"I liked everything about camp!"

Wow!

What a incredible week it has been! We had an awesome group of students to work with, an absolutely terrific staff (the BEST!), and wonderful weather! All translated into a fabulous and exhilarating week of our first Reading Carnival Camp!

Want to know what our week was all about? Check out these reflections of our camp week written by various staff members, youth counselors, and students:

* "I loved being able to feel like I was making a positive impression in these kids' lives; it was great seeing their eyes light up when they knew they were learning." (Youth Counselor)

* "I can truthfully say that these amazing children have made me become a more positive person. This camp was a great idea and a great success. Reading ROCKS!!!" (Youth Counselor)

* "It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with this magnificent group of children. Their delight in all that was in store for them during camp was infectious! I believe that I received far more than I gave this week. These precious children reminded me of why I decided to become a teacher in the first place. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP ME AWAY FROM READING CAMP NEXT YEAR! (Teacher)

* "I liked the writing and upstairs centers. I also liked the field trips, the farm, Ida Lee and riding the donkey!" (Student)

* "I liked everything about camp! I liked the reading centers as much as the afternoon activities!" (Student)



* "I liked our cheer, "Uno, dos, tres! Ole, ole, ole!" (Student)

* "While I was practicing the sounds with a little boy, he told me he has now started using flashcards with his 4 year old brother and now he is teaching him the sounds." (Youth Counselor)

* "I got to help kids and then at the end of the day I was so tired!" (Junior Girl Scout Volunteer)

* "This has been a fantastic experience and wonderful program. This looks like it has been in operation for years--a true testament to all those involved with all the planning. This has truly been the best week of my summer! Thanks to the kids and staff." (Adult Volunteer)

* "I liked riding the donkey and swimming in the pool at Ida Lee." (Student)

* I liked the Reading Comprehension center and Mrs. Richardson's center." (Student)

* "As I walked through to repair decorations during the week, I heard so much excitement from remarks such as, 'This is so cool!' to 'The best pizza I've ever eaten!' to 'I love this camp!' (Adult Volunteer)

* "Variety is the spice of life--we had cheers, snacks, games, reading skills, remembering names....from trips, tennis, swimming, art, creating books, keeping journals--smiles galore; lots of fun! This was a group of 2nd graders who were eager to discover what's next!" (Adult Volunteer)

* "I like playing games with Mrs. Richardson." (Student)

* "I liked meeting lots of different animals at the farm." (Student)

* "I liked Mrs. Jones' center, writing, Mrs. Richardson's center, tennis, and swimming." (Student)



* "Such a great camp to improve confidence and self-esteem through reading. It was clear that the kids enjoyed everything the camp offered. The changes in the kids' reading ability in just 1 week was unbelievable; fantastic week!" (Volunteer)

* "I liked going to the Ida Lee pool and when we went to the field trip and rode the donkey, Eeyore, even though it was scary." (Student)

* "I liked playing tennis because it's fun!" (Student)

* "A great camp for kids to build their self-esteem and become more confident readers. I have never seen more smiling faces before!" (Volunteer)

There you have it! I couldn't have said it better myself!

