Some people call them “out of the mouths of babes” or “kids says the darnedst things" type comments, but at Reading Camp, there’s often a little more to it than that. Many of the kids who come to Reading Camp arrive shy having never been away from their parents before, spent a night away from home, or ever had much success with reading. And sometimes, the simplest of words or phrases from them remind the volunteers in attendance why they do this.
"Helllllooooo Nurse." –-One camper, ready to receive his evening medicine.
"Allison, I talked to John David, and he just needed to work out his anger. He's fine now." --Jacob, who took it upon himself to make a homesick camper feel better (And John David has been smiling ever since).
"Where are all the girls?"
--Dalton (with the award-winning smile) who was perplexed when he couldn't find any of the girls during evening snack time
"Can I have that book?"
--Katelyn, who didn't seem excited to read anything when she arrived at camp
"My favorite part of camp is the Learning Center, and that place where we made bat boxes." --Ruby
"One of my writing center classes was interrupted today when the three children, Jacob, Kayla, and Dalton, wanted to talk about how sad they are that they cannot come back next year. (They're entering fifth grade this year and will be too old to come to Reading Camp). I told them they can come back when they're sixteen and they can be counselors to children just like themselves, who will need help with their reading. Jacob gave me a big grin and said "Really?" Kayla smiled and was thinking. Dalton's eyes grew wide and with a huge smile, he gave me the biggest hug ever!"
--Tracey Meyers, volunteering for her second year at Pine Mountain, and a teacher in the Writing Center
"I am going to fail next year so I can come back."
-- Kay Kay, T.J., Tasha, who attended Reading Camp last year and came back this year for the second and last time.
"Ever since I've been here, I've become obsessed with reading."
-- T.J.
"Can I read two pages?!"
-- Jacob
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