In 2009, 14-year-old Natalie Enriquez went to summer camp.
It was a week of zip-lining, swimming and tug of war. Typical summer camp stuff.Β
Except she took her 6-month-old son.Β
This July, 14 teen moms from Young Lives Tucson, joined by their kiddos, will gather with about 100 other young mamas from around the region in Williams, Arizona.
The annual camp, put on by the Christian youth organization Young Life, gives these teenagers a chance kick back and dig deep. Plus, the week at Lost Canyon camp comes with free childcare.Β
After attending two camps as a teen, Enriquez, now 24, returns each year as a leader, ready to give back some of what she received.Β
"I was able to build a lot of self-confidence and was able to meet so many people in the same situation," she says.Β
Moms starting at age 14, with kids ages 3 months to 4 years, get to spend a week relaxing, laughing and learning. The week includes high ropes courses with leaps of faith from 30-feet in the air, Bible studies and a carnival night for the littles.Β
"The age that all of these teen moms are, their teens are taken away, your time for fun is taken away and given to the child you have now," Enriquez says.Β
Young Lives connects with many of the girls through associations with the Tucson and Marana school districts' teenage parent programs and a local group home for teen moms and their kids, says Andrea Schlecht, the Young Lives area coordinator.Β
"We just really want to try and develop leadership in our moms because they are fully capable and have just found themselves in an unplanned pregnancy and decided to parent," she says. "We want to help them and encourage them to have the same opportunities as others their age."Β
Beyond the countdown to summer camp, the local Young Lives group meets monthly with hangouts that range from tacky proms to baby toy and clothing swaps. The evenings include childcare and dinner, along with opportunities to replenish diaper stashes and other basics.Β
"The group home I lived in was required to go (to the monthly meetings), and unfortunately, as a teen, you have that attitude where you don't want to be forced into anything, especially in a hard situation," says Enriquez, now an assistant property manager for an apartment complex. "You're already walking in with an upset mood, but now meeting these girls and saying, 'I used to live at that place. What is your room number?' They're in shock, like, 'She's being truthful. She's for real.' And then they start opening up."Β
Schlecht says this camp is more like "glamping" than camping, with its running water and dorm-style accommodations. Other teens volunteering at the camp serve the moms every meal.Β
"They're often not used to having someone their age show them kindness in such a tangible way, when a lot of times they have been made fun of or bullied because of their situation," says Schlecht, who had her oldest son as a high school senior. "It's such a sweet thing for them to know that not everyone is like the experiences they have had."
It costs about $1000 to send a mom and her kid to camp, Schlect says. The mom only has to put down $50 and volunteer for a few hours.Β
"A lot of our teen moms, when they become pregnant or have a child, they become isolated and don't feel like they can identify with friends who are parenting..." Schlecht says. "So being part of Young Lives, they begin to build community with other young moms that are like them, and they don't feel alone any longer, and they really feel like, 'I can do this.'"Β
If you're interested in donating to or volunteering with Young Lives Tucson, visit younglivestucson.younglife.org for more information.Β
