

Cost: $200 (Limited Financial Assitance Available)

Purpose:

The purpose of the camp is to bring people together from different faiths, races and socioeconomic backgrounds to learn more about each other’s faith traditions and to serve Charlotte residents in need.

This is the third year we are offering the youth camp and the first for the Adult camp.

In the past the camp had brought together youth from the Christian, Jewish, Baha’i, Muslim and Unitarian Universalist faiths and Latino, Caucasian, African American, Persian and Arab ethnicities.

Camp Updates:

If you are interested in experienceing this camp or retreat or if your would like to volunteer,contact Anysia Welsh, Director of Development & Marketing at (704) 565-5455 Ext-119 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Apply Today:

Adult Retreat: Application Download

Testimonial:

Here's what 2007 Alumni Youth Camper Lucy Bierer had to say about the camp:

"We see homeless people everyday. Some of us ignore them, some of us look at them and wonder why they don't get a job and improve their lives.

What I learned through the poverty simulation is that it is not as easy as it seems. Those who are less fortunate than us, those who are poor and homeless, work just as hard, if not harder, than the working class.

In the Poverty Simulation, I was married and a mother of two. We had $125 in our bank account and my husband had lost his job. During the days I went out trying to sell our household items and get welfare payments while my husband searched for jobs. I was turned down at the pawn shop and welfare only paid enough for food. My husband couldn't get a job, his skills were not in as large demand as before.

We were evicted from our home with nowhere to turn.

Luckily for us, five minutes later (when the simulation was over) my poverty nightmare ended, but for others it continues on and on.

Being poor is a fulltime job and I learned that rather than looking away and pretending like I don't see them...figure out a way to help. The poor are no different than me or anyone else in this room and they deserve our respect. The poverty simulation taught me to look at the poor as equals.

I know now that I will do anything I can to help whether it be giving them clothes or listening to their stories. Everyone deserves a helping hand.

- Lucy is a member of Temple Beth El