Foster Children Find Home at Loyola

By Adam Dempsey ’25

As most Angelenos can attest, the final days of July were one of the hottest on record. This, however, did not deter over 15 Loyola Cubs (grades 10–12) from volunteering for one entire week (July 25–29) for over 50 hours as counselors with over 25 foster children in grades 6–8. Camp Xavier, a first for Loyola High School, was organized in partnership with the Academy Project. The Academy Project was created as a direct response to the dismal outcomes facing foster youth in Los Angeles today. Here’s one Loyola sophomore’s recounting of Camp Xavier. —Dr. Jesse Rodriguez, Director of Center for Service & Justice

ON JULY 25TH, there was a feeling of excitement in the air as 15 Cubs got ready for summer camp. But instead of being campers, these Cubs were counselors at Camp Xavier.

The first day, campers were a little skeptical of the Cubs but by midday each one had formed a bond with a counselor. The day went on with many games and activities, and at the end, the campers were all very excited that they were able to come back the next day.

Day Two started off with a campwide counselors vs. campers kickball game, followed by a robotics workshop in addition to an arts and craft project. By this point, campers had befriended other campers and gotten close with the Cub counselors.

A basketball game started off Day Three with the campers at the ready to beat their counselors. A yoga workshop was next and though campers weren’t super excited to practice yoga at first, by the end they all wanted to do it again. Then campers took part in a special arts and craft project: making ice cream. After many bowls and lots of laughs and smiles, campers were looking forward to Day Four.

Starting off with free play, it was amazing to see all the campers and Cubs playing together so naturally. Then came the special Camp Xavier “no pie.” This special pie recipe taught kids that they could make a delicious pie out of just fruits and graham crackers. When getting ready to leave camp on Day Four, campers sadly realized that they only had one day left in camp.

What was surprising to me was how sad fellow Cubs were as well. The last day was a special day. It began with an obstacle course which included speed whipped cream eating and a water balloon toss. Then the water-fun extravaganza began in a camp-wide campers vs. counselors water balloon/water squirter battle. After everyone was dripping wet, campers dried off and got ready to perform their dances that they had secretly been practicing all week. The dance performances were filled with laughter and after they finished, campers had their final moments at Camp Xavier. They were truly sad to leave and after many heartfelt goodbyes and a couple of tears, counselors started packing up camp. They reminisced about all the fun memories they had made and how they truly were able to bond with the campers.

Looking back at the experience, I truly feel I was able to build friendships with these kids. On the last day, campers gave me hugs and it was at that point I realized how simply being a friend to them could make a such a huge impact on their lives…and mine.