Riding down a zip line... at Reading Camp?

On Thursday at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp, campers visited Potter's Ranch for their afternoon fieldtrip. So after a morning of intense learning centers, what did they get to do? Well ride horses and fly down a zip-line of course. Many campers mentioned that the visit to Potter's Ranch (particularly the zip line!) was the highlight of their week.

Northern Kentucky End of Camp report

Northern Kentucky Reading Camp Day 4 & 5 report
July 19, 2008

Well, here we are: a year and a half of planning and with a blink of an eye we are on the other side of a successful camp. Our 14 campers worked hard and played harder to bring learning and tales of success to Northern Kentucky for the first ever Reading Camp.

Thursday the kids went to a place called Potter’s Ranch where they had the opportunity to wall climb, ride a pony, and zip line! The wall was a 40 foot tall rock climb and in my group of 6, 5 made it to the top. Alec was the first to climb and three times he wanted to quit but was inspired by his peers to continue. “Let’s go Alec, let’s go!” And when he rang the bell on the top of the wall, he set the tone for the day. You can do anything you put your mind to with hard work and support of friends!

The zip-line provided more opportunities for challenging your fears. Like with Casey. She got to the top of the line was all harnessed in and “had to go to the bathroom.” Again, the others gave her a pep talk and encouraged her to try again and she did it…and it was impossible to wipe the smile off her face for the rest of the day. The day was blazing hot but the kids’ sprits never dulled as they faced their fears, challenged themselves mentally and physically, and cheered each other on in what was certainly a fan favorite afternoon!

Friday was bittersweet. Every kid asked someone if they could come back next week. While we enjoyed the sentiment, the adults all agreed that we would have to nap first. The kids were sad to go but had made some wonderful friends (bff!) and made noticeable progress in their reading skill and confidence levels. Friday culminated with a celebration for the kids where we invited parents of the kids and friends of the camp to join us and celebrate the kid’s success! And 13 kids had at least one parent at the celebration taking pictures and crying for their children’s successes.

It was wonderful to meet the parents and to hear stories about how excited the kids were about camp. Several, if not all, asked about the possibility of their kid coming back next year. And remember Cheyenne? The quietest girl in Northern Kentucky? Her mom told me a story that on Thursday night she woke up in the middle of the night got dressed and went back to bed because she was afraid of missing the bus in the morning. It was a special afternoon.

And can I tell you about the swag these kids left with! With the generosity of each church and friends of Northern Kentucky Reading Camp (like Kenton County Public Library) each child left with 9 books in their bag…and that doesn’t include the 2 Reading Camp gives them! HOLY COW! And you should have seen the excitement on their faces when they got to pull out each book and admire the adventures on which they were about to embark.

So that’s it from me, I guess. We’ll see you next year!

- Ringmaster Hillie Gaither is a volunteer camp director from Trinity, Covington with the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp

Perry County Day Four & Five Report

I have no excuse for not being as conscientious a blogger as the rest of the camp directors--I just wanted to collapse at the end of each day and hang out with my kids, and I have horrible, slow dial-up, and...well, they're all just excuses, and lame ones, at that. Also, I'm really intimidated by the wonderful posts from the other camps. And to top it off, my camera, with all the camp photos, went missing sometime Friday afternoon. Is it at Pine Mountain? Somewhere in the Challenger Center? Lost in my van? Who knows? You'll just have to imagine the images. But here it is, the last post from Perry County.

Thursday went wonderfully. After centers, we traveled to the Buckhorn dam, where we were able to see how the locks work and learn all about the flood control functions of the lake. We also learned about snakes, and amidst much shrieking and squealing, we all got to hold two friendly ball pythons, Kira and Lucy. This excitement was courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers, who are responsible for maintaining the lake. There is a term that is much in vogue among environmentalists and child advocates now--Nature Deficit Disorder. Sometimes I worry that I focus on the "camp" part of Reading Camp more than the "reading" part, but I really believe that learning to see ourselves as stewards of the earth is just as important, in the long run, as being able to read.

