One of the most exciting developments in the Reading Camp world in the past year has been in the great interest about Reading Camp's ministry from outside the Diocese of Lexington. In October 2008, two Reading Camp veterans visited St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA to help share the mission of Reading Camp. An enthusiastic volunteer group from St. James has incorporated many of Reading Camp's ideas into their St. James' Literacy Program. Their pilot summer program is scheduled for August 3-7, 2009.
Laura Young, coordinator of the St. James Literacy Program sent this update:
St. James' Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia has answered a call to meet a literacy need in the Leesburg community. Our vision is to provide an integrated literacy program beginning with low income rising third graders who are at risk of falling behind in grade level reading. Although our initial call is to help struggling students grow their ability to read, our ultimate call is to strive to break the cycle of poverty, recognizing that as we work with targeted children, we will have opportunities to work with their parents and families. As we develop our literacy program, our long term vision/plan is to offer a extensive program that will include areas such as health and nutrition literacy, financial literacy and cultural arts literacy for both the children as well as their families. Not only will our program fill a need in our community, it is designed to unite and focus St. James’ parishioners on our One Common Goal--to inspire, equip and empower each parishioner. Our program will be launched this summer (2009) when we offer a week long pilot Reading Camp-like program for 24 students identified with the support of our public school system, Loudoun County Public Schools, and other local agencies. After our pilot week, we plan to continue a complementary once-a-week after-school program for the same children in order for them to receive tutoring support through their third grade school year. The same children will also be invited to return the summer after their third grade year for our summer program one more time before they enter the fourth grade.
More information about the St. James Literacy Program can be found in their most recent newsletter.
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