- Laura Young visited the Mission House Reading Camp in Lexington June 2009. She is the director of the St. James’ Literacy Program at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia. She is part of team at that parish working on Reading Camp in Leesburg. Laura sent this update a few months ago and has encouraged everyone interested in the new Reading Carnival Camp to check out their new camp website here.

~~~

More of the back story about how the the Reading Camp ministry spread to St. James', Leesburg, Virginia to become "Reading Carnival Camp" is available here.

Just in from the new Reading Camp in Paducah

One of the two new Reading Camps this year was at Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah, KY. What follows is the post-camp report sent by several volunteers from Grace.

Reading Camp Articles from the “Lo and Behold” Parish Newsletter

Reading Is a Mountain of Fun!
Toward the end of Reading Camp, I heard more than one person say this was one of the best projects Grace Church has undertaken in a long time. So how did that happen?
Take 24 campers (from 7 elementary schools) whose reading skills are in need of improvement. Stir in 23 learning center teachers and assistants from Grace and 1st Presbyterian. Mix in 9 teen/young adult afternoon program leaders from Grace and Church of Our Merciful Saviour (Louisville). Sprinkle liberally with celebrity readers, a guest author, bus drivers and assistants, roving photographers, food preparers and servers, decorators, life guard, and field trip leaders. Pour this mixture into the playground, children’s library, and parish hall at Grace, along with the pool at Broadway, the River Discovery Center, Noble Park, and Venture River Water Park. After five wonderfully full days, taste the results.




Just before lunch on the first day one of the boys said, “I think all the teachers here really like me!” You could tell by the way he said it that this hadn’t always been his experience. We did all like him and the other campers, and they responded beautifully to Reading Camp. All experienced success and enjoyment in an area that is often difficult and tedious for them.
Our phonics teacher’s individual assessments identified concrete improvement in most children. By their own accounts, 22 out of 24 campers said they like reading “a lot better,” while a majority think they read better now than when camp began. Every child was able to identify specific things he or she learned. As a result, 23 said they would read more now. In the campers’ own words: “You learn more about reading and it’s very fun.” “It is the most perfect camp.” “Thank you very much!” “I want to come next year.”
Not just campers, but teachers, afternoon program leaders, and support staff all were a bit transformed by the experience of working together with these children. At least 125 people stepped out in faith with this new community outreach project either by volunteering time, donating food, or giving money. We raised over $10,000, enough for 2009 and 2010 camps, thanks to over 50 individual donors and a major gift from the Quintus Quiqley Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation of West Kentucky, Inc. 1st Presbyterian and Broadway Methodist Churches graciously provided volunteers, vans, pool and lifeguard. It was truly a collaborative effort.




I am incredibly grateful to Bungee Bynum and the Diocese of Lexington for sharing their vision with us and mentoring us through this first year, to Susan Clifton for guiding our curriculum development, and to the Superintendents and Principals for trusting us and blessing our recruitment efforts. Ann Fendley took on the task of Reading Camp Coordinator with great zest and enthusiasm, as well as a contagious passion for children and reading. She also made sure that every camper went home at the end of camp with a brand new book bag filled with school supplies and eight books, including two signed by the authors. Ann gave her heart to this project and is already thinking about next year!
Thanks to our photography team of Dan Songer, Sara Lewis Meyer, Jim Wade, and Stefan Jagoe, delightful photos are on the counter near the church office. On the “Reading Is Your Bridge to a Wonderful Future” mural in the hall opposite the kitchen, you will find photos of each camper, along with names of all the staff. We’ll keep up with the campers periodically through this year and hope to welcome the youngest ones back to next summer’s Reading Camp!
At the beginning of General Convention, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said that mission is the heartbeat of the church. Could she have had Reading Camp in mind?
- Blessings! Rev. Libby Wade





From the Writing Team
In my experience creative writing is one of the most difficult activities a grown up person can try. The process itself seems quite easy—you put the pen to paper and let your imagination fly, not to mention the fact that each of us has words, sentences, and stories which ache to get out. Yet when it comes to actually flushing out those words, tweaking those sentences, and putting those stories into a readable format, something inexplicably difficult washes over you. Your brain freezes and your hand locks up. Your words seem inadequate, your sentences seem trivial, and your stories read as illiterate gobbledygook. It’s the peril of the adult mind!
How refreshing then to spend a week teaching creative writing to children! Their eyes brighten when they land on an idea, and you can virtually see their minds churning with the excitement of a storyline, a metaphor. Writing with children reminds you of the simple power of words, and the joy, humor, and wisdom that can be garnered in the process.
On behalf of the Reading Camp Writing Team – myself, Sherry Threlkeld, Megan Durham, and Sabel Overlin – I’d like to say how proud and amazed we are of our students and all they accomplished during the week of Reading Camp. They “wowed” us with their words. It’s an experience we’ll not soon forget, and we’re already looking forward to next year.
-Matt Jaeger




To the Chefs
Many thanks to the ladies who helped prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks to our campers and volunteers during Reading Camp! Ashley Shadoan, Christy Meisenheimer, Genie Drossos, Trish Hines, and Amy Brian rolled up their sleeves, mixed gallons and gallons of lemonade, roasted hot dogs, warmed up nacho cheese sauce, and scooped ice cream (among other things!) throughout the week. Never has a kitchen run more smoothly! Thank you, too, to the numerous church members who donated everything from bottled water to Dippin Dots to peanut butter. Our camp pantry was well-stocked and the treats were much appreciated!
-Sid Hancock

Parent feedback!

We get a lot of wonderful feedback on the Reading Camp program from parents of the Reading Campers who notice a great improvement in their children's reading skills and interest after attending Reading Camp. This is a handwritten quote from the parent of a Reading Camper from Harlan County, Ky whose daughter attended the Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp last July and again last week.

Harlan Newspaper article in support of Reading Camp

We have more great publicity about Reading Camp at the Pine Mountain Settlement School last week. This article appears in the Harlan Daily Enterprise today.

A different article appeared last year in the Bell County newspaper paper as well as an article five years ago in the Harlan newspaper. What great media attention for Reading Camp!

All the media publicity for Reading Camp in the past few years is chronicled on our blog here.

Let the children come to you

This is the first part of a report about the South African Reading Camp from visiting volunteer Karen Carter. Karen volunteered in 2008 at the Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp and is one of many volunteers from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio who are supportive of the Reading Camp ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington.

Day 1