Friday was the last day for the Perry County Reading Camp--a poignant last day for me, since I won't be the director of the Perry County Camp next year. (My children are growing up so fast, and I begrudge every moment I spend away from them, so I'm stepping back from the Perry County camp, although I plan to remain active on the steering committee and with other camps. By the time my little girl, Lily, is old enough for mini-camp at the Domain, my son, Carson, will be sixteen--he can be a counselor at the Domain Reading Camp 2013, I can be a a teacher, and Lily can go to mini-camp! But enough personal stuff.)

The kids rolled into the centers with the usual:
"So now, will I be able to come back next year?"

"What if I stay back a grade?"

"I can do this next year at the Domain or Pine Mountain but spend the night too?!"

"You should really do Reading Camp for fifth graders!"

"When can we go hiking again?"

"I want a snake. Do you think my mom will get me a snake for a pet?"

(Okay, so that last one wasn't usual, but after our Thursday snake visit, lots of the kids are convinced that a ball python is the perfect pet...)

After a rowdy start, the kids settled down for one last day of centers. I'm always amazed at how much learning we manage to pack into just one week. Our curriculum is incredibly effective. One of the primary pedogogical constructs of Reading Camp, one that we repeat frequently, is that Reading Camp doesn't look like school. We play games! We offer lots of personal attention! We make kids see that they can be successful and that reading is fun! I can't help wondering what life would be like if school were more like Reading Camp--every child nurtured, cosseted, loved. Education made fun. Attention given where it is needed. A Utopian ideal, for sure, but perhaps one worth striving for.

We capped off the week with a visit to the Challenger Center. Located on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College, the Challenger Center is an amazing experience for school kids. Tom Cravens, the director, has been a long-time supporter of the Perry County Reading Camp. The kids were able to visit the Mars Invasion exhibits, and explore water erosion, gravity, centrifugal force, and much more.

Our campers looked forward to this all week, and they were thrilled to get to visit the Challenger Center. After they explored the exhibits, we made homemade icecream in a bag (if you haven't tried this, do it this weekend!!), and then, suddenly, camp was over. I handed the kids over to their parents, and hugged Dwight, Shelly, Tyne, and Jimmie Dunn, who would be heading to Pine Mountain. I have to say that the counselors are amazing people. This would make the third camp in a row for Dwight and Tyne, and the second for Shelly and Jimmie. We work hard to make camp an amazing experience for the campers, but for me, the experience of the counselors has always been just as central. I feel so blessed to have gotten to work with Major Tim Cory, the instructor for the Perry County JROTC. I've never respected anyone more--if you want to be encouraged about the education system in general, teenagers overall, and the possiblity of adults making a very real difference in the lives of young people, then you need to meet Major Tim Cory. I can't emphasize how lucky I've been to get to know him. I count his friendship as one of the great gifts of Reading Camp. The JROTC kids have been incredible, and I look forward to working with them again.

Friday afternoon, the last kid pulled out of the parking lot, and the counselors pulled out in my van, loaded with materials for Pine Mountain. The Perry County Reading Camp was over for another year. We helped eighteen kids to become better readers, and the lives of the teachers and counselors were enriched in the process. Is there really anything more to say? This ministry is so important. The phrase "what would Jesus do" has become a one-note pop-culture joke, riffed upon, satirized and ridiculed. I'm no theologian, but I can tell you this: Jesus would do Reading Camp. Maybe he'd be that inexperienced teacher we stick in Pleasure Reading, the one who looks a child in the eye and says "Read to me. We've got time."

Maybe he'd be the counselor who not only puts up with but finds a way to love the clingy, needy child hanging off his elbow and demanding constant attention.

Maybe he'd be the support staff person who prints out, sorts, and cuts photos, making sure all the children have some to put in their journals.

Maybe he'd be a parishioner, writing a check and offering support.

