MILWAUKEE — Every summer more than a hundred Black men and boys from Milwaukee spend three days and two nights hiking, camping and canoeing on the Mississippi River near La Crosse.
It’s all part of Camp Xhongo Peace Father, Son and Friends Retreat, which is offered at no cost to participants. Everything — transportation, food and equipment — is free. Campers must be at least 7 years old, but otherwise, there’s no age limit.
The retreat is now in its 28th year.
Bradley Thurman has been busy helping to prepare for this summer’s camp experience, which runs from Aug 11-13.
Thurman is one of the original founders of the camp. He and a group of friends turned the idea into reality after attending the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. back in 1995.
“Basically, Mr. Farrakhan said if a million men go home to their community and do one thing to improve it, then you’ll have a million better communities,” Thurman said.
Djdade Denson is the current director of Camp Xhongo Peace Father, Son and Friends Retreat. As he prepped fishing poles for camp, he shared that his favorite part is seeing city kids fish for the first time.
Denson’s dad, Ronald Johnson, was one of the original founders of the camp, along with Thurman. Denson grew up attending the camp with his dad. He said he’s proud to carry on the legacy.
“It’s amazing to be able to perpetuate and continue such an amazing tradition that I grew up in, and that many of my friends and community members grew up in as well,” Denson said. “We’re working on changing the narrative around fatherhood and the way that us as men collaborate in the city.”
Many who’ve experienced the camp are the ones who continue to support it most. Denson said that shows the impact the retreat continues to have through generations.
“It’s interesting now that I’m the camp director, those same friends I grew up with, are some of the same members who help me put on camp this year,” Denson said.
Thurman said he is a firm believer that kids need guidance, support and a trip back to basics surrounded by nature for their physical and mental health. He said it grounds them and helps them grow into confident, productive men.
“If you can get boys out of the city, you can get their attention, and if you can get their attention, you can change and motivate behavior,” Thurman said.
The camp relies on community donations of money and supplies to keep going. Thurman said the goal is always to be able to include more people.
“My hope is that this thing gets enough acknowledgement and enough financial support to buy a home-based camp where we can start to service 300 to 700 hundred youth out of the city of Milwaukee, and make a change,” Thurman said.