Four children outside on a grassy area playing a game of tug-of-war with a yellow rope. The children are smiling and appear to be enjoying the activity.

Camp PJ

A steady place for kids to grow, belong, and discover who they are.

Camp PJ helps youth build emotional strength, identity, and purpose through nature, creativity, and community.

Camp PJ exists to give inner-city kids the emotional safety, life skills, and human connection they’ve never been offered. We accomplish this through nature, creative expression, community structure, and belief in their worth.

Inspired by Phillip Jr.’s courage, Camp PJ helps children rediscover the innocence, dignity, and hope that life tried to take from them.

Why Camp PJ Exists

Growing up today is harder than it looks.


Kids are overwhelmed. Teens get lost before they ever learn who they are. And many families, despite their love, can’t always meet the emotional needs of their kids as they move through life’s hardest moments.

With youth programs disappearing and fewer community anchors to rely on, too many young people fall through the cracks.

Camp PJ fills that gap.

We offer kids and teens something simple and rare:
Steadiness, belonging, and a clear sense of direction.

The kind of foundation every young person deserves.

Group of children sitting in a circle on grass in a park, raising their hands, smiling, with trees and playground equipment in the background.

Emotional Safety
 A calm, grounded space where kids feel seen, supported, and safe to be themselves while learning the emotional tools that carry them into adulthood.

THREE PILLARS

*

THREE PILLARS *

Creativity & Expression
 Nature walks, art, writing, building, music; experiences that help youth explore their identity, release what they hold inside, and discover their own voice.

Purpose & Direction
 A structured pathway for teens and young adults to grow into capable, confident leaders with mentorship, identity work, and real-world guidance.

Three children playing near a body of water, with one child jumping into the water and the other two observing, on a waterfront shoreline with rocks and a concrete barrier.
A young boy with curly hair wearing a bright green T-shirt and a lanyard holding a small object, standing outdoors on a walkway with a park in the background.

Who Phillip Jr. Was

Phillip Jr. carried a protective heart and a quiet depth far beyond his age. He saw truth in others. He felt deeply. And he deserved the steady guidance that every young person needs as they navigate the world.

Camp PJ honors his spirit by helping kids like him find direction, belonging, and the emotional strength to walk their own path.

His legacy is the light guiding others forward.

OUR APPROACH

What We Build

  • For kids (ages 8–12): belonging, emotional literacy, self-esteem

  • For teens (ages 13–18): identity, capability, purpose

  • For young adults (ages 19–20): mentorship, leadership, real-world readiness

Our long-term vision includes summer programs, a leadership academy, community partnerships, and eventually a land-based sanctuary for youth development.

Every step moves toward one goal:


Help young people grow into steady, grounded adults who are confident in who they are and where they’re going.

Group of children in scout uniforms exploring outdoors with a girl holding a magnifying glass, smiling at the camera, in a field of tall plants with a cloudy sky overhead.
Two people playing chess outdoors on the ground with grass, surrounded by children sitting on logs, one with a watch, and a small wooden radio nearby.
Children playing a game of tug-of-war outdoors on a grassy field during the daytime.

Join Us in Building a Stronger Future

Whether you’re a parent, educator, partner, or supporter, you can help shape the next generation of emotionally strong, purpose-driven young adults.