Emmy Award® Winning Actor Glynn Turman and wife Jo-An continue commitment to Coretta Scott King following Los Angeles Civil Unrest
LAKE HUGHES, CA – When Jo-An Turman heard her husband, veteran actor Glynn Turman (House of Lies) 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. More than 24 years later it remains on of the best surprises of her life.On July19 through 21, The IX Winds Ranch Foundation, a 501© 3 organization founded by the Turmans, will host its 25th 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.
Forty 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 12 year-old Brandi, 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.