On the first day of camp there was excitement in the air. The stations were set up, dorm rooms lovingly decorated, and name tags with 18 children’s names lined up and ready to be worn. I was eager for the children to arrive and bring life to Reading Camp South Africa. As our final preparation before the children arrived Brother Daniel led a brief service in the chapel. He read Mark 10:13-16 the passage where Jesus instructs the disciples to let the children come to him. We reflected on this passage and the ways in which we would show Christ’s love to children allowing them to have an opportunity to learn English and to read in a loving environment. It was with this image of Christ calling the children to him and blessing them on the hearts and minds that the volunteers of Reading Camp South Africa welcomed the children to camp. There were songs of welcome, hugs, smiles, and genuine love and excitement for the 18 children as they arrived to camp.

Day 2

At the first chapel Brother Daniel spoke to the children about all people being made in God’s image. As I reflect on this I think of each of the 18 children that have joined us here for a week of learning and fun. In just one day their uniqueness is so apparent. There is Nomthandazo who stepped off the bus and began dancing, Akhona who had a very serious look on the first day but in whom I have seen glimpses of smiles and curiosity, there is Amber and Albernique who on the first evening found the reading corner and started reading…. I could go on through each of the 18 children they are the life of the camp and their energy and unique personalities are what make Reading Camp, whether in Kentucky or Grahamstown South Africa, so special.

Day 3

As the reading comprehension teacher I want to spend some words reflection on the stations at Reading Camp South Africa. Being a teacher here has the unique challenge of the language barrier. The majority of the children speak Xhosa as their first language. They all possess varying degrees of ability in the English language depending on the quality of their school. I learned quickly on the first day of camp that many of the books I had chosen and plans made were far to challenging for the majority of the children. I have had to look creatively at each group of children and plan 3-4 different activities for comprehension for each day. The activities vary from simple English vocabulary activities to more complicated lessons in Comprehension.

-Karen Carter volunteered at the South Africa Reading Camp in Grahamstown this July. She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

"We had a blast at Pine Mountain Reading Camp!"

"We love water games!"

A smashing success!

Reading Camp has been a smashing success here in Paducah. Twenty-four campers are enrolled with 23-24 present each day, eager and excited. Although it was iffy only two weeks ago, we wound up with more volunteers than we could accommodate in the end. With a few minor miracles and a herculean effort over the week between General Convention and the start of camp, we managed to get everyone trained and ready to go by Monday morning.

The City Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum visited this morning and the Mayor was our celebrity reader at lunch. All three were impressed. We have campers from all three city elementary schools, two county elementary schools, Metropolis Elementary (Illinois), and twin sisters from Louisville (their grandmother lives in Paducah).

Just before lunch on Monday, Tyler (4th Grader) said, "I think all the teachers here really like me!" You could tell by the way he said it that this hadn't always been his experience. You know, Tyler's right, we do all like him, and he has responded beautifully to Reading Camp.

A teacher who was a bit reluctant on Sunday afternoon asked me this morning to please put her down to teach next year. She could identify measurable and specific improvement in the childrens' work in the phonics center from Monday through Thursday.

A local doctor who came this morning to help in the Pleasure Reading Center thanked us at lunch for this opportunity. He had given us half of his one day off this week!

Tomorrow the campers will each leave with a backpack filled with the school supplies needed for their particular grade and school (even the Louisville two) along with their art work, eight brand new books (two signed by the authors), a Reading Camp t-shirt, and a packet of materials for their parents from the National Literacy Project. They will also have a book they created in the Writing Center, a journal notebook from another learning center, and a scrapbook of photos from the week.

In a few weeks we plan to mail each one a certificate of attendance along with a letter thanking them for coming to Reading Camp and wishing them well in school this fall.

We can't thank you and the Diocese of Lexington Reading Camp group enough for sharing this amazing project with us!

-Rev. Libby Wade is the rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah, KY and has been part of an energetic volunteer group who began a new Reading Camp this week. In addition to the new Reading Camp in Paducah, there's also a new Reading Camp next week in Leesburg, VA.

"Oh no, we're not having any fun at camp at all!"

"We love crafts, too!"

The Reading Camp Gazette - Wednesday

The Reading Camp Gazette
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Evening Edition

My Trip to Sand Cave
by Noah Hopper, Contributing writer
Today I went to two caves. The first one was small and claustrophobic. The second one was big and amazing and it was dark, so we got rocks and made sparks.

Going to the Learning Center
by Dominique Carter, Contributing writer
I really do like Reading Camp. I think its fun. I think Rob is really funny and Allison is very nice. She is the one who wanted me to write in the newspaper.

Sparks in the Sand Caves
by Billy Miracle, Contributing writer
I went to two caves. The first one was little and the next one was big. We had lots of sparks.

Sand Caves with Miss Pat!
By Mark Kramer, Contributing Writer
Yesterday we went to the cave. Before we went in the cave it was raining so we got wet. It was really cold when we went in the cave. We got spark rocks and Miss Pat was really nice.

Wildlife Adventures
By Matthew Parks, Contributing writer
Yesterday we went hiking and I learned new things called bat and moth and fox and rabbits. It was fun hiking up into the mountains and playing games and meeting new people. I liked it when I saw the beaver and it swam around and dived underwater.

Songs, Snakes, and Friends: The Best Parts of Reading Camp
By Dalton Shepherd, Contributing writer
I like how we learn new songs like “Banana”, “Black Socks, “Egyptian”, and “Baby Shark.” I like how we went on a little hike and we went up in the mountains. We saw a snake when we were up there going in the cave. It was a copperhead. Mr. Ben said it was a baby. I like how I make really good friends and the whole Reading Camp things is awesome! I remember last year my roommates would get on Mark’s back and he would do push-ups!

My Family
By Zachary Varner, Contributing writer
We went to Cedar Point. They have all the roller coasters and bumper cars. I got on the Dragster. Before you even breathe it goes down a big hill. It’s faster than a torpedo. We cooked out hot dogs for my aunt’s birthday. I got my aunt an iPod. We went to the park and we went to Warren, Ohio to see my aunt.

Joke Central!
How do you make a hot dog stand?
Steal its chair!

Why was Cinderella thrown off the basketball team?
She ran away from the ball!

Bungee’s Visit to Reading Camp
by C.C. Johnson, Camp Laureate

Last night I saw him in the hall.
Someone, someone very tall.
It was Bungee, he’s such fun,
He can play and he can run.
He loves Reading Camp, you see,
And Reading Campers, my oh me!
They’re his favorites, best of all
He’ll put your pictures on his wall.

Reading Camp Poll!
What is your favorite learning center?
Please circle one!

Phonics Comprehension

Pleasure reading

Strategies Creative Writing

Results of the Favorite Color Poll!

Camper portraits

The Reading Camp Gazette - Tuesday

The Reading Camp Gazette
Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Evening Edition

Water games were a blast!
by Allison Asay, camp director
Every year I look forward to water games, and last night’s games were definitely the best games ever! I loved watching everyone get soaked with water.

Camp is great!
by Shawn Posey, contributing writer
Since I came to camp here, I had the greatest time. I liked yesterday when we went to the cave and we got rocks and they would spark. When we started to go in, we saw a copperhead snake. And the food is great. Matt checks on us when we get hurt.

Fun at Water Games
by Patrick Miracle, contributing writer
