Meet the Founder
Hue Dao
FounderHue Dao still recalls a moment that changed her life. It was the summer of 2001, and Hue, on scholarship paired with funds from youth group car washes, was at summer camp on the Brazos River in Cleburne, Texas climbing a high ropes course for the first time. She had been recently adopted by Brian and Tammy Miner of Arlington, TX, and was still adjusting to the living arrangement that included her and four younger brothers.
Hue, thirteen years old at the time, was looking down from the high platform, calculating the tingle feeling and fall risk factor. Though uneasy, she remembered feeling lucky to be there. She got to do something that made her body experience fear, and it wasn’t hunger or being houseless.
“ It was something completely different—
the feeling of chosen thrill. ”
As the eldest daughter, she was liberated from the responsibility of coparenting her brothers when Brian and Tammy took charge. A huge weight lifted off her shoulders. From the age of 6 to 13, she was raised by a single Vietnamese immigrant mom who spoke little English, so Hue would accompany her as translator to interview for social services.
“ It takes a village. Countless resources were being invested in me and my brothers.
As unlucky as I felt up until that point, there were so many other kids who didn’t have access to these types of experiences.
It was a fun educational experience that I GET to have. ”
Fast forward to 2026, Hue entered an exciting phase as the Founder of The Summer Camp Project (SCP). She is deeply committed to paving a path to a thriving future for diverse young people like her.
Her vision:
“ Every child deserves to safely explore
outside the home and classroom,
and finances would not be a barrier to that. ”
The Summer Camp Project focuses on providing summer camp opportunities for young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the experience. Her goal is to maintain a simple lean model, while collaborating with community partners for resources.
Hue attended the University of North Texas, where she studied Biology and Public Relations at the Mayborn School of Journalism, with the goal to become a doctor. Over time she found other pathways to heal through her hospitality and community-building skills. In 2020 she headed west on a road trip to explore the national parks of the U.S. with her furry friend, Umami, a corgi-pitbull, and has been calling the Pacific Northwest home ever since.
Seattle is where she met her partner, Josh Lewandowski. Their first date was a walk in Seward Park just after the New Year in 2021, followed by takeout pho from Phở Bắc on Rainier. They’ve been married since 2024 and have had many adventures trekking and traveling in their van, Just Twilight, the Tardis.
Her Inspiration.
Born at a refugee camp in Bataan, Philippines to Vietnamese ‘boat people’ and raised as a first generation immigrant in Texas. As the eldest of 8, Hue grew up in service-oriented families, with many military family members including her brothers, father, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. Her biological parents are hardworking Vietnamese immigrants, and her adopted parents are entrepreneurial and generous, regularly hosting gatherings in their home.
In memory of Hue’s grandfather, Ron Miner, who was a Nazarene clergyman. She met him and grandmother Jackie for the first time coming off the church bus at that summer camp.
Ron passed away on January 25, 2026, a mere 21 days after Hue secured the website for The Summer Camp Project. She didn’t get a chance to tell him how much that camp experience meant. He left a legacy by living out his calling, dedicating his life in service to others.