We have completed the sixth week of our work with the children; this means we have completed the second week of the Franklin County camp that is being held at Trinity Ecumenical Parish. It was a very good week. Approximately 35 children attended camp each day and we anticipate the number will be closer to 40 during the next two weeks.
We continue to have excellent support from our volunteers. This week we had three Intern Assistants every day and these extra hands and eyes (and hearts) allow the interns to focus their time and energy more completely on the children. We also had a terrific Camp Facilitator this week – our board president, Larry Broomall. This is not a glamorous job (I know from experience since I have occasionally been a substitute) but it is critical in supporting the daily routines of the camp. The camp director truly needs this help. And, we had another great week with the Reading Buddies. We have many reading buddies who return every year. Several of them who worked with us this week have been with us every summer (three years) and several others returned for their second year. It is a joy for me to see the smiles, hear the stories and watch the eye-to-eye connections between the mentors and their children. I used the phrase – their children – intentionally because the bonds form quickly between our reading buddies and the children they read with every day for a week. It can be a transformative experience for both the children and their buddies.
Our afternoon enrichments this week, as in week two at the Bedford County camp, focused on Peace. Again, the first afternoon was facilitated by Unbridled Change, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons were organized and led by Elizabeth Brown. On Friday the Roanoke Children’s Theatre engaged the children in song and story-telling through drama to help them learn about compassion and understanding as a way of living with others. This is part of the Peace Child program. My words can’t capture the power of these experiences. If you experience the program you too may come away with an ineffable heart-sense of its power.
Photos from Peace Week
We took a break on Thursday afternoon for a fun and rowdy Water Day. This is a favorite of the children and the interns. The objective is to just have fun. Along the way the kids also learn to play together without hurting each other (intentionally) and to cooperate. It took the interns many hours to prepare for water day, but it was a big success. The photos tell the story.
Highlights and Observations
As always, there are situations or events that catch my attention during the week. I like to share these experiences. In many instances, they are not part of the planned program but capture the spirit of this program for me.
- The children are getting fresh fruit and vegetables – at least part of the time. These are supplied by Feed the Children, the group that is providing the food for this camp. The children like the baby carrots when we provide ranch dressing as a dip and eat the apples when we section them. I hope we learn from this and expand the offerings next year.
- One of our returning reading buddies, who is an experienced teacher, is so impressed with our interns that she bought each of them a gift card from Target.
- During the peace cycles, Angela led each group of kids in a 30 minute yoga exercise to help them experience calm, quiet and a peaceful interior. Most of us react by saying “Good luck with that.” Well – let me tell you – it worked. I would never have imagined that I would observe a group of 15 fourth-graders lying absolutely still, listening to the music of Enya and the very soft words from Angela as they ended the activity. If you want to hear the music, go to: www.grooveshark.com. This is a free radio listening program. Type in Enya and look for The Best of Enya, Paint the Sky with Stars and listen to “The Memory of Trees.” I have told several others, this is not normal behavior for nine year olds or, for that matter, any of us. It was amazing!
- A personal experience - During the Roanoke Children’s Theatre program with the kids, I was in a semicircle with the kids standing next to Rick as we sang one of the songs. The last verse of the song says – Well I’ve been thinkin, about my friends… When this verse begins we all join hands. At the completion of the song, Rick put his arm around my waist and said, “Russell, we’re pretty good buddies.” To that I can only say – amen.
I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.
“School Prayer”
Diane Ackerman from I Praise My Destroyer
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