Children from across Lewis and Clark County whose parents are incarcerated gathered at Carroll College this summer for Camp Bright Horizons, a program designed to give kids a shared space where their specific experience — one that can carry stigma and isolation — is understood rather than explained.
Organizers say the goal extends beyond a week of summer activities. The camp pairs children with structured programming, including time with Carroll's women's soccer team on the field, in an effort to build connection and provide a break from the pressures those kids often carry at home. For many participants, it is one of the few places where having an incarcerated parent is not something they have to hide.
Carroll College, Helena's private liberal arts institution on the north end of town, has hosted the camp as part of a broader community engagement mission. The program draws on volunteers and student athletes who work directly with the kids throughout the week. Organizers did not release enrollment numbers, but participation spans multiple communities in the county, making Carroll's campus a gathering point for a population that is often geographically scattered and underserved.