01/24/2025

Camp Family Justice serves pediatric survivors of violence in Contra Costa
County, California, providing them with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in
a safe environment surrounded by support services, including a medical clinic.
The camp provides the opportunity for children to decompress, learn resiliency
skills and build a path forward. Children who applied this year, and attended
last year, are now reporting that they worked diligently in school to earn the
privilege of attending Camp Family Justice for a second year.

Also contributing to Camp Family Justice is Spencer Holmes, KM6SJO, a popular
science teacher at Heritage High School in Brentwood and adviser for the
school's amateur radio club, W6HHS.ÿ

A few weeks ago, Holmes brought a box full of radios to the camp. "The kids
were excited," said Holmes. "They had a lot of questions and two of campers
took two GMRS radios and talked to each other for hours." Holmes also set up a
mini HF station. He was able to make contact with several stations and allowed
the youth to talk, on a first-name basis, with other amateur radio operators.ÿ

"Clearly, it was chaotic fun," he added. "But it allowed them to enjoy a safe
environment and a sense of community." Holmes is one of the only teachers in
the state to receive a national supporting grant from ARRL to facilitate radio
communication education.

ÿ

Some of the kids will be cycling through again this year to Camp Family
Justice. Holmes thinks he might start talking about how to become an amateur
radio operator and how he can make that happen.ÿ

Holmes is known for his dedication to education and his long-standing
commitment to the East County community. What makes this year at Camp Family
Justice especially meaningful for Holmes is an unexpected reunion with
Registered Nurse Adrianna Goyette. Goyette, it turns out, was once Holmes's
student at Heritage High School. Both are now giving back to the community,
contributing their time and expertise to the camp's violence prevention
program. Their story reflects the strength of the East County community, the
power of mentorship, the lasting impact of education and a tip of the hat to
amateur radio.

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