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