It's year two here at Northern Kentucky Reading Camp--twice as many kids, many veteran volunteers and teachers, and still no idea what to expect. That’s always how it goes when camps start, though: you plan, you plan, you pray, you plan, and then the kids show up and you just have to hope that the prayers hold up under pressure.
In addition to those prayers, flexibility is of utmost importance when running a program like Reading Camp. On paper everything can seem really great and perfectly smooth, but when you add the individual personalities of each child, things can get very complicated very quickly.
You pray and you pray and you pray.
In addition to managing the dynamics of 30 third- and fourth-graders, running a reading camp requires a healthy dose of logistic flexibility as well. At one point both our guest author and our backup activity were unable to join us as planned--but with the help of or AMAZING volunteers, we took deep breaths and remembered our mantra, prayer and flexibility!
In the end, everything worked out: the kids were visited by Patti from the Covington Library and she read them a few chapters from The Twits. She was a great reader and taught us about voice inflection and how to make reading a story out loud more interesting. She encouraged us to keep practicing our reading so that we can learn to read stories with great voice inflection!
We had some craft time when we made a bookmark for our pleasure reading stations, and then we settled in for a visit from Karie at Gigglebox Puppets! Karie taught us about how to be a puppeteer and how to tell stories with the puppets. What a blast! And even better, we now know the difference between an antagonist and a protagonist…do you?
After all that work and all that play we got to our favorite part…SWIMMING! It was nice to take a dip and be outside on this awesome day.
As part of camp tradition, we take each child’s picture the first day. Nerves are not well hidden in these pictures. Some kids smile wearily, crookedly, or not at all. But we have some kids returning this year (our veteran campers), and they are holding their heads high, showing teeth! Even more pointedly, as I was walking a group up to their centers one morning, a camper looked at me and said, “You know, I get pretty nervous the first time I do things, but it usually gets easier.”
So this is what we have to remember when the daily hiccups we encounter feel more like giant speed bumps: the confidence that these campers will depart with is remarkable; that is what will carry both us--and them--along.
Remember, don’t let a Monday get you down…Friday comes quicker than you think and soon we’ll all be veterans.
We're working hard to play hard!
-Hillie Gaither, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, reports as a camp director at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Scorpions are not welcome at Reading Camp
The last casualty of the week was.... the nurse. As we were taking down decorations awhile ago I suddenly had a horrible burning on my forearm; I called out that something had bitten me and our outdoorsman Basil asked if it felt like I'd been burned by a cigarette - when I answered yes, he had antihistamine in me immediately and then brought out a little vaccuum-like venom extractor. My arm started swelling quickly and is now achy all over but the swelling is subsiding some with ice and elevation. These aren't the big scorpions like we have in the states; much much smaller but I can attest that they pack a wallop of a sting. Will pay attention to it and if it's not better tomorrow will check in with a doctor.
We got all our little chicks home safely, albeit with few dry eyes. I've just arrived back at the Monastery where I'll spend the night and attend church in the AM. Sunday church here is fabulous. Neighboring folks come from all around and there are tons of children, and lots of drums and dancing, local music and a boatload of incense. Makes "smells and bells" services at home look, sound and smell pretty tame.
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
We got all our little chicks home safely, albeit with few dry eyes. I've just arrived back at the Monastery where I'll spend the night and attend church in the AM. Sunday church here is fabulous. Neighboring folks come from all around and there are tons of children, and lots of drums and dancing, local music and a boatload of incense. Makes "smells and bells" services at home look, sound and smell pretty tame.
