What Volunteers, Teaching Artists and Facilitators Are Saying

Year after year, we find that the adults who come to camp gain as much from their experience at The Power of Hope as the youth. Here's what previous volunteers, teaching artists and facilitators have said after being at camp with us:

• The experience of learning to facilitate through POH has been invaluable. I have learned about group dynamics, community agreements and heart circles. This program been an incubator for my work as an artist and activist.
— Nadia Chaney, Teaching Artist and Facilitator

• 1% perfect/ 1% imperfect 98% to play with. We as human beings measure almost everything in in degrees of success or failure. The fact is that It is reality that for most of us nether total success or failure is the norm. "The Power Of Hope" helps the young mind to explore that 98% gray area in which most of us reside. POH provides a place where the arts and the nature of philosophy converge as a guiding light for the youth going through the trials and tribulations of being to young to be old and to old to be young. To learn personal survival skills. Thank you Power Of Hope.
— Bob Frazier, Teaching Artist

• I have never been able to be myself as much as I have at POH camp. Even now when I am out in the "real world" I remember the things that happened and the way I felt and I try to bring those feelings to everyday life.
— Madison, Volunteer

• I think the reason POH attracts such an extraordinarily talented pool of volunteers is because the POH experience is a two way street. When you help heal people’s lives by creating a safe environment for them, truly listening to them, and helping them to express their creative and genuine selves, you are also transformed.
— Camp Staff

• Working with people through Power of Hope opened my eyes to how much is possible in a week: how people of all ages, experiences and identities can embrace one another and lift each other up to levels they believed impossible seven days before.
— Camp Volunteer

• It is hard for me to put into words what it feels like to spend a week with teenagers, some who are beaten down by their lives, dancing, singing, writing, connecting, validating, supporting and being real on so many levels and then at the end of the week watch them leave full of real hope and passion about their futures.

• (I learned…)What is possible in just one week, with support, focus and determination - I learned a way to contribute to transformation.

• The youth have a lot of potential and talents that need to be revealed by programs like the Power of Hope.

• Being here will help me be a better teaching assistant in the fall at University of Washington. I have more confidence in my ability to relate to teenagers—especially useful with all the new first-year students.

• It gave me confidence in my ability to facilitate experiential learning.

• It gave me hope that people of different backgrounds can find common ground.

• The Power of Hope was the most amazing conference I’ve ever been to. Thanks and can I come again next year?