Or maybe, just maybe, Jesus would be a little child. Maybe he'd be a child who didn't read so well. A child who was always in trouble at school, who acted out and up, who made teachers roll their eyes and grit their teeth. A child who just needed a little extra help and little extra love. Who knows how Jesus would show himself? I don't claim to know. But I know this: Jesus would do Reading Camp.

-Jenny Williams, Camp Director and Reading Camp Steering Committee member.

Northern Kentucky Day Three Report

The day began early, with recounts of many hours of reading the night before from the campers. Then off to the reading centers...a typical day (if any day at camp could be called typical) at Reading Camp. I arrived a bit before lunch (I am a counselor), and along with the other (mostly male, remarkably enough) counselors, enjoyed being regaled with short stories from the kids of what they did in their centers, which ones they liked the best, writing and pleasure reading, and that everyone's favorite fruit seemed to be bananas.

Shortly thereafter it was off to our first outing of the day...Bi-okoto, which is a cultural institute of african dance and drumming. We learned about the continent of Africa, the second largest continent, and about how there are 450 different languages and dialects spoken in Nigeria.

Then we learned how to play each type of percussion instrument our group had and played a very musical song. African dance was next. We learned dance moves that were about respecting ourselves, the earth, our ancestors, and the rules. After another bus ride it was off to the most awaited activity of the day...the pool! It was there that I was informed by Tiffany that she “wished this camp would last forever!”, to which I heartily agreed.

And after a late snack at the pool it was back on the bus to head back to Trinity for the final moments of another day at Reading Camp. The kids were all tired but were promising to read tonight and bring in their library card forms in the morning as well as being so excited about tomorrow.

- Volunteer Jessica Otten is a Reading Camp coiunselor from Trinity, Covington with the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp

Clown college graduates

A murmur of hope

The library at Pine Mountain Settlement School comes alive each morning as learning centers begin at 9:00am. The voices of children and teachers fill the building with a happy hum. I call it a murmur of hope. Teachers and staff comes to Reading Camp with hope that the campers will succeed in gaining confidence in themselves. They hope to reach that place inside each child where a spark is kindled. The children respond to the individual attention they receive and their voices are like music as they enter into dialogue with the teachers and play the games that make learning fun. I wish everyone could hear it. The music doesn’t end at the learning centers. Our wonderful counselors and support staff make it possible, in harmony with the teachers, for the children to play, sing, and learn about friendship. They also have the advantage of the excellent environmental program provided by the Pine Mountain Settlement School staff.

-C.C. Johnson is a member of St. Raphael’s, Lexington and is volunteering at four Reading Camps this summer

Pine Mountain One-Liners

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

Reading for pleasure

One of the very important reading centers at Reading Camp is the pleasure reading center. While other centers (Phonics, Decoding, Strategies, Comprehension, and Writing) focus on learning and fine tuning skills, the pleasure reading center helps the students build confidence on the skills they already have, become more comfortable with books, and help learn that reading is a fun activity. It is in the center that the children can choose a book of their own to read alone, with an adult, to another camper, or even to a reading dog!

Northern Kentucky Day Two Report

Northern Kentucky Reading Camp Day 2
July 15, 2008

So I was hoping that by today I would have a story that would reach the masses. You know, one that would really tug on the ‘ol heart strings. The cornerstone of this week’s camp, you know? One that makes us scream… “THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS!” Nope not yet. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’re making some great progress here at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp, but no one’s waking us up at 430 in the morning getting dressed to start reading.
But here’s what has been happening:

*Yesterday in Ms. Gay’s reading strategies, the kids were learning difficult adjectives. We looked over and there was this girl jumping up and down throwing arms up with wide eyes…exuberant. She was describing exuberant.
*Yesterday with the puppeteer the kids learned the difference between an antagonist and a protagonist. This morning, Kara asked Ms. Nicole from the writing center to come read her journal and she had written a little story about “Joe the protagonist.”
*Ms. Lisa in reading comprehension shared a poem with the kids about how clowns shake hands. Then had them put on clown shoes and shake hands like the clown from the poem.

