Curriculum of 2015 Camp
Melanie Chung-Sherman will teach all of the Adoption Journey classes. In an effort to continue to create a fun and comfortable space for adoptees to express their thoughts about adoption, FCC-Austin presents a new format for the adoptee workshops during summer camp. These groups were created by adoptees, who are also licensed practioners, for adoptees. Though the groups are not therapeutic in nature, they are adoption-sensitive, structured, curriculum-based, and geared to allow adoptees a safe way to address thoughts unique to his or her adoption such as identity, transracial adoption, and building a sense of belonging. We will explore these through art, writing, story-telling, discussion, and interactive group sessions. Each group will be facilitated by Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S, LCPAA, CTS, a licensed psychotherapist and international adoptee with over 16 years of professional adoption experience, along with at least one or two adult adoptees and/or licensed adoption professionals to help facilitate.

• Day One—My Adoption Tapestry: In Our Own Words. Each group will gain a better understanding about what adoption means to them. We will explore the people who were involved in their adoption story—as well as some of their thoughts and feelings surrounding their story. We will learn that their story is similar to others, but also just as unique. Together they will create an “adoption quilt” expressing their adoption tapestry in their own words.
• Day Two—Trust: Are You Sure It Will Be OK? For many adoptees, trust can be a challenging concept—particularly, when most adoptees experienced the loss of his or her birth family and culture before they had words to express their feelings. Many desire to get close to others, but may fear being abandoned or not accepted again. We will explore what trust means, and how they experience trust with their family and friends. We will also explore how they can be more aware of when they may experience a “trust challenge” through drawing and story-telling.
• Day Three—Identity: Who Am I? Adoptees will discover the many facets of who and what may shape and influence them, such as their adoptive family, birth family, birth culture, and community. This will be an opportunity to explore who they are and how they express these special qualities with others. They will do this through mask making. Adoptees are welcomed to bring copies of photos, letters, magazine clippings, etc. to share with others.

• Dorothy Huang will teach a cooking class to the Dragon group and we anticipate that they will also tour the Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple for an introduction to Buddhism.
• Mandarin classes will be taught by Robyn Stringfellow and Shu Zhou and include field trips for the older campers to MT Market for shopping and lunch at Chinatown Center.
• We will skype with Top Chef winner Kristen Kish, who was born in South Korea and adopted into a family in Kentwood, MI. Kristen Kish showed an affinity for cooking at a young age. Her mother suggested she go to culinary school, and since attending Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, Kristen has never looked back.
          After moving to Boston, Kristen has worked in many high-profile restaurants, including Michelin-star Chef Guy Martin’s Sensing and Barbara Lynch’s Stir as Chef de Cuisine, overseeing all back of house operations, including the design and execution of nightly menus and demonstration dinners for 10 guests. Kristen went on to compete on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 10 where she won the coveted title, becoming the second female chef to win the prestigious competition. Most recently, Kristen was Chef de Cuisine of Menton, Chef Barbara Lynch’s fine dining restaurant.
• Lion and Dragon dancing sessions Linda Cao.
• Award-winning choir director Rick Gabrillo will teach the campers some traditional and contemporary songs.
• Campers will design and create name scrolls.
• Campers will move through centers of cultural experiences, which may include the Chengdu Panda Research Center, Cities of China, including: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and X'ian, as well as candy and fruits of Asia.
• Daily media sharing from The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment series featuring Lisa Ling, Randall Park, Michelle Pham, and Steven Yeun.

Counselors
We strive for a 1:5 ratio in all classes. We hired college students from The University of Texas China Care program to serve as the lead counselors and accept applications from FCC high school students who serve as assistant counselors. It is possible for these high school students to earn up to 45 hours of community service.

Camp Leadership
Rowena Fong, Ed.D, and Becky Harding are the camp co-directors who design the curriculum and oversee the overall camp structure and procedures.

Questions can be directed to Becky Harding.