Camp Gid-D-Up Celebrated its 21st Annual Western Style Summer Camp for Inner-City and At-Risk Youth

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) It has been more than 20 years of hosting Camp Gid D Up, a western style summer camp for inner-city and at-risk youth, founded by Emmy Award winning actor Glynn Turman (House of Lies) and wife Jo-An. The camp was launched in 1992 following the civil unrest in Los Angeles.

On September 15, 2012 The IX Winds Ranch Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization founded by the Turmans, hosted its 21st Annual western-style summer camp program, Camp Gid-D-Up, for disenfranchised inner-city and at-risk youth. Free for all attendees, the camp was held on their 20-acre ranch located just north of Los Angeles in the high desert.

Nearly 20 youth, ages 14 and 15 from actor Hill Harper's (CSI NY) 'Manifest Your Destiny' empowerment group, along with seven mentors, attended the day camp where the youth rode horses, swam in the pond, roped steer heads, tossed horseshoes, created arts & crafts, did archery, rode Mighty Bucky (mechanical bull), sang camp songs, breathed fresh air, and enjoyed nature.

Actor James Pickens, Jr. (Grey's Anatomy), who is a major sponsor of Camp Gid D Up, surprised the youth by spending the morning of their ranch day with the youth; teaching them how to rope. "I am proud to support Camp Gid D Up; I feel what Glynn and Jo-An are doing with these kids is amazing and I have seen lives changed because of this program," said Pickens.

Another actor and Camp Gid D Up sponsor, Earl Billings (Something New) and his wife Denise spent the afternoon with the youth.

"This was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience for our mentees, we really appreciate this opportunity," said Manifest Your Destiny's Executive Director Nichelle Garrett.

Prior to the camp day, the IX Winds Ranch Foundation took 40 youth on a camp outing to the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in the City of Industry where Glynn was the rodeo's Grand Marshall. Several former campers are now competitors in the rodeo and or have professions relating to animals.

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 livestock and nature in an unpolluted environment.

"Camp still amazes us year after year. To see these kids light up and let down their guard once they are at the ranch never gets old," said Glynn Turman.

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. Twenty years ago at a peace conference in Atlanta 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 more than 20 years, the Turmans have operated the free western style 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.

Each year, campers 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. They 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 sponsors and contributors who made the camp retreat a success include: The James Pickens Jr. Foundation; Supervisor Michael Antonovich (SD5); Earl and Denise Billings; Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (SD2); Garrett Morris; James and Jackie Castillo; Mathis Brothers Furniture; Councilman Bernard Parks (CD 8); SMS Talent, Inc.; The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and several others.

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, arts and crafts, sing songs, 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.

Contact: Jo-An Turman - 213-819-1519, ajturman@gmail.com