Building Bonds
DADCAMP Provides Quality Father-Child Experiences
Writer / Ryan Kennedy
Photography Provided
Jason Braun believes many of the ills afflicting society have one thing in common – disengaged fathers.
If theres one thing our communities, our churches and our governments should be really focusing on, it should be helping dads just become the best they can be, Braun says.
Rather than wait for someone else, Braun decided to act. He co-founded DADCAMP.
Essentially, it is a father-child experience where we create a weekend-long event for dads and kids to invest into that relationship, but we also really focus on dads themselves, Braun says. All of our content is driven at helping a father just become a little bit better at doing his fatherhood thing, and we know that when fathers get better, families get better. Thats whats different about DADCAMP from other types of activities or things that are out there for families to participate in with their kids.
Braun says DADCAMP started as part of a church in Kokomo. In 2016 it became an independent nonprofit organization.
Its not associated or affiliated with any one church or anything – its just its own deal now, he says.
Braun says a typical weekend consists of sessions aimed at building relationships between fathers and their children, and also sessions exclusively for dads, where the men work together, share their experiences with one another and help each other become the best fathers possible. DADCAMP also brings in speakers to talk to the dads in attendance.
The organization offers four different types of camps: DADCAMP High School for fathers and their high school-aged children, DADCAMP Middle School for fathers and their middle school-aged children, as well as DADCAMP Grades 1st-5th and DADCAMP Old School, which is for fathers and adult sons.
Braun has three children, and he credits DADCAMP with helping him to be a present, positive force in their lives.
The tools, the things that Ive been equipped with, the ways to navigate conversations, the ways to build them up, and the ways to have presence in their lives that Ive learned through leading this organization have been invaluable, he says.
DADCAMP will host 14 events in Indiana this summer. Although it started locally, the organization hosts events not just all over the country, but also all over the world. According to the official website, DADCAMP leaders hope to be in 25 countries and 25 states by 2030.
One way they hope to achieve this goal is through the DADCAMP Army.
What youre committing to when you sign up for the DADCAMP Army is to give of yourself your time, to give financially, to bring people to DADCAMP and to spread the word, says Gabe Greene, a member of the DADCAMP Army. Much like God calls us to do – give of your time, your talents and your finances. DADCAMP looks for that support and I take that very seriously.
Greene was introduced to DADCAMP by his neighbors and says the concept intrigued him. He has attended three times, once with each of his children, and already has plans to go back. He says he wants to spread the message to as many people as possible, and his goal is to make sure that every dad in the world knows they have what it takes to be a parent.
I took my first one and took each boy on separate times, and had really amazing life experiences with my kids that otherwise I wouldnt have had the opportunity to gain, Greene says.
For additional details, visit dadcamp.info.
