Nowhere to go without our bus drivers

Neither the Mission House Reading Camp or the Cathedral Domain Reading Camp would happen without many people and we're quick to recognize the teachers, counselors, support staff, and directors that organize and volunteer for weeks at a time.

But the volunteers who often don't get their fair share of thanks and credit are all from the Church of the Resurrection in Jessamine County. Without these volunteer bus drivers, the Mission House Reading Camp would not have bus pickups and dropoffs every day, much less make it to all of their field trips. For the Domain Reading Camp (beginning tomorrow) the bus drivers take many of the campers on Sunday (tomorrow!) and bring them home from camp this coming Saturday.

Many of these bus drivers take off a half or whole day of work to volunteer to drive our campers that would otherwise not be able to make it to Reading Camp. So this year we especially want to thank our route planners and drivers Ben Megadenz, Tim Hamby, Dr. Bob Broughton, and Jim Bennett . Thank you!

"Can I come back next summer?"

So what are your backup plans?

This was the day we were all waiting for. This afternoon the plans were to visit a farm and read to the ponies. We had groomed and ridden horses on Monday. We were ready for the ponies today. As the morning progressed the skies grew darker and darker. By noon we were told that heavy rain storms were expected. Our trip was cancelled. Holly, Ginger and I quickly planned alternate activities involving scrapbooking, making birdfeeders, craft kits, puzzles and Lego blocks.

The storm hit as we ate lunch, and we lost power for a few seconds. As I broke the news to the campers that our trip was cancelled, I anticipated disappointed expressions and upset campers. After I reassured the kids that we were still going to get to go swimming, they all visibly relaxed, and we divided the campers into groups. We then passed a peaceful afternoon constructing model cars, building imaginative creations, stamping, stringing beads and making Reading Camp posters to decorate Mission House doors. No one fussed or complained. These kids are awesome!

Then when the last camper was safely home, I drove to a local business to purchase some “thank-yous” to give to our counselors tomorrow. When I entered the store, I was confronted by a sign that said that they no longer accepted gift certificates. I guess it's time for another Plan B!


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

"This isn't a bit like school!"

Spending a week with the enthusiastic children and staff at Mission House is a wonderful experience! On the first day one of the boys said, "This isn't a bit like school!" as he happily looked around. It didn't take long for the children to get acquainted and to bond. It didn't take long for teachers and bright eyed boys and girls to be engaged in the games that make learning fun in each center. Reading Camp is really a love story for me. When a child looks up at me and I see the light of discovery in those eyes, I hear the angels sing.

C.C. Johnson is a support staff volunteer from St. Raphael's Episcopal Church in Lexington

Rain, please go away! But we'll have fun inside anyway!

At about 11am this morning, Mission House camp directors (pictured above) had a tough call to make. Proceed with the afternoon plan to Read with Ponies in Cynthiana or resort to "Plan C" because of the bad weather forecast for central Kentucky that was headed eastward and already hitting the Louisville area quite hard with thunderstorms and hail.



The field trip was postponed and the backup inside-only plan was used. Campers spent the afternoon inside making crafts (models, jewelry, etc.) and finishing some crafts that they began earlier in the week. We also read aloud some more of our read aloud book for the week, The Twits by Roald Dahl.








One camper, Antwan, wanted to read instead. Of course that's fantastic at Reading Camp!

Can you sit down for 2 seconds?

Group pictures are often wonderful at Reading Camp -- especially at Mission House with the beautiful building in the background. Gathering for the camp photo is always difficult, however, because both the campers and the staff have been sitting for 3 hours in the learning centers and are hungry for lunch.



This year's gathering had the added challenge of including the beach balls in the photograph. Why not!?



Finally we did it!

From Mission House Reading Camp 2009

Why does Reading Camp only last one week?

Two questions I was asked on the bus this morning - why does Reading Camp only last one week? and 2) Can we come when we get older? The excitement continues. Many campers are so thankful for the opportunity to come to Reading Camp that are completely overjoyed when the adult leaders tell them that 3rd graders are invited back as 4th graders next summer. Then there is the story of Josh Reynolds, the Reading Camper from 2002 who returned to Reading Camp last summer at the Domain as a counselor and will be back to volunteer again this summer.

I experienced a happy moment yesterday - the counselors and the little girls began serenading us with Taylor Swift during craft time. They knew every word of Love Story and belted it out at the top of their voices. I loved It! We repeated the concert again and again, playing with markers and Play Doh during the intermissions.



I just love being quiet and listening to the students' conversations, although sometimes I end up hearing some sad stories. Some students have told stories about their difficult home situations and it's clear how many of them are just not used to being in the positive, loving environment that is Reading Camp.