I had fun yesterday. I had fun with the balloons. I had fun playing dodgeball. Their food is good. I had fun going through the cracked rock.

Going to the Learning Center
by Dessy Greene, contributing writer
Today I read a book with Sarah and I wrote a story about friends arguing and making up. My piece of advice to kids who are homesick is to think of the person you miss, like God because God is always with you.

One talented camper!
By Ethan Johnson, contributing writer
I can make a duck sound. I can read. I like water games. I like the breakfast in the morning. I went hiking and went through a split rock.

Water balloons and one funny grown-up!
By Andrea Holbrook, Contributing writer
I like water balloon fights. The water balloon fights get people more energetic. Reading Camp has more books than I have ever seen in my entire life! Rob has the most funniest voices in the whole Reading Camp. The kids here, I have come to learn, are great.

Wise one-liners
Use the knife for jelly first before using it to spread the peanut butter.

Spend your life lifting people up, not putting them down.

Rob is the craziest grown-up ever!

Poll results: Blue beat out pink by 1 vote for the favorite color of the Reading Campers

The Reading Camp Gazette - Monday

The Reading Camp Gazette
Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp
Monday, July 27, 2009 Evening Edition

Reading Camp off to a great start!
by Allison Asay, camp director
The Reading Camp counselors, teachers, and staff welcomed the campers to Pine Mountain Settlement School yesterday. Although it was raining, the campers arrived with smiles and everyone had a good day. Campers and staff had a delicious dinner, watched funny skits from the counselors, and read The Twits before going to bed. The rain didn’t dampen spirits; everyone is glad to be at Pine Mountain for a great week of Reading Camp.

A hopping visitor!
by Ruby Harris, contributing writer
Last night I found a frog hopping across the floor. While I was going up to the bathroom. I had to go and let him free. I put him on a log, and I gave him a rolly polly.

A Frog on the Loose!
by Randi Turner, contributing writer
At midnight last night, I walked into the bathroom. I found a frog hopping on the floor. I did not want to wake anyone so I let it hop. I stepped close to the wall to make it move…. I didn’t want anyone to hurt it.

Reading Camp a place for new friends: How I did at Reading Camp
by Dalton Shepherd, contributing writer
I had a very good time. I like the things we do. I like how it looks. I make good friends. I like to play.

A Review of Last Year’s Reading Camp; hopes for this year
by Dessy Greene, contributing writer
Last year, here at Reading Camp, we played volleyball and we did races and tournaments to see who won. We want to play, to meet new people, and make friends.

A review of Monday morning’s activities
by Kristen Bowman, contributing writer
We went to class. I liked the decorations of the ocean. Reading Camp is different from school because there are no desks, you don’t do any science or math, the teachers are nicer, and I can take my doll Molly to the Learning Center. My favorite Learning Center is the library because you get to read. Today I read a book about dolphins with Sarah.

Reading Camp is not like school
by Ishmael Gibson, contributing writer
I get to learn a lot of stuff. We spend the night, and we don’t at school. The Learning Center has posters and is decorated really cool. The teachers and counselors are awesome and really funny. I think that Rob is probably the craziest grown-up.

If I had an Apple
By C.C. Johnson, Camp Laureate
If I had an apple
I’d polish it real good
And then I’d think
And think and think
Who would eat this food?
Would a monkey eat an apple?
Would a mouse or moose eat, too?
Would a boy in China eat one?
Would a girl in Timbuktu?
It’s all too much to ponder
So I think I’ll just relax
And take a bite, myself, you know,
And play a game of jacks.

Reading Camp Poll!
What is your favorite color?
(Circle one, please!)

Red Pink

Blue Green

Green Orange

Purple Yellow

Results will be reported in the next edition of the Gazette

PMSS Reading Camp begins

Pine Mountain Reading Camp is off to a great start. Check-in day was plagued by gray skies and rain, but the staff responded in undaunted and enthusiastic fashion, and the campers were all checked in without any problems. The children this year are a wonderful group; they are all polite, happy, and already seem well-adjusted to camp.

Last night the campers got to meet their counselors and bunkmates before dinner time (delicious ham, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and a chocolate chip cookie for desert), and after dinner the counselors entertained us all with funny skits about the "Rules of Camp." After skits, the kids went back to the West Wind dormitory for showers and snacks, and our adult teachers and support staff volunteers read Chapters 1-4 of Roald Dahl's "The Twits" to the children as a bedtime story. Everyone was sound asleep by 10:00pm, and some children were up at the crack of dawn this morning - ready to go!

Right now the campers are in the Learning Centers getting one-on-one instruction from our dedicated staff of teachers. We have five learning centers this year: Writing, Reading Strategies, Phonics and Encoding/Decoding, Reading Comprehension, and Pleasure Reading. The children work in groups of two's or three's with the teachers, rotating through each center ever 35 minutes. They have a break mid-morning for a snack, and then they continue working until lunchtime. After lunch, they'll spend the afternoon with their counselors doing activities with the Environmental Education staff here at Pine Mountain. Throughout the week, they'll be learning about Native Americans, Early Settlers, Stream Ecology (they'll go searching for crawdads and minnows!), Amphibians and Reptiles, and much more.

We're having a great time so far and we'll update you with stories and pictures as they come in!

-Allison Asay is a volunteer camp director for the Pine Mountain Settlement School Reading Camp from Lexington, Kentucky who is a member of Christ Church Cathedral and also serves in many ministries throughout the Diocese of Lexington.

Somebody’s got a case of the Mondays...

It's year two here at Northern Kentucky Reading Camp--twice as many kids, many veteran volunteers and teachers, and still no idea what to expect. That’s always how it goes when camps start, though: you plan, you plan, you pray, you plan, and then the kids show up and you just have to hope that the prayers hold up under pressure.

In addition to those prayers, flexibility is of utmost importance when running a program like Reading Camp. On paper everything can seem really great and perfectly smooth, but when you add the individual personalities of each child, things can get very complicated very quickly.

You pray and you pray and you pray.

In addition to managing the dynamics of 30 third- and fourth-graders, running a reading camp requires a healthy dose of logistic flexibility as well. At one point both our guest author and our backup activity were unable to join us as planned--but with the help of or AMAZING volunteers, we took deep breaths and remembered our mantra, prayer and flexibility!

In the end, everything worked out: the kids were visited by Patti from the Covington Library and she read them a few chapters from The Twits. She was a great reader and taught us about voice inflection and how to make reading a story out loud more interesting. She encouraged us to keep practicing our reading so that we can learn to read stories with great voice inflection!

We had some craft time when we made a bookmark for our pleasure reading stations, and then we settled in for a visit from Karie at Gigglebox Puppets! Karie taught us about how to be a puppeteer and how to tell stories with the puppets. What a blast! And even better, we now know the difference between an antagonist and a protagonist…do you?

After all that work and all that play we got to our favorite part…SWIMMING! It was nice to take a dip and be outside on this awesome day.

As part of camp tradition, we take each child’s picture the first day. Nerves are not well hidden in these pictures. Some kids smile wearily, crookedly, or not at all. But we have some kids returning this year (our veteran campers), and they are holding their heads high, showing teeth! Even more pointedly, as I was walking a group up to their centers one morning, a camper looked at me and said, “You know, I get pretty nervous the first time I do things, but it usually gets easier.”

