So many “pleases” and “thank-you's”

An awesome day - from start to finish - really! Twenty-four polite, fun-loving enjoyable campers; fifteen committed, engaging and enthusiastic teachers; three totally in-control support staff; five out-going, young adult counselors; a committed and competent bus driver and cool, overcast weather... What could go wrong? Nothing! - Really!!

Visitors from Grace Episcopal Church, Paducah, KY, St. James' Episcopal Church, Leesburg, VA (sites of new Reading Camps later this summer) and from Lexington and the surrounding area have already visited Mission House and have all remarked about the peaceful, happy atmosphere that permeates our camp this week. As we walked through the morning learning centers, it was obvious to all that the teachers had a fantastic rapport with their students and that the campers were totally engaged in each center's activity. Our support staff, Pat Allen and Phyllis Farson, had all of the meals, snacks and behind-the scene arrangements organized and ready to go. C.C. Johnson gave the five-minute warning, timed the learning centers and managed the transition between centers. Our counselors grabbed jump ropes and balls and interacted with the campers as soon as the learning centers and the noon lunch ended. And when it was time to go on a field trip, the bus driver was already there waiting for us to load and go.

I have been involved in Reading Camp in some way for each of its eight years of existence. I don't think I have ever heard so many “pleases” and “thank-you's” and seen so many happy faces as I have these past two days. Campers have held doors for others and offered to help teachers and their friends. They have carried materials and supplies for us. They have been sharing with each other. Every morning, they have all asked what we will be doing in the afternoon and when we will be going swimming. Then they have gone off to the morning learning centers eager to work. Because they are always smiling, all of the rest of us are smiling, too.

Today we took a field trip to the recycling center. All Fayette County schools have recycling programs, and many of our campers recycle at home with their families. But none of us really knew what happened to our materials once they left the recycling containers. A very interesting trip - a very wonderful day - Really!!!

-Mary Eclov from St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Lexington is a camp director of the Mission House Reading Camp