There’s A New Kid On The Block
Introducing Camp because I said I would
By Jeff North
Photos Courtesy Of Camp because i said I would
Because I said I would is an international social movement and nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. The organization was founded in 2012 following a viral internet offer to send ten Promise Cards at no cost, to anyone, anywhere in the world. This gesture was made to honor the memory of Founder Alex Sheen’s father, whose most admirable quality was being a person of his word. Since then, over 14.1-million Promise Cards have been distributed in 178 countries, playing a unique role in changing lives around the world.
Support for the organization has allowed because I said I would to grow and do much more in the decade since its inception. Programming includes character education in schools, prisons, and juvenile centers. It promotes volunteerism, develops tools and no-cost resources for educators, parents/mentors, and individuals, and creates awareness campaigns with a global reach.
A Promise To Help
Because I said I would has engaged over 200,000 students through school assemblies and high school chapters. What has been learned from these interactions is that today’s youth face severe circumstances that legislators, scientists, and society struggle to improve.
Here are examples of Promise Cards written by our young supporters:
“I will testify against my rapist, no matter how hard it may be for me.”
“I will stop self-harming and never try to commit suicide again.”
“I will fight my depression so I can be there for my siblings as they grow up.”
These promises are needed now more than ever. Emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts among teen girls are up over 50 percent in February to March 2021, compared to the same time in 2019 (cdc.gov). One in 13 of today’s youth will lose a parent or sibling before reaching adulthood (2022 CBEM). According to The American Journal of Psychiatry, occurrences of PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation are remarkably higher in bereaved vs. non-bereaved youth. One in nine girls and one in 53 boys will be victims of sexual assault before their eighteenth birthday. Victims of sexual violence are four times more likely to develop symptoms of substance abuse (rainn.org). These sobering statistics cannot be ignored.
Because I said I would is not waiting for more resources, better policies, miracle cures, or society to address these tragedies. A single promise can change a life forever. No situation is too hopeless to be improved. This charity can help young people develop skills that will strengthen their ability to face life’s adversities. Resiliency (the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences) can be taught.
Branching Out
To serve as a venue for additional programming, because I said I would has entered into an agreement to purchase a 92-acre lodging property in Walhonding, Ohio, 50 miles from Columbus. Here, Camp because I said I would will be a place where determination begins, tragedies turn to hope, and hope becomes a plan. Workshops covering topics like overcoming negative thinking, personal accountability, and self-control—combined with peer-to-peer interactions, professional support, and volunteer projects—will provide the framework for better days.
Starting in 2024, Camp because I said I would will host youth campers, ages 12 to 17, for two-week sessions during the summer months, with focused scholarships for those suffering from trauma, abuse, or grief. Throughout the rest of the seasons, the camp will host three-day, family-bereavement retreats, providing a place of healing after tragic loss. Through partnerships with local service providers, mental-health counselors, bereavement specialists, and victim-service agencies, the camp will provide intentional programming. The goal is to meet every participant at a level of need.
Neighborhood Support
Camp because I said I would was given a very warm welcome and a supportive introduction to the local community by the current property owner. But being a newcomer in any circumstance comes with unknown challenges. So, after a public announcement of the pending transaction, the camp reached out to area school districts, nonprofits, foundations, and business-development organizations. Supporters and locals were invited to visit the property during a weekend-long celebration of the organization’s 10-year anniversary. This was a perfect opportunity to further introduce the camp to the new neighbors, help satisfy any curiosities, and answer questions. It was an important first step in getting to know the community and build new partnerships that will enhance offerings at the camp with needed area resources. It wasn’t long before the camp made new friends, gained supporters, and received offers to help.
In the coming months, there are plans for additional one-on-one and small-group meetings with local stakeholders, and an informational meeting that will be open to the public. These sessions will provide the community with additional opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback. Camp because I said I would states that being a good neighbor is critical to the camp’s success and notes that the property must be an asset to the local community. With that in mind, because I said I would has committed up to $25,000 in camper scholarships and $15,000 for family-bereavement retreats for those living in surrounding Knox, Licking, Coshocton, and Holmes counties.
But Camp because I said I would is not only for locals. The concept of promises made and kept in improving lives is universal. Supporters from across the country and around the world can be accommodated. And all are welcome!
To learn more, visit the property, or support the organization; please visit becauseisaidiwould.org.
Jeff North is the Camp Director for Camp because I said I would in Ohio. He served as a Park Ranger for 10 years, and has 25 years of experience as a camp director. Reach him at jeff@becauseisaidiwould.org.