So this is what we have to remember when the daily hiccups we encounter feel more like giant speed bumps: the confidence that these campers will depart with is remarkable; that is what will carry both us--and them--along.

Remember, don’t let a Monday get you down…Friday comes quicker than you think and soon we’ll all be veterans.

We're working hard to play hard!

-Hillie Gaither, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, reports as a camp director at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.

Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.

Scorpions are not welcome at Reading Camp

The last casualty of the week was.... the nurse. As we were taking down decorations awhile ago I suddenly had a horrible burning on my forearm; I called out that something had bitten me and our outdoorsman Basil asked if it felt like I'd been burned by a cigarette - when I answered yes, he had antihistamine in me immediately and then brought out a little vaccuum-like venom extractor. My arm started swelling quickly and is now achy all over but the swelling is subsiding some with ice and elevation. These aren't the big scorpions like we have in the states; much much smaller but I can attest that they pack a wallop of a sting. Will pay attention to it and if it's not better tomorrow will check in with a doctor.

We got all our little chicks home safely, albeit with few dry eyes. I've just arrived back at the Monastery where I'll spend the night and attend church in the AM. Sunday church here is fabulous. Neighboring folks come from all around and there are tons of children, and lots of drums and dancing, local music and a boatload of incense. Makes "smells and bells" services at home look, sound and smell pretty tame.

-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.

Danville camp press

The Danville Reading Camp running this week at Trinity Episcopal Church has been featured in a newspaper article in this week's Advocate-Messenger. The article can be found online here.

The wonderful ripple

I am moved this morning by ripples...the ripple effect...seemingly tiny things which occur or which we do and don't view as being particularly significant until later. Yesterday a copy of my 1st blog was being passed around among the staff. Kitchen volunteer extraordinaire Sheila Amery asked to see it and I watched as she read it. Suddenly her face changed, her hand went to her heart and she exclaimed "Oh my..." I asked her what had touched her and she said the story about the children feeling like kings and queens because of how they were being fed and cared for. She explained that she had no idea that was how they felt. She had previously thought all she was doing was a small task but that now she saw it as, in fact, very important, with a deep impact on the children.

We have two campers who are returners from last year's camp. The ripples in them are clear and being commented on by all who knew them from last year. When I first saw Sivenathi on the bus last year she was slunk down in her seat, unsmiling and very unsure both because she didn't know anyone else and didn't know how she would be accepted because of her severe burn scars. She slowly opened up during camp and her teachers have commented enthusiastically about her progress and leadership amongst the other students. When she bounded on to the bus this year it was hard to imagine this was the same person. She is now bounding with a quiet confidence and joyful self-assurance that is lovely to see. This may sound strange, but her face has opened up so much that the scars truly are hardly noticeable now. Likewise, Zimi was a bloom very tightly shut last year; hardly speaking and very hesitant. Kary and I agreed that we don't think we saw him smile until the last day of camp last year. He still is a bit quiet, but immediately noticeable on Sunday was a bit of a strut...that he felt he was surely the man who knew what this was all about. What has been a wonderful ripple, as Matt describes it, is to see that Zimi feels an ownership in the process and is showing definite leadership. On a night walk last evening Zimi recognized the brambles that others were about to walk through and enlisted his friend Tembisile to team with him and use their walking sticks to hold back the brances, clearing the briars so that all could walk through safely.

Finally for right now, a beautiful ripple is seen in the life of counselor Ntsika. He is still as beautiful, fun and loving as he was last year but now with a new maturity and confidence after spending an internship last December - February at a Washington, DC newspaper. This opportunity was arranged for by the Brothers and it clearly has made a huge difference in him. Last night one of his campers was clearly feeling homesick and I thought I might be needed during the night, but instead Ntsika handled it beautifully and in a very fatherly manner and little one was full of smiles at breakfast.

Mother Theresa liked to say that she didn't do big things, but rather that she did small things with great care and love. May we always act so; the ripples may not be immediately evident to us, but they are most certainly there.

-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.

Lessons from the Barn

At the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp, the sense that we are a group of special friends taking this wonderful journey together has become palpable. We’ve got this learning center thing down and are obviously working hard with our fabulous teachers all morning long. But today we found out that our learning doesn’t stop when we leave the centers.

After lunch we boarded our big yellow bus and headed from the city to the country over in Ohio. Since our theme is horses, it seemed appropriate to take a field trip to a local stable just across the river. The happy chatter and excitement as we debarked upon our arrival at Bridle Path Stables indicated that the campers were ready to have some fun riding a few kindly horses and learning a little more about them. No one was really prepared for any life lessons, but those lessons found us there at the stable.

Taz was one of the first horses we met at Bridle Path. He’s a small reddish colored Quarter Horse, small enough to be labeled a pony, not a horse. Taz and his horse-sized buddy Jet-Di demonstrated some lightning fast runs through the barrels and poles. It was thrilling to watch. Mary, our guide, pointed out that while Taz is smaller than Jet-Di, he’s equally as fast, sometimes faster. Taz was not limited at all, despite his small stature. We learned from Taz that your limitations only hold you back if you let them.

Spartan is a huge thoroughbred with incredible bloodlines and even more incredible muscles. This guy was definitely bred to be a world class racehorse. For many years, Spartan tried to please his trainers by racing, but it just wasn’t in him. Finally, someone let Spartan try jumping. We watched as Spartan took jump after jump like it was nothing, and could tell he was enjoying every moment of it. We learned from Spartan that we all have gifts, but sometimes it takes awhile to find them.

We got to see many different horses at the barn in all shapes, breeds, colors and sizes. Mary told us that it is important to understand how each of these things makes the horse unique, but also help us understand what they will need in terms of food, health care, exercise and training to thrive. Truthfully, the horses at Bridle Path all looked very healthy and very happy. Mary helped us to learn the importance of respecting and valuing our uniqueness and differences so we can also thrive.

After thanking the horses at Bridle Path by sharing some Reading Rocks with them, it was time to go back to Kentucky. The day was so exciting that we used up all our energy and slept on the way back to Trinity in our big yellow bus. It was a day for fun, meeting horses, lambs and a baby cow, riding horses and watching horses, and a day for some unexpected lessons. And that’s part of the beauty of Reading Camp – the learning is fun, meaningful and constant, even at a barn.

-Lucie Collier, a member of St. Andrew's in Fort Thomas, reports as a camp director at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.

Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.

Flash from Grahamstown: The Magic has begun!

As I write, most of you at home are likely still sleeping, but the first full day of South African Reading Camp is well underway and the excitement is already full and contagious. (The one type of contagion this camp nurse hopes to encounter!)

As always, the work of the Leadership Team, headed by Camp Co-directors Kary McConnachie and Matt Kellen, has been astounding. The Holy Cross brothers’ hard work, dedication, and ceaseless fundraising efforts makes this camp possible. Kary and Matt have worked tirelessly in their organizing and it certainly showed when we arrived to set up on Saturday. With the team they put together prepared and knowing their roles well, the conference room at Assegaai was quickly transformed into a new environment full of wild animals and adventure in each of the six stations through which the children will rotate every morning. The clinic was set up by myself and my colleague Rose and the campers’ rooms were enthusiastically and imaginatively decorated by the counselors in a way that will make each child feel special and welcomed. The work was rewarded by an evening braai (barbeque) prepared by the wonderful kitchen volunteers.

We began Sunday morning with a beautifully musical chapel service led by Brother Daniel and then were privileged to again have a presentation by and discussion with Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the South African Police. She gave us a great deal of information about the disturbingly dangerous world in which these children live and we discussed methods of recognizing signs of abuse which may present as well as how we will all work to assure that this week will be one of total safety and refuge for our campers, allowing them the freedom to simply be children and enjoy; something that is not often possible for them in their daily lives.

Again this year I was privileged and humbled to accompany Kary on the rounds as we picked up the campers yesterday. And once more I was deeply moved by both the astounding poverty in which these children live and the way in which they, their families and the township community as a whole both recognize and deeply appreciate the opportunity that Reading Camp provides. I saw children emerging spotless and joyous from tiny shacks made of mud and/or rusting corrugated tin and without running water. Parents (mostly mamas or grannies) shared both appreciation and some apprehension as they sent their little ones off with us in faith that this is a door opening for them.

I will attempt to keep you well up to date this week with a number of “Holy Glimpses” of the happenings here and where, moment to moment we encounter God’s face and grace.

Just a couple as a beginning:

Last evening, after the campers arrived, they had a snack and then went outside to play and run off some of their excess energy. The counselors engaged in games of ping-pong, tag and soccer with them. Shortly, though, Counselor Hannah reports, two of her little girls, Albernique and Amber came to her and inquired if they “had to” continue to play… ”Can we read instead?” They were shortly curled up in the pleasure reading corner with the books they each had chosen.

This morning, Matt reports, Nomthandazo and friends were pretending at the breakfast table that they were students at Hostel (boarding school) which to them is the “privileged school” on the other side of Grahamstown where the wealthy children attend. They explained to Matt that they were playing this game because they feel they are “being treated like kings and queens at Reading Camp.”

Finally for today, we sadly had one camper drop out yesterday because of a death in her family. Kary immediately set about calling the alternates to find a replacement as not one precious spot/opportunity will hopefully be wasted. Early this morning Kary did reach one Mama who very much wanted her daughter to come but had no transportation to get her from the family farm they were visiting. A visitor from Canada at the Monastery had given Brother Daniel a donation to help support the camp and Kary was able to take 100 Rand (approximately $13.50) from this and provide a taxi to get this child to us. The visitor had been given a sum from a Rotarian back home and asked to “donate it where you find a need.” This kind of generosity and grace is what has always blessed Reading Camp and will, we pray, continue to always.

All here send their love and appreciate your prayers and support. The days are cool and windy but with brilliant sunshine thus far. More later!

-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.

Stepping out in faith

Some of you may know well our diocese’s camp and conference center, the Cathedral Domain, located in Lee County, Kentucky. It is a place where young and not so young alike have had their lives and their faith shaped immensely. I was there this past week (along with some of you here…)—I had the privilege to serve as the chaplain to young people having their first camp experience for first and second graders—an experience known as “mini camp.” During the time that Mini Camp was taking place, another camp was going on at the same time at the Domain—the overnight version of Reading Camp was taking place. At least some of your have heard about Reading Camp! The camp is an experience for kids to have more individualized attention while teachers and other volunteers work with them on their reading skills—reading is something I often take for granted, but I realized, with these kids, how different their lives are and would be if they do not attain basic reading skills—think of all the things that require reading in our culture—road signs, signage in stores—that’s not to mention all of the great stories that a non-reader, or a deficient reader misses out in books—reading makes life different—more accessible.

These kids enter camp with varying reading levels—but one thing that most of them have in common is a lack of confidence—a lack of faith—that they can be better readers. These kids come from varying backgrounds—some come from one parent homes where there’s not a lot of free time for the parent to read with them, some have slight disabilities, like dyslexia, so they haven’t had the opportunity to have someone help them individually in figuring out ways around it; others come from homes where the parent can’t read himself (or herself); some come from homes where English is not spoken—all sorts of different situations. While I was at mini camp last week, I took a couple of hours each morning and went and sat in the pleasure reading learning station at Reading Camp. I got to meet a number of good kids, but the one thing they seemed to have in common was this lack of faith in their ability to read. Each day, adults and teenage counselors spent time with these folks and drew them out of their shells—and worked through challenges and spent time with them building up their confidence.

One young woman told me that she’s never read a chapter book before—but all the other girls in her class did and she wasn’t sure she could do it—but we sat together for a half an hour each morning and we worked through a chapter book—it was slow at first, but she caught on deciphering words and stepping out in faith—and she’s well on her way to completing her first book with chapters.

Lack of faith can be a very stifling thing. It hindered these young people, and hopefully their experience at camp is one that let them know that there were people who cared about them enough to help them build their confidence in reading—and not just that, but their confidence in themselves—it let them know that there were people who cared about them—that they were valued people.

Faith can be a funny thing. The children I encountered this past week in Reading Camp began with a lack of faith, but the children at Reading Camp were willing to step out a little bit—they were willing to be in relationship with the teachers and volunteers who wanted to work with them and they prospered. The people of the crowd needed miracles to change their faith situation. While Jesus walked the roads of Israel, remarkable occurrences happened—healing miracles of all sorts—people, though, had the opportunity to have faith and believe, or not. It was the faith that those who were in need had that healed them. Reaching out in faith can seem to be a silly thing, but when the faith is in things that are of God, then faith can heal—the healing takes place in different and unidentifiable ways—we are not always expecting the way that God will interact in our lives—the children of Reading Camp may not have been expecting a surge of confidence, faith, and support. They, and we may not receive healing in the way that we want, but God is there, working in our lives and in the lives of the children of Reading Camp—healing, supporting, loving—active—God, with us: Emmanuel.