I am super impressed by our teachers. These ladies are so mindful of the individual needs for these children and are willing to come early or stay late to think about the next day and how the kids can be helped. Again with the dedication!

Also a special thanks to George Ella Lyon who came to speak with the kids about the writing process! She, as always, is a special friend to Reading Camp and we are thankful for her participation in our first ever Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.

Finally I would like to also thank Carrie from Gigglebox. She brought a wonderful program from her new puppet and theater company we really enjoyed having her.
Again, things are progressing and we learn more about the kids and their behaviors and needs we are looking forward to what’s next!

- Ringmaster Hillie Gaither is a volunteer camp director from Trinity, Covington with the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp

Some amazing progress is being made in the Learning Centers!

While standing in line for lunch today, I spoke with Joyce, the Head Teacher at Pine Mountain's Reading Camp. She gushed with good news from the mornings' centers.

Some background:
Yesterday we had a little boy named Sam in the centers who had trouble spelling some of the most common words. He had to ask for help on spelling "my" and had difficulty recalling how to spell question words like "who", "what", and "where". Several teachers were concerned and trying to brainstorm ways how best to help this boy. When Tracey, my mother and a Writing Center teacher, asked for advice this morning regarding this particular child, I said, "Just wait and see what happens. The forms his teacher sent us said that his reading level rose from 1.3 to 3.7 by the end of this school year. See how he does today."

And so....... the lunchline conversation with Joyce:
"Allison, such good news in the learning centers this morning. I was working with Sam and he is a completely different child from yesterday. I told the children about the activity for the morning and Sam took off writing a story and covered an entire page." I smiled in response.

"When the centers were over and I was telling your mother about, Elizabeth (Pleasure Reading teacher) came running out of the library, saying, "Sam was a new child today! He couldn't wait to read." Goosebumps. "And finally the Strategies teachers come bounding out and repeat the same story. Sam was right on topic, answering questions, reading, writing.... He came out of his shell."

And this is the brilliance of Reading Camp. Children realize that they're going to be lifted up and encouraged, and they just blossom in the Learning Centers. I spoke to almost every child in the line for lunch yesterday, and every single one said, "This is the best Reading Camp ever!"

"I had so much fun this morning."

"I read a book on horses/bugs/dogs and I have to go back and finish it this afternoon."

Reluctant readers suddenly become eager to learn and to improve, and they just take off.

-Allison Asay is a camp director and member of Christ Church, Lexington and serves on the Reading Camp Steering Commitee

Northern Kentucky Day One report

Northern Kentucky Reading Camp Day 1
July 14, 2008

This afternoon Steve from “My Nose Turns Red” (a place where you can learn to be a clown) came to hang out with us at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp. After every trick he performed, Steve insisted upon throwing your hands up in the air and letting out a resounding, “TAH-DAH!” After a while balancing on the big red ball, Breanne lost her balance and jumped off onto the mat. She giggled and walked away. Steve made her come back and show off her “TAH-DAH.” Basically, even if you didn’t plan it, act like you did then throw your hands up and brag… “Tah-dah!”

Our first day:
*The bus with our kids got there before most of the volunteers and teachers did.
*Three kids didn’t show up, only one accounted for by sickness
*We started fifteen minutes late
*One of our nurses for the day woke up with the flu.
*Two kids didn’t have bathing suits and
*Half of the kids don’t like grape jelly.

BUUUUUTTTT….

*We found bathing suits for the two kids
*All our volunteers had something to do when they arrived
*We got our pictures sent out on time to get printed by the end of the day
*We finished on time.
*Cheyenne (the quietest girl in Northern Kentucky) talked to the other kids at the pool
*We didn’t lose anyone at the pool (a major plus) and
*We have a group of really kind kids who are eager to learn and excited for this opportunity.

TAH-DAH!

- Ringmaster Hillie Gaither is a volunteer camp director from Trinity, Covington with the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp

Lots of fun on the Mountain

Lots of fun today at the Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp. Environmental education plans this afternoon included making bat boxes, learning about native reptiles, stream ecology, and Appalachian music.

