VENTURA, Calif. — Sixty young people from across Ventura County recently completed a transformative six-day retreat at Camp Daley in Calabasas as part of Camp HOPE, a specialized camping initiative designed to empower child victims of crime, district attorney officials announced Monday.
The annual program offers children who have experienced or witnessed severe domestic violence, abuse, or violent crime an opportunity to step away from daily stressors, process past trauma, connect with peers, and establish positive life pathways in a safe, supportive setting.
This year’s camp session brought together 20 children between the ages of 7 and 11, alongside 40 teenagers aged 12 to 17. Highlighting the deep personal trust and lasting impact built by the initiative, 48 of the 60 participating campers were returning attendees from previous summer sessions.
Multi-Agency Staffing, Positive Mentorship, and Community Care
The weeklong retreat was supported by a dedicated team of 30 trained camp counselors, 11 professional staff members from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, and three local community volunteers.
Victim advocates, courtroom prosecutors, and criminal investigators from the District Attorney's Office served directly alongside counselors throughout the week, participating in team-building activities, outdoor recreational games, and small-group discussions. Organizers noted a intentional increase in male adult staff members this year, providing vital positive male role models for participating youth.
Medical coverage for campers was delivered through a newly established partnership involving Dr. Anthony Walls, his non-profit medical organization Healthcare for Justice, and the Ventura County Health Care Agency. Dr. Walls and a team of volunteer physicians remained on site throughout the six-day session to oversee health services and provide medical support.
Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez (District Five) joined campers during one of their specialized group sessions, emphasizing the critical importance of community support for youth facing early adversity:
"Visiting Camp HOPE is a powerful reminder that every single child, no matter their life experiences, deserves a space to feel safe, feel loved, and find connection," said Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez. "For children who have experienced adversity, these spaces of healing and connection are especially important. I appreciated the opportunity to join the youth that have been connected through the Family Justice Center and sit in on one of their meaningful sessions. Every young person deserves to know that their past experiences do not define their future."
"Camp HOPE gives children who have experienced trauma the opportunity to laugh, make friends and create positive memories in a safe and supportive environment," added Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. "It is incredibly rewarding to see so many campers return year after year. We are proud to give these young people a place where they can feel supported, have fun and look toward a hopeful future."
Community-Funded Public Service Initiatives
The entire six-day Camp HOPE experience is provided completely free of charge to participating families. The program is made possible through a strategic combination of public grant funding and philanthropic support coordinated by the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation and its network of private donors.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office expressed formal appreciation to the Family Justice Center Foundation, individual donors, Healthcare for Justice, Dr. Walls, the Ventura County Health Care Agency, camp counselors, and community volunteers who donated time and resources to ensure the program's ongoing success.
Trauma-informed youth initiatives like Camp HOPE represent an essential component of modern victim services within the criminal justice system.
When children witness violent crime, domestic abuse, or severe family trauma, the psychological impact can extend far beyond immediate legal proceedings to affect academic performance, emotional development, and long-term health.
By combining outdoor recreation with structured evidence-based mentorship, law enforcement agencies and victim advocacy groups help young survivors break intergenerational cycles of trauma.
Programs coordinated through the Ventura County Family Justice Center ensure that child victims receive continuous care, social resources, and compassionate support long after formal court cases have concluded.
Members of the public seeking additional information regarding victim advocacy programs, youth resources, or community support through the Family Justice Center can contact District Attorney Communications Manager Joey Buttitta at (805) 767-3400 or via email at Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov. Official releases can also be reviewed directly on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office newsroom.