Mission House Day One Report
These words have resounded from students in our Reading Camps in all parts of the diocese this summer – from Danville to the Domain, from Perry County to Pine Mountain to Northern Kentucky culminating this week at Mission House in Lexington. I think something else “rocks” as well. I think Reading Camp and everyone who works to create and staff our camps “rock”, too. The blogs from all of the previous camps have been full of enthusiasm and inspiration from directors, campers and counselors. It is both humbling and a source of personal pride to play a part in this wonderful organization.
Many indispensible ministries have combined to create an awesome Mission House Camp this week. One of the campers walked into Mission House this morning and said, “Wow! This doesn’t look anything like school.” Thanks to Joy Hinkle, her daughter Mary Grace, her nephew Jeffrey and Reading Camp veteran Lucy Cox, the writing center has been transformed into a horse barn complete with bales of hay and red geraniums. Colorful horseshoes hang from the ceiling in the hallway and jockey silks adorn the learning centers. In the learning centers are incredible teachers, most of whom are Reading Camp veterans. Our new teachers bring enthusiasm and new ideas to our program. Our support staff, also veteran, knows exactly when and how to take care of injuries, food, emergencies and keep the learning centers running smoothly. We can also brag that C.C. Johnson is gracing our support staff for her fourth camp this summer. Even most of our counselors are veterans, and they have jumped in at noon to supervise and befriend our campers in the afternoon. We are especially grateful to the Church of the Resurrection for their bus and drivers. Without them we couldn’t have this camp at all! And what other camp has the Executive Director as the camp director?
Highlights of our afternoon activities this week include today’s trip to the Primm farm where students groomed and rode horses. After a morning in the Pleasure Reading Center with our reading dog, Blue, Rebecca Saager did hands-on science with the campers at the farm creek. Tomorrow will feature a trip to an equine hospital, Wednesday will be spent at Mission House with visiting author George Ella Lyon and water games, Thursday will have us visiting the Mounted Police barn and having a guest speaker, Becky Hahn. On Friday we will hike at Raven Run. We end every day with swimming lessons at the YMCA.
-Mary Eclov is a volunteer camp director, a member of the Reading Camp Steering Committee and a member of St. Michael's, Lexington
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