A Message From Bianca Thoburn
I was walking through the woods of Yosemite with my mom, dad, and cousin. I was about eight years old at the time, and I felt like a true Indiana Jones. Every hill we climbed was a mountain, every stream a roaring river, and every fallen log an imposing obstacle. I was daring. I was unstoppable. I was free. After what felt like hours, we reached a clearing in the trees that opened into a quaint meadow filled with wildflowers. My younger cousin's eyes were wide with awe as she whispered "this is the most beautiful thing I ever sawed." We were all touched by nature's endless beauty, while standing side by side as a family.
This is one of those moments I look back on during my hardest times to remind myself that I'm not alone. I have people who care about me and a breath-taking world by my side. But not everyone has memories like this to look back on. UniCamp provides the resources, space, and people to make moments like these more possible in the lives of those who truly deserve a chance to smile. If I can have any part in helping another child find their inner adventurer, feel supported by a friend, or even discover the beauty of the natural world, my heart will feel more full than ever. UniCamp doesn't just offer a week for kids to laugh; it provides them with an opportunity to feel more whole in a world with a lot of broken pieces.