-Rev. Elise Johnstone from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Lexington was a volunteer at the Pleasure Reading Center at the Mission House and Cathedral Domain Reading Camps earlier this summer

More stories from Mission House Reading Camp

Included below are more camp stories chronicled by camp volunteers during the week of Mission House Reading Camp two weeks ago.



Monday morning bus ride - Stop 1. Tenneh's house. 7am. Returning Camper Tenneh comes running out and yells: "I am SO EXCITED!"

Overheard on the bus Wednesday morning:

"Why can't Reading Camp last longer than 1 week?"

"Why can't we keep coming when we get older?"



Monday, while playing a game with two of my campers--both of whom had already won one game and who knew I hadn't won a game yet--they campers teamed together to make sure me (the teacher!) won once. So precious to watch them see that I could win, too! What a delight! - Peggy Manley, teacher volunteer from Southland Christian Church



You can tell this is Kentucky because the campers tried to dribble the beachballs. - Bill Hiles, read aloud volunteer from St. Martha's Episcopal Church, Lexington

Paducah volunteers visit Reading Camp

Thank you so much for allowing Susan and I to observe reading Camp last Monday. I was overwhelmed by the positive feelings and loving atmosphere of the camp environment. It was so helpful to actually see everything that had been described to me and I have some good ideas to use in our camp. Everyone was so nice and more than kind to explain and tell of things that they did to save time. I left the camp so excited and so thankful for the opportunity to participate in this much needed program. I will be calling you with many questions as they arise. Thank you again for all the help that you have given us at Grace Church, I appreciate your kindness.

-Ann Carter Fendley is a volunteer from Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah, KY to begin the first Reading Camp in the Diocese of Kentucky later this summer. In addition to a new Reading Camp this summer in Paducah, KY, volunteers from Leesburg, Virginia are also planning a new Reading Camp. Their visiting Reading Camp reports can be found here and here.

Farewell from Reading Camp at the Domain

It is early Sunday morning, around 1am as I type this. I have just finished printing out the last set of photographs I have taken of the children who attended this year’s Domain Reading Camp, and of the counselors who ate, shared cabins, hiked, swam and generally served as surrogate parents to the campers. Reviewing the photos, I concluded that those campers who were the most quiet and shy were also the most difficult to incidentally photograph, which explains why I am just now finishing this particular project. I believe no child or camper should go home with less photographs in his/her Reading Camp tote bag than any other camper or counselor. But just hours ago, while we had our last campfire, which ended up being inside because of an approaching storm, every camper and counselor alike was actively engaged in story telling, playing music, poetry reading and the like with Paula Larke, I was able to take another 70-something photos.



We have had a wonderful camp this year. We have had our share of bumps and bruises, bee stings and mosquito bites. I am certain there is not a sweat bee left here at the Domain that has not used the backs of my legs and arms as targets. We will be sending home one camper with a cast on a fractured arm (after he was running around and fell on the gravel--just being a boy!) and one now recovered from a sunburn he brought with him when he came to us last Sunday. When I asked the campers what they liked “best”, they seemed to like everything best. They were so proud of their new found talents from identifying microscopic water creatures to learning how to hit a bull’s-eye with an arrow, to finding a new favorite book, to making it to the top of Wolfpen. They solved riddles, made up riddles and discovered the pleasure found in playing with words. Some of them honed their encoding and decoding skills, while others quickly found a love of reading books with another their age or an attentive adult.

On Friday morning, one child gleefully finished reading her first chapter book ever with Elise Johnstone.

On Tuesday morning, she explained to Elise that she was embarrassed because everyone else in her cabin was reading a chapter book, while she had never been able to do so.



Another child has been exuberant because he had written a skit that was going to be performed. Paula Larke encouraged them to develop new skills, manifested last night by the skits, dances, plays, poems and music presented by campers to the other campers and the adults. I am even happy to report that our young streaker found more appropriate ways to release his creative energy, as demonstrated by his musical performance earlier tonight. It has indeed been a wonderfully blessed week.



Very sadly, yesterday we sent my co-director, Margaret Hill, on to hospital in Irvine with acute abdominal pains, which I should add, were not caused by any food or drink ingested at the Domain. She is now being treated at a Lexington hospital. Last night, the campers and counselors made huge get-well cards for Margaret, which I shall deliver to her as soon as I get to see her. I wonder if she knows how strange it is not to have her here because Reading Camp and Margaret go hand- in-hand for me.

Earlier tonight, once the campers were in their cabins for the night, not to return to the rooms we used learning centers again during this camp, support staff and teachers began to dismantle the magical world we had constructed for Reading Camp. We took down our river, took apart the ocean, and finally removed the trees and creepy things that made up the swamp. (The swamp being appropriately located in Abbott.)



When we had packed almost all of it away, we said our good nights for the last time. I walked up the road to stroll past the cabins to make sure all was safe and quiet while a whippoorwill sang a solitary song somewhere in the woods. I was reminded of how I love the time I get to spend at the Domain. I know part of it is because life outside the Domain just stops for me for a while. My cell phone picks up neither calls nor texts. I have absolutely no idea what is going on in the world other than the weather prediction for the next several hours. But I think the things that have made me love it here so much have been the sounds and sights of children having fun and the love of God reflected in the time and energy of the counselors and adults who worked with, played, encouraged and applauded the children. It is not that we necessarily expect these children to leave this mountain hours from now having mastered all the pertinent skills needed to be outstanding readers and writers, but that they leave with a sense knowing they are loved by a group of young and older adults who spent a week with them far from their homes. We expect them to leave with a sense of accomplishment and a heightened sense of self esteem and success. And that, I think, is the true essence of Reading Camp.

It is incredible how a week with the counselors and campers affects me. I know that when they leave this mountain tomorrow morning, I will shed a few tears, give and receive many many hugs, promise to write back to campers who left me with notes and letters. This year, I must say goodbye to several children who attended Reading Camp both this year and last, but who will be too old to attend Reading Camp next year. There are a few for whom I will remain especially concerned about for they live such difficult lives outside of Reading Camp, yet who have such potential to accomplish great things with their lives.



