Following our very successful four-week enrichment program in Bedford County we took a one week break before beginning the Franklin County program. The interns, Shearer and I met at Trinity Ecumenical Parish on Sunday afternoon on July 18th to get the rooms organized and our materials unpacked for the opening of camp the next day. We are grateful that Trinity opens its doors to us and allows us to use most of the building for our program. This is just one of the ways that Trinity has supported and nurtured the Good Neighbors programs from the beginning.
We have 52 children registered for the Franklin County camp. They come from Dudley, Burnt Chimney and Windy Gap Elementary Schools. This is a significant increase over 2009. The beginning of this camp overlaps with the last week of summer school so some of the children could not attend the first week of our program. We welcomed 39 children on Monday morning, July 19th and had a great first day. The numbers fluctuated the next three days and on Friday we had 42 children with us. We anticipate that attendance will average around 45 children each day during the next three weeks.
We had enthusiastic volunteers during this week and, as usual, it was wonderful to see the interactions between the children and their Reading Buddies. Bonds form quickly and the children truly love this time. As Jim Mullens has reminded us, the one-on-one attention given to these children may be the most important thing we do. It is hard to quantify or even describe these relationships but if you witness these interactions it will leave your heart tender.
The first week was excellent. The interns continue to do excellent work in planning and managing the daily work with the children. Additionally, it is clear that they have formed a close-knit community and are very good friends. This makes them a very effective team; there is a synergy that results from these relationships that brings color, texture, humor and passion to the daily work. I often remind myself that part of our mission is to provide vocational exploration experiences for the interns. We are meeting this objective.
A Few Highlights and Observations
Our program themes this week centered on nature, the interconnections and interdependence between all things in creation, environmental stewardship and how Good Neighbors live as part of, not apart from, all that exists.
- This was a great week for Shearer. She was able to take off her hat as the manager of the daily camp details (at least part of the time) and put on her hat as a nature and environmental educator. This is what she truly loves to do. As some of you know, Shearer works for the 4-H Center and the State Part as an environmental/nature educator so this knowledge and experience was perfect for the emphasis this week. We still worked with the 4-H staff and they came to camp with their resources. However, Shearer reorganized some of the cycles and facilitated some of the stations. We all agreed that the afternoon enrichments were excellent. These same themes were good at the first camp, but more dynamic and stimulating at this camp. It was clear as we watched Shearer lead the children through these programs that she loves nature education. By the end of these enrichments on Thursday I think she was exhausted but pleased with the week. And then, on Friday, she put her camp director hat back on and returned to the less edifying but critical task of managing the endless details that keep the camp running.
- Have you ever heard of the Green Gorilla? Well, Angela connected with the website – greengorilla.com and used two of their short videos to teach the kids about Mountain Top Removal and problems with Plastic Bags. These are great animated clips. A great way for the children to see examples of human activities that are destructive to our life support systems.
- On Thursday Jeff, from the 4-H center, brought live animals to teach the kids about respecting other species. Of course the highlight was the corn snake. Great program.
- The last event of the week was Family Night. At 6 p.m. on Friday evening we welcomed many of the children and their families for a short program and refreshments. The interns led the program that ended with some of the children singing their favorite camp songs. It was more like a celebration than a program. The families loved it. And – the remarkable part – we had a great turnout. There were 75 of us in attendance. Another success that exceeded my expectations. I think we are reaching more and more of the families we hope to serve.
Week 1 of this camp was a good week. Week 2 will focus on Peace Education. It will be very busy but, if it is like the Peace Education week at Moneta Elementary School, it will be excellent. Helping the children learn ways to live peacefully is one of our central objectives; I think we are planting seeds.
Russ Baskett
Program Coordinator
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