It just doesn't have to be that complicated.

-Holly Davis from Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Winchester is a camp director of the Mission House Reading Camp

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

"Why are these horses always eating grass? Grass tastes yucky!"

Most of the Reading Campers were scared of horses or at least had never ridden one before the Primm Farm on Bowman's Mill Road in Lexington yesterday afternoon. But all of the campers "got up and got on" and enjoyed an afternoon of riding, grooming, and feeding before the trek to the swimming pool.

One camper said he'd seen horses all his life but had never had a chance to ride one. Another camper was clearly uncomfortable at the idea of riding, but did try and sit on the horse for a few minutes. Many campers quickly got in line for their second ride of the afternoon.









And of course there are many other things to do at a horsefarm, Prince demonstrates on his preferred methods of expression:



Later this week the Mission House Reading Campers will be "Reading to Ponies" at a special equine therapeutic center for children in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Musings from a tired director

Day 1 of the Mission House Reading Camp was a great success.

The day started day out perfectly when our bus picked up our first camper, Tenneh, at 7:15am--Tenneh ran out of her house, carrying her shoes, saying, "I'm so excited; it's finally here!" Another camper, Judith, called me three times before the bus arrived at her house, just to make sure we hadn't missed her. The campers' excitement was contagious.

Last year, as a teacher, I spent only three hours every day with the kids. Those three hours were pretty intense, and even though I was interacting, sometimes one-on-one, with the campers, it was easy to stick to the task at hand and not really get to know the students on a deeper, more personal level.

Riding the bus this morning and picking up the campers has already made this year such a different experience. Stopping at individual homes, I saw and spoke with the campers' moms, their dads, and lots of their grandmothers. I saw where they sleep, eat, and play. It was my favorite part of the day. Although the houses aren't the prettiest and the places to play aren't always the greatest, I was able to see a side of the students that makes me appreciate them and love them even more. The students aren't the only ones who learn at camp. I just looked through my pictures from today and am already excited about tomorrow.


-Holly Davis from Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Winchester is a camp director of the Mission House Reading Camp

Mission House 2009 Volunteers

The 5th year of Mission House Reading Camp begin this morning with everything strangely running on schedule when it’s usually a fairly hectic first morning of camp. Volunteer bus drivers from the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection provide our transportation for the week and the early morning trip at 7:30am had all the campers here by 8:30am as planned. Campers begin learning centers at 9am and are currently enjoying an afternoon of horseback riding at a horse farm.

The volunteers listed below are the staff for the Mission House Reading Camp this week. Many of these volunteers have volunteered at several Reading Camps including the Mission House Reading Camp last year. Please keep them in your prayers and if you know them, send them a word of thanks and support as they teach, read aloud, laugh with, and love the Reading Campers coming to Mission House this week.

Camp Directors
Mary Eclov, Lexington, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Ginger Sauls, Diocese of Lexington
Holly Davis, Winchester, Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Counselors
Andy Sauls, Lexington
Michael Westneat, Lexington
Solly Van Meter, Winchester, Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Callie Snowden, Winchester, Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Logan Terry, Winchester, Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Support Staff
Pat Allen, Lexington, Christ Church Cathedral
C.C. Johnson, Lexington, St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church
Phyllis Farson, Lexington, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church

Read Aloud Volunteers
Sally Purvis, Mt. Sterling, Ascension Episcopal Church
David Johnson Paris, St. Peter’s
Bill Hiles, Lexington, St. Martha’s
Rev. Elise Johnstone, Lexington, Good Shepherd

Teachers
Tracy Ellis Lexington, Christ Church Cathedral
Charlie Dalton, Lexington, Christ Church Cathedral
Pam Brown, Lexington, Good Shepherd
Rev. Joan Pritcher, Lexington, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Candece Jeter, Lexington, St. Peter & Paul
Candice Lucas, Lexington, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Judy Endicott, Lexington, Good Shepherd
Virginia Cheek, Lexington, Christ the King
Peggy Manley, Lexington, Southland Christian Church

The 8th summer of Reading Camp is about to begin...

The transformation Mission House was completed Saturday with the final change of making the resource room into a beehive and the rest of the downstairs into a nature wonderland of snakes, trees, butterflies, bats, parrots, and all sorts of nature-themed decorations.



Camp runs this week from Monday to Friday. Stop by for a visit if you get a chance. The morning is best because that is when campers are in the learning centers. In the afternoons they are often gone on field trips. Field trips are scheduled to a few horse farms, the Lexington recycling center, and a few other surprises. Every afternoon this week campers have swimming lessons at the North Lexington YMCA.

Come by and see us!


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