Pine Mountain camp begins

Things are going swimmingly this morning at the Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp. The boys were the first down for the morning picture and entertained themselves rock hopping while the girls took their time to appear. The group picture of all the campers, counselors, teachers, and support staff is above. After the picture it was on to breakfast and learning centers: Phonics, Decoding, Strategies, Comprehension, Pleasure Reading, and Writing.

Click on the picture above to see someone you know in a bigger version of the picture.

Northern Kentucky Reading Camp staff

The first Northern Kentucky Reading Camp begun this morning at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, Kentucky. This Reading Camp is being supported by the Episcopal parishes in Northern Kentucky: Trinity, Covington, St. Andrew's, Ft. Thomas, and St. Paul's, Newport. This is the first Reading Camp adventure in Northern Kentucky although many members of the Reading Camp staff have experience doing Reading Camps at the Cathedral Domain. Please keep the following staff members in your prayers for the week.

Jerry Boaz
Jean S. Brann
Beth Carleton-Scheper
Nick Clements
Lucie K. Collier
Sara Dade
John A. Deaver
Melissa Dugan
Lisa Edwards
Robert Edwards
Diane Gabbard
Emily Gabbard
Gary Gabbard
Gageby Hill Gaither
Gageby P. Gaither
Rebecca Gilliam
Jodi Heekin
Nicole Howell
Camille Hoxby
Carolyn Kells
Karl Lietzenmayer
Peggy Lietzenmayer
Marilyn Noll
Jessica Otten
John Otten
Charlene Rosche
Carolyn Schutte
Bonnie Smith
Gay Smith
Lisa Stevenson
Richard O. Stevenson
Charles R. Stringer
Linda Tabeling
Molly Thompson
Brittney Vogel
Justin Vogel
Mary Ann Weiss
Ginger West
John A. West
Eric Winenger
Matthew Winenger
Robert Wolfzorn
Dee Wright

A choir room transformed into a circus wonderland

The Day Before the Campers Arrive
Sunday, July 13

I counseled my first camp when I was fourteen (that’s thirteen years ago, Lucy Cox…) and have been involved with camps, retreats, and other events consistently since. So when I woke up this morning with a huge knot in my stomach, I immediately recognized the emotions that are standard the day before camps start. Nerves, fear, anxiety, hopefulness, and excitement show up without fail like Bungee to the nearest four-square game. But through my experience I have been able to manage it with a calmness backed by the belief that when working on events like Reading Camp (you know, the really meaningful and fulfilling type events), it always works out.

Rev. Joe Pennington’s sermon today talked about our service to Reading Camp and related it to throwing out mustard seeds into untilled land not knowing the return. He said that the talents, hard work, and service of the members in our NKYRC community are the mustard seeds that we are throwing out for these children not knowing how meaningful it will be for all of them but understanding that some lives will be changed.

And let me tell you about some of these talented people helping serve NKYRC. They’re clever and creative, blah, blah, blah. This is the most dedicated group of people I know. We had our POSM training today (which we all know how much fun that is) and 27 PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR TRAINING. TWENTY SEVEN!!!! And that doesn’t count those of us who have already been trained. Nor does it count the people who have provided services that didn’t entail the training (like unloading the trailer or hanging ribbon from the ceiling). In total we have 54 people to help serve the first ever NKYRC. Did you hear that? 54 people throwing seeds for these kids we haven’t met yet.

And I would like to tell you about this particularly talented and dedicated family. Prevention of Sexual Misconduct training started at 1pm and decorating started at 2pm for those whom were already trained or couldn’t help throughout the week. A family came into the church offering their service. To quote the dad, “My wife signed me up to help while the boys are in training”. And with that they went upstairs to our reading room and transformed the room into a wonderful space for these children to learn in. This type of dedication is typical for our community. Ask for ten minutes, we get four hours and a choir room transformed into a circus wonderland.