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Danville camp press
The Danville Reading Camp running this week at Trinity Episcopal Church has been featured in a newspaper article in this week's Advocate-Messenger. The article can be found online here.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The wonderful ripple
I am moved this morning by ripples...the ripple effect...seemingly tiny things which occur or which we do and don't view as being particularly significant until later. Yesterday a copy of my 1st blog was being passed around among the staff. Kitchen volunteer extraordinaire Sheila Amery asked to see it and I watched as she read it. Suddenly her face changed, her hand went to her heart and she exclaimed "Oh my..." I asked her what had touched her and she said the story about the children feeling like kings and queens because of how they were being fed and cared for. She explained that she had no idea that was how they felt. She had previously thought all she was doing was a small task but that now she saw it as, in fact, very important, with a deep impact on the children.
We have two campers who are returners from last year's camp. The ripples in them are clear and being commented on by all who knew them from last year. When I first saw Sivenathi on the bus last year she was slunk down in her seat, unsmiling and very unsure both because she didn't know anyone else and didn't know how she would be accepted because of her severe burn scars. She slowly opened up during camp and her teachers have commented enthusiastically about her progress and leadership amongst the other students. When she bounded on to the bus this year it was hard to imagine this was the same person. She is now bounding with a quiet confidence and joyful self-assurance that is lovely to see. This may sound strange, but her face has opened up so much that the scars truly are hardly noticeable now. Likewise, Zimi was a bloom very tightly shut last year; hardly speaking and very hesitant. Kary and I agreed that we don't think we saw him smile until the last day of camp last year. He still is a bit quiet, but immediately noticeable on Sunday was a bit of a strut...that he felt he was surely the man who knew what this was all about. What has been a wonderful ripple, as Matt describes it, is to see that Zimi feels an ownership in the process and is showing definite leadership. On a night walk last evening Zimi recognized the brambles that others were about to walk through and enlisted his friend Tembisile to team with him and use their walking sticks to hold back the brances, clearing the briars so that all could walk through safely.
Finally for right now, a beautiful ripple is seen in the life of counselor Ntsika. He is still as beautiful, fun and loving as he was last year but now with a new maturity and confidence after spending an internship last December - February at a Washington, DC newspaper. This opportunity was arranged for by the Brothers and it clearly has made a huge difference in him. Last night one of his campers was clearly feeling homesick and I thought I might be needed during the night, but instead Ntsika handled it beautifully and in a very fatherly manner and little one was full of smiles at breakfast.
Mother Theresa liked to say that she didn't do big things, but rather that she did small things with great care and love. May we always act so; the ripples may not be immediately evident to us, but they are most certainly there.
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
We have two campers who are returners from last year's camp. The ripples in them are clear and being commented on by all who knew them from last year. When I first saw Sivenathi on the bus last year she was slunk down in her seat, unsmiling and very unsure both because she didn't know anyone else and didn't know how she would be accepted because of her severe burn scars. She slowly opened up during camp and her teachers have commented enthusiastically about her progress and leadership amongst the other students. When she bounded on to the bus this year it was hard to imagine this was the same person. She is now bounding with a quiet confidence and joyful self-assurance that is lovely to see. This may sound strange, but her face has opened up so much that the scars truly are hardly noticeable now. Likewise, Zimi was a bloom very tightly shut last year; hardly speaking and very hesitant. Kary and I agreed that we don't think we saw him smile until the last day of camp last year. He still is a bit quiet, but immediately noticeable on Sunday was a bit of a strut...that he felt he was surely the man who knew what this was all about. What has been a wonderful ripple, as Matt describes it, is to see that Zimi feels an ownership in the process and is showing definite leadership. On a night walk last evening Zimi recognized the brambles that others were about to walk through and enlisted his friend Tembisile to team with him and use their walking sticks to hold back the brances, clearing the briars so that all could walk through safely.
Finally for right now, a beautiful ripple is seen in the life of counselor Ntsika. He is still as beautiful, fun and loving as he was last year but now with a new maturity and confidence after spending an internship last December - February at a Washington, DC newspaper. This opportunity was arranged for by the Brothers and it clearly has made a huge difference in him. Last night one of his campers was clearly feeling homesick and I thought I might be needed during the night, but instead Ntsika handled it beautifully and in a very fatherly manner and little one was full of smiles at breakfast.