Finally, Margaret and I send our thanks to all the Reading Camp teachers, support staff, and counselors who worked with our young charges. Kudos to the teachers and counselors who volunteered their time and talents to work with our campers. Together, we made one terrific group! We send our heartfelt appreciation to Andy and Cindy Sigmon and all their summer staff, who so graciously fed us, led us on expeditions, watched out for our safety and helped make our camp such a success. We especially thank all of you reading this blog, who provided financing and/or transportation to help make this Reading Camp the wonderful experience it has been. We could have not done it without you!

As I close, I find myself thinking, what theme might we develop for next year’s Reading Camp here at Cathedral Domain?

-Paula Ott is a volunteer camp director from St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Paris

Stories from Mission House Reading Camp

Included below are camp stories chronicled by camp volunteers during the week of Mission House Reading Camp last week.

"I was given a pop quiz. Gabriella asked me "What Rocks?!" When I answered, "Reading Rocks," she rewarded me with a Reading Rock." - Phyllis Farson, Support Staff Volunteer from St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Lexington



One child missing a bingo card in the learning center said "Oh God!" I said, "What is a better word for you to say?" He replied, "Oh Lord!" very seriously. I will teach him, "Oh Pickles!" and "Oh dear!" - Peggy Manley, teacher volunteer from Southland Christian Church



Judith (a returning camper destined to be a future Reading Camp director) called Holly three times before we picked her up Monday morning on the bus. "When are you coming?" "Why aren't you here yet?" "You just passed us, come back!" - Holly Davis, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Winchester

Thursday Domain Reading Camp report

Word has it that the Twits were seen again! Two counselors returned to camp covered in mud, having wrestled with Mr. Twit. As we returned from the campfire last night, we came upon a note tacked to a tree that said, "If anyone finds a glass eyeball, please return it to the campfire." Some of the campers were sure the note was a hoax, but later they reported finding a note tacked to their cabin door which read, "Dinner Menu for tomorrow night-Squiggly Spaghetti!" For those of you are unaccustomed to the ways of the Twits, Mrs. Twit once served her husband squiggly spaghetti, so named because the spaghetti sauce has worms in it instead of hamburger! [The Twits are the main characters in the children's book by the same name by Roald Dahl. This is our read-aloud book for the week and all the campers get to take home their own copy.]

One of our campers has worn the same pants every day since he arrived. Yesterday, Margaret insisted he wear his swimming suit to the centers while she laundered his pants. When she asked if he had any dirty underwear she could wash as well, he told her no. When Margaret asked if he had changed underwear since he arrived, he again told her no. When Margaret askey why, the camper explained he had been too busy reading to take time to change his underwear. Needless to say, his counselors are making sure he has on clean underwear each day.

Yesterday, Johnnie Ross took some of the campers to the small stream that runs near the Bat Cave. Johnnie brought along nets and specimen trays, as well as laminated sheets to help the campers catch and identify an assortment of small creatures, found living in the streamm. Some of these creatures were so tiny we needed microscopes to count the number of legs and tails they had. Campers and counselors collected water spiders, dragonfly larvae, salamanders, and crayfish. One crayfish was so big, he climbed right up Johnnie's arm with his pinchers opening and closing.

We had dinner at the campfire last night. Paula Larke (a visiting artist/musician from Voices in the Treetops). came with us and let any of us who wanted to play her drums have a turn. Paula played guitar with two of our counselors, Matt and Josh. We sang, had a talent show, and ended our time at the campfire with most of us on our feet dancing.

The unsung heroes of our camp are our counselors: Erika Tennerino, Mary Elizabeth Queen, Abby Kirk, Kat Wells (who also doubles as one of our photographers), Elizabeth Cox, Leela Foley, Jennifer Pence, Josh Nichols, Johnny Delgado, Josh Reynolds, Matt Nichols, Joseph Fons, Joseph Shannon, and Patrick de Seroux. Believe me, this camp would not be possible were it not for the likes of our wonderful counselors. They are with the campers more than any of the teachers and support staff. In fact, they are with the campers 21 hours of the day. They are the ones who are the first to deal with the campers who get homesick in the middle of the night, the upset tummies from eating too much at dinner and the unfamiliar bird calls heard late in the night. In their three hours of "down time" every morning while the campers are in the learning centers, they try to catch up on missed sleep, drop in to volunteer in Pleasure Reading, and plan activities for evening time. They are the ever ready cheerleaders, confidants, and new best friends for so many of the campers. While meeting with the counselors this morning, it occurred to me that if we could clone the counselors we have here with us, the world would be such a gentler place. So, dear counselors, should you chance to read this blog sometime after our Reading Camp is over, I send you my heartfelt thanks and love. (And I offer up my prayers that you will find it in your hearts to sign up to be counselors here at next year's Domain Reading Camp.)

On a sad note, late last night, I was called to mediate an argument between two campers. One of arguing campers, who earlier in the week likened his parents' divorce to a tornado destroying his home, told me he just felt mad all the time and that there were times his anger came out of his mouth in mean words. He told me he needed to learn a better way to deal with his "being mad". Talk about wisdom coming from the mouths of babes...

Ok, I need to go now. A couple of my counselors just came in and told me it's time for lunch!

-Paula Ott is a volunteer camp director from St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Paris

Visiting Reading Camp all the way from Virginia!

Wow! What an incredible few days I had at the Mission House Reading Camp last week! I am still reeling from all the amazing things I saw going on there. The camp was exceptionally organized… Thanks Holly, Ginger, and Mary!… and the group of kids was fantastic—so many smiles and everyone was filled with enthusiasm! Clearly, the kids saw the benefit of the camp and the many activities and skills they were experiencing and learning. Actually, I’m not sure who was having more fun, the kids or the teachers, other adults and youth! Naturally, time-keeper CC kept everything fluid and on time! And of course, what rocks? READING ROCKS! With our camp less than six weeks away, St. James’ Leesburg, Virginia's Reading Carnival Camp is now equipped with some great ideas and your infectious enthusiasm that will carry us well beyond our camp and into our fall literacy program! Thanks to all for your hospitality and for sharing your wonderful Reading Camp program with us!

- Laura Young (pictured above) visited the Mission House Reading Camp last week. She is the director of the St. James’ Literacy Program at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia. She and another volunteer, Carol Chapman, visited the Mission House Reading Camp last week and are a part of the team at the parish working to begin their own Reading Camp in Leesburg, which has taken the form of the Reading Carnival Camp August 3-7, 2009. Laura sent this update a few months ago and has encouraged everyone interested in the new Reading Carnival Camp to check out their new camp website here.

Victor the Viking visits Reading Camp

Much to the surprise of nearly everyone at Reading Camp, Victor the Viking from Northern Kentucky University made an unexpected appearance during Tuesday morning's snack break. Before the campers arrived, Victor Viking battled with Domain Director Andy Sigmon on a lawnmower and then showed the campers some of his many gifts of fields of valor, bravery, and getting overheated on the top of a mountain in the middle of a hot June day.











He also allowed the campers to check him out a little bit and to show them how he likes to read "by osmosis."