We from NKYRC are nervous, excited about what the mustard seeds will produce, but mostly thankful for the support of our community and others who are helping throw seeds for the first time.

- Ringmaster Hillie Gaither is a volunteer camp director from Trinity, Covington with the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp

Downpours don't dampen spirits

Staff training yesterday and registration today have gone very smoothly--more smoothly than anyone who has been involved with Reading Camp here has ever seen. We have lots of veteran staff who are always excited to be back here again and also some new faces with lots of ideas and energy.

We checked in our first camper at 1:15pm and the last campers arrived at 3:30pm. We have a total of 31 campers who completed the registration and recruitment process through principals and teachers at their schools. Recruiters in the communities of Pineville, Middlesboro, and Harlan begin their process in early March as principals and teachers identify campers who are more than a grade level behind in reading, but not receiving any special education services.

The only complication in the check-in process was the immediate downpour that seemed to occur whenever a camper and their family pulled in the driveway.

After registration the campers walked through the learning centers as a sample of what was to come for the rest of the week. The entire staff and campers had a scrumptious dinner: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls, and chocolate ckae. The campers began their journals for the week and the teachers and other staff members have already been writing responses for the campers to read and respond to tomorrow.

The counselors entertained us with skits to explain the rules of Pine Mountain, we sang silly songs and danced and the campers went off to their rooms to bond with their counselors and other campers in the room before a bedtime snack and a reading of the World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney.

One camper today was walking to his cabin in the downpour and noted to the support staff member walking with him that he was already enjoying himself. "I love everything so far!"

-Allison Asay is a camp director and member of Christ Church, Lexington and serves on the Reading Camp Steering Commitee

Pine Mountain Camp volunteers

The Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp has started wonderfully today. Campers are now in their beds after hearing their mentors read the first few chapters of the camp read aloud book, The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney.

Please pray for the Reading Campers during this week that they have a safe, enjoyable, and exciting time away at camp and a wonderful, eye-opening introduction to the world of reading.

Please also add the following staff members to your prayer lists. They come from places all over Kentucky and ones far away from Harlan County like Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia and Germany! And we have a camper from Missouri!

Their diverse time and talents and the energy they’re all bringing to Pine Mountain have made this week of Reading Camp start beautifully!

Directors:
Allison Asay
Rob Coulston

Teachers:
Joyce Roth
Virginia Ballard
Sarah Knoblauch
Elizabeth Leonard
Tracey Meyers
Linda Price
Gayle Strauss
Terri Turner
Karen Carter

Support Staff:
C.C. Johnson
Mary Kersey
Clara Coughlin
Anne Hall
Eva Larue
Leah Woods
Zeke Coughlin

Counselors:
Leslie Conner
Amelia Baker
Anna Baker
Shelly Caudill
Leslie Conner
Liz Pryor
Tyne Grigsby
Dwight Vires
Max Dietrich
Alex Parker
Brandon Pennington
Mark Sawaf
Jimmie Dunn

Nurse:
Anna Bynum

Two camps at once, ready for ... George Ella!

Two Reading Camps start today, one at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, Kentucky and another in Northern Kentucky at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington. The overnight camp at PMSS has been running for several years and the one in Northern Kentucky is completely new and a ministry supported by the Episcopal churches in Northern Kentucky.

The kids begin arriving at PMSS at 2pm today. They're brought by their recruiters and parents from Harlan, Middlesboro, Pineville and many places in between. This year's new theme of outer space will be exciting, especially with Harlan County native and visiting author George Ella Lyon coming to talk about her new book My Friend the Starfinder. George Ella will also be visiting the Northern Kentucky camp this week to speak to children about the writing process.

Although the Northern Kentucky camp officially does not begin until tomorrow, volunteers are hard at work today setting up the church to look like a circus, taking Prevention of Sexual Misconduct classes and finishing last minute preparations to get everything ready for the kids who arrive tomorrow morning.

In today's Cincinnati Enquirer, there is an article about the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp. Great publicity! Check out the article linked here.