'We are able to be normal here’

ONTARIO — The annual Dads4Life kids camp at Snake River Correctional Institution was held during the week of July 27.

The program is for incarcerated fathers, their children and/or grandchildren. The kids and their fathers have a chance to spend two full days together participating in fun activities and shared meals.

The program also includes a year-round support group, which is in its 12th year. This was the ninth annual kids camp.

For Tim McCready and his two grandchildren, this was their first year at kids camp. McCready said he’s been incarcerated for about eight years.

“We are able to be normal in here, it pulls us away from incarceration,” said McCready.

The one-on-one time is aimed at helping build strong relationships between the family members. It differs greatly from typical prison visitation.

The inmates must maintain good conduct to be part of the program, according to Shawn Green, a corrections counselor who started the program.

According to information provided by SRCI, the “Dads4Life program was created at SRCI to help meet the needs of incarcerated fathers and their children. The hope is that it will mend the parental relationship between the child’s caregiver and their father, as well as the relationship with the child. The invaluable bond between a father and child is a high priority shared by both families and the Oregon Department of Corrections.”

“It is estimated that 59% of incarcerated men in ODOC are fathers and 15,000 Oregon children are affected by a parent being incarcerated,” according to information from ODOC.

McCready said the kids began the week with a barbecue at a local church on Sunday evening before the camp started on Monday at the prison. The kids had an opportunity to spend nine hours each day with their incarcerated family member.

On Monday there was face-painting and other fun activities. In the evening, the children got to go to the local bowling alley.

The newspaper was given an opportunity to visit the kids camp on Tuesday, where family members made beaded necklaces, photo albums and played games like UNO, kickball and table tennis.

Adam Godinez has been to every kids camp.

Green said that Godinez is a good example of the program, as he was visited in earlier years by his children and now by his grandchildren.

Two years ago, one of the fathers, Cas, said he held his daughter in his arms for the first time, which he described as “the most precious moment of my life.”

The Ontario Nazarene Church houses most of the families during their stay. 

The event is fully funded by donations. Monetary donations can be made through Treasure Valley Children’s Relief Nursery at tvcrn.org. Also needed for future events are crafting supplies (glue sticks, stickers, envelopes, card stock, etc.), hygiene items (toothbrushes, small toothpaste, travel size items) and school supplies. During the event, the fathers give their children a backpack full of supplies to start off their next school year.

For more information about the program, contact Green, at SRCI at (541) 881-4825.

Antonio J. Sunseri is Assistant Editor of the Argus Observer and Independent-Enterprise. Contact him at (541) 259-9485 or antonio.sunseri@argusobserver.com.