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."

Excitement and enthusiasm!

This week I had the privilege to participate in my first Reading Camp. In preparation for the opening of our first Reading Camp at St. James, Leesburg later this summer, my colleague and I were given the opportunity to visit Reading Camp to observe. Not being a teacher, and having been a long time since I had been a camp counselor, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My first impression, as we arrived during the horseback riding field trip, was a sense of excitement and enthusiasm shared by the children and the volunteers. You could feel the bonding beginning as the children encouraged and congratulated each other on successfully mounting and staying on the horse! As we progressed through the next two days, learning how the camp operates, hearing lots of war stories and friendly advice from the adult volunteers and spending time in the learning centers with the children, I got a true sense of the mission and dedication of everyone associated with Reading Camp. From my own memories of camp as a child, I know how much self confidence I gained, in addition to having a fun time with lots of new friends. What a blessing to have the Reading Camps to be able to provide these memories to children who might not have the opportunity, in addition to providing the skills and support needed to be successful readers. I am really excited and energized – can’t wait for our camp to start!

Thanks to all for making me feel so welcome.

-Carol Chapman from St. James Leesburg, Virginia visited the Mission House Reading Camp last week. She is a part of the team at her parish working toward the first Reading Camp in Virginia called Reading Carnival Camp August 3-7, 2009.

Domain Reading Camp Tuesday evening & Wednesday morning Report

At breakfast this morning, one of our counselors reported having seen the Twits hiding in the woods late last night behind St. Hubert's Cabin, the one in which the girls are sleeping. [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.] The sighting was confirmed by Margaret Hill, one of the camp directors. It has been reported that a barely legible note, evidently signed by the Twits, has been found tacked to a tree. We will keep you informed of any additional evidence of the Twits' presence here at camp.



This morning's breakfast was a wonderful spread of fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, biscuits with sausage grave, fried apples and a variety of cereals. Both campers and teachers alike have noticed that rather than their pants getting looser, they seem to be getting tighter despite all the energy we are expending. It is no wonder since all the meals at camp are d-e-l-c-i-o-u-s!

Early this morning, the fire alarm went off in the building where the teachers are living. The culprit of this false alarm was evidently a very hot shower which set off the alarm. It was pretty funny watching the teachers scampering out of the building with soapy hair, yesterday's t-shirts turned inside-out, and shoes that did not match. Andy Sigmon, the Domain Facility Director, quickly responded to the alarm, searched the building and then reset the alarm after determining all was safe and secure.

Last night one of the campers took the teachers back to their college days. While the camper was supposed to be changing from his swimsuit into dry clothes for the rest of the night's activities, he took off all his clothing and ran out of the cabin, streaking down the gravel path. The young man's counselor quickly caught up with our young streaker and took him back to his cabin wrapped in a beach towel.



Yesterday afternoon, we spent some time with our favorite children's author, George Ella Lyon. Both teachers and campers alike were mesmerized for over an hour and a half as George Ella told her personal story about growing up in Harlan, Kentucky, and several stories about the books she had written. She also sang a few songs and told how each book is written. On the last day of camp, each camper will receive a copy of a George Ella Lyon book written and autographed by George Ella.



Needless to say, ALL OF US are having a wonderful time here at the Cathedral Domain Reading Camp. I wish I had more time to write this morning, but there are way too many neat things going on right now and I don't want to miss any of them. I will try to find time to send you more news tomorrow.

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

Domain Reading Camp Monday Report

Two children were playing a game of Concentration this morning in one of our learning centers. One of the children had already matched several pairs while the second student had none. Discouraged, the second student remarked that he had no pairs, the first students said she would give the second student some of her pairs. After that, the second student quickly began matching pairs on his own.

The boys in Reading Camp had the opportunity to spend part of the afternoon with Paula Larke (a visiting artist/musician from Voices in the Treetops). Under her direction, the boys moved in a circle around the room, as they acted out verbs and adverbs. They moved at normal speed as well as slow motion. They put nouns to rhythm and began to create their own stories, which they will act out to Paula's music later in the week. Several of the boys got to play Paula's drums for the group activities.



While the boys were with Paula Larke, the girls went to archery. Campers returning from last year were quick to hit the target, suprising not only themselves but also summer staff. The girls new to Reading Camp were quick to catch on thanks to the great training and help of the Domain's summer staff.



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

*A posting problem prevented this post from being uploaded on schedule. Other posts should be on-time! Sorry for the delay.

Cathedral Domain 2009 Volunteers

The 8th year of Cathedral Domain Reading Camp began today with many of the campers leaving Mission House in the "big red bus" from the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Jessamine County. Other campers arrive this afternoon at the Domain after riding with their parents and/or volunteer recruiters from parishes all over the diocese. The Domain Reading Camp staff of directors, teachers, counselors, and support staff is anxiously awaiting the safe arrival of all the campers.

After arriving at the Domain, campers check into their cabins, have a quick health screening with one of the camp nurses, and skip off to the pool for a swim test. Campers begin learning centers tomorrow morning at 9am.

The volunteers listed below are the staff for the Cathedral Domain Reading Camp this week. Many of these volunteers have volunteered at several Reading Camps including last year's Domain Reading Camp. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts for the big week of camp with 3rd & 4th graders coming from all over our diocese.

Camp Directors
Margaret Hill, Good Shepherd, Lexington
Paula Ott, St. Peter's, Paris

Counselors
Mary Elizabeth Queen
Josh Reynolds
Elizabeth Cox, Good Shepherd, Lexington
Josh Nichols, Crossroads Church
Iovana Delgado, Jesus Our Savior Catholic Church, Morehead
Joseph Shannon, Christ the King, Lexington
Jennifer Pence, Holy Trinity, Georgetown
Brittney Vogel, St. Andrew's, Fort Thomas
Matt Nichols, St. Andrew's, Fort Thomas
Whitney Wells, St. Peter's, Paris
Patrick de Seroux, St. Peter's, Paris
Leela Foley, First Presbyterian, Lexington
Abby Kirk, Church of the Resurrection, Jessamine County
Hillie Gaither, Trinity, Covington
Erike Tennerino, Christ the King, Lexington
Joseph Fons, Trinity, Danville

Nurse
Sara Dade

Spiritual Director
Rev. Johnnie Ross, St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church

Support Staff & Read Aloud Volunteers
C.C. Johnson, St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church, Lexington
Carla Van Meter, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Winchester
Rev. Elise Johnstone, Good Shepherd, Lexington
Karl Lietzenmayer, Trinity, Covington

Teachers
Terri Koontz, Good Shepherd, Lexington
Kim Scott, Good Shepherd, Lexington
Rev. Ginny Eklund, St. Martha's, Lexington
Gee Gaither, Trinity, Covington
Hallie Houston, Grace, Florence
Cheryl Coghill, St. Andrew's, Fort Thomas
Jan Taylor, St. Peter's, Paris
Nancy Letton, St. Peter's, Paris
Beth Kemp, Church of the Holy Comforter, Kenilworth, Illinois
Michelle Moore, St. Michael's, Lexington
Mary Lovell, Church of the Annunciation, Paris