Camp Gid-D-Up Celebrates the 20th Annual Western Style Summer Camp for Inner-City and Disenfranchised Youth

    LAKE HUGHES, CA, July 15, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When Jo-An Turman heard her husband, veteran actor Glynn Turman (Super 8) tell Coretta Scott King and Andrew Young, during a peace conference in Atlanta following the Los Angeles riots, they would start a camp for inner-city youth she was caught completely unaware. Nearly 20 years later it remains on of the best surprises of her life.

On July 15 through 17, The IX Winds Ranch Foundation, a 501 3 organization founded by the Turmans, will host its 20th Annual western-style summer camp program, Camp Gid-D-Up, for disenfranchised inner-city and at-risk youth. Free for all attendees, the camp will be held on their 20 acre ranch located just north of Los Angeles in the high desert.

Thirty-five youth will attend the three day camp where they will learn to ride horses, swim, rope steer heads, catch tadpoles and frogs, toss horseshoes, create arts & crafts, archery, ride Mighty Bucky (mechanical bull), hike, sleep under the stars, stargaze, have campfires, sing songs, create skits, share thoughts, make new friends, breathe fresh air, play and enjoy nature. The camp will commence with the campers attending the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in the City of Industry where Glynn is the rodeo's Grand Marshall.

Camp Gid-D-Up provides an opportunity for inner-city and at-risk youth to experience a western lifestyle, learn and interact with nature in a desert biome and observe astronomy in an unpolluted environment.

"I always wanted to go to camp and now I have a chance; I can't wait to ride a horse for the first time," says 11-year-old Jeremiah, a soon to be camper. This feeling was echoed by several other campers last year during the camp.

"We are blessed to be able to give back to so many youth over the years who might never have an opportunity to experience summer camp," says Glynn. "We love what camp does for kids, the friendships and bonds that are developed, it changed both mine and Jo-An's lives and we are so fortunate to be able to give others a chance to experience this joyful lifestyle."

"Camp gives kids an opportunity to experience free play and make new friends," says Jo-An Turman. "Because of our love and belief in the effect camping has on youth, especially disadvantaged youth, we proudly serve as Board Members on American Camp Association's National Board of Directors, and hopefully our mission is to expand camping opportunities to more under-served youth throughout the country and the world."

Many campers face serious academic deficits, are from broken homes, have never been out of their communities and some have had delinquency issues.

The camp introduces them to the concept of being good stewards of the environment who celebrate recycling, replenishing nature and outdoor recreation. Camp is one of the last places kids can play freely outdoors.

The IX Winds Ranch Foundation and Camp Gid-D-Up was founded as the result of a promise to the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Ambassador Andrew Young, by Emmy Award winning actor Glynn Turman and his wife, Jo-An. At a conference to bring peace among youth gangs following the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles; the couple offered a plan to remove youth for the stresses of the inner city, returning them to nature as a tool to instill core social and environmental values and allow them to make new friends.

For nearly 20 years, the Turmans have operated the camp through their non-profit IX Winds Ranch Foundation. Over 90% of the campers who have attended Gid D Up have gone on to college, technical school, the military or found gainful employment. Their impact can be felt over the years.

The campers will learn the physics of motion associated with roping, riding and hiking. They also learn about farming and wildlife while attending the retreat. Mentors and tutors are available to help increase basic academic and social skills. Because there are few city lights, campers will be able to map the constellations as ancient observers did so many years ago. They will have an opportunity to appreciate an agricultural way of life by interacting with farm animals and gardening, a first for many of the youth.

This year's campers are coming from Compton Jr. Posse Equestrians, Omega Young Men, Santa Clarita Boys and Girls Club and several foster and inner-city youth. This year's sponsors and contributors who make the camp retreat a success include: The James Pickens Jr. Foundation, LaTanya and Samuel L. Jackson, Supervisor Michael Antonovich (SD5), Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA Brotherhood Crusade, Mathis Brothers Furniture, Councilman Bernard Parks (CD 8), Earl and Denise Billings, James and Jackie Castillo, John Wesley Houston, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, Dawnn Lewis, Gizelle Pearline Production, inc., Valerie and Mike Bean, SMS Talent, Inc., Keith and Dionne Williams, Pat Prescott, J Anthony Brown, The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and several others.

Contact: Jo-An Turman - 213-819-1519, [email protected]

ABOUT IX WINDS RANCH FOUNDATION: Camp Gid-D-Up, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization managed by the foundation, provides unique opportunities to inner-city and at-risk youth. Founded by Emmy Award winning actor Glynn Turman and his wife, Jo-An, as a promise to the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Since its inception over 1,000 youth have attended the free multi-cultural western-style summer camp on the ranch. The youth learn to ride horses, rope, swim, toss horseshoes, do arts and crafts, hike, ride Mighty Bucky (mechanical bull), archery, sleep under the stars, play, enjoy nature, make new friends and breathe fresh air. For more information visit: www.campgiddup.org or www.ixwindsranch.org.

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