Mother Theresa liked to say that she didn't do big things, but rather that she did small things with great care and love. May we always act so; the ripples may not be immediately evident to us, but they are most certainly there.
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Lessons from the Barn
At the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp, the sense that we are a group of special friends taking this wonderful journey together has become palpable. We’ve got this learning center thing down and are obviously working hard with our fabulous teachers all morning long. But today we found out that our learning doesn’t stop when we leave the centers.
After lunch we boarded our big yellow bus and headed from the city to the country over in Ohio. Since our theme is horses, it seemed appropriate to take a field trip to a local stable just across the river. The happy chatter and excitement as we debarked upon our arrival at Bridle Path Stables indicated that the campers were ready to have some fun riding a few kindly horses and learning a little more about them. No one was really prepared for any life lessons, but those lessons found us there at the stable.
Taz was one of the first horses we met at Bridle Path. He’s a small reddish colored Quarter Horse, small enough to be labeled a pony, not a horse. Taz and his horse-sized buddy Jet-Di demonstrated some lightning fast runs through the barrels and poles. It was thrilling to watch. Mary, our guide, pointed out that while Taz is smaller than Jet-Di, he’s equally as fast, sometimes faster. Taz was not limited at all, despite his small stature. We learned from Taz that your limitations only hold you back if you let them.
Spartan is a huge thoroughbred with incredible bloodlines and even more incredible muscles. This guy was definitely bred to be a world class racehorse. For many years, Spartan tried to please his trainers by racing, but it just wasn’t in him. Finally, someone let Spartan try jumping. We watched as Spartan took jump after jump like it was nothing, and could tell he was enjoying every moment of it. We learned from Spartan that we all have gifts, but sometimes it takes awhile to find them.
We got to see many different horses at the barn in all shapes, breeds, colors and sizes. Mary told us that it is important to understand how each of these things makes the horse unique, but also help us understand what they will need in terms of food, health care, exercise and training to thrive. Truthfully, the horses at Bridle Path all looked very healthy and very happy. Mary helped us to learn the importance of respecting and valuing our uniqueness and differences so we can also thrive.
After thanking the horses at Bridle Path by sharing some Reading Rocks with them, it was time to go back to Kentucky. The day was so exciting that we used up all our energy and slept on the way back to Trinity in our big yellow bus. It was a day for fun, meeting horses, lambs and a baby cow, riding horses and watching horses, and a day for some unexpected lessons. And that’s part of the beauty of Reading Camp – the learning is fun, meaningful and constant, even at a barn.
-Lucie Collier, a member of St. Andrew's in Fort Thomas, reports as a camp director at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
After lunch we boarded our big yellow bus and headed from the city to the country over in Ohio. Since our theme is horses, it seemed appropriate to take a field trip to a local stable just across the river. The happy chatter and excitement as we debarked upon our arrival at Bridle Path Stables indicated that the campers were ready to have some fun riding a few kindly horses and learning a little more about them. No one was really prepared for any life lessons, but those lessons found us there at the stable.
Taz was one of the first horses we met at Bridle Path. He’s a small reddish colored Quarter Horse, small enough to be labeled a pony, not a horse. Taz and his horse-sized buddy Jet-Di demonstrated some lightning fast runs through the barrels and poles. It was thrilling to watch. Mary, our guide, pointed out that while Taz is smaller than Jet-Di, he’s equally as fast, sometimes faster. Taz was not limited at all, despite his small stature. We learned from Taz that your limitations only hold you back if you let them.
Spartan is a huge thoroughbred with incredible bloodlines and even more incredible muscles. This guy was definitely bred to be a world class racehorse. For many years, Spartan tried to please his trainers by racing, but it just wasn’t in him. Finally, someone let Spartan try jumping. We watched as Spartan took jump after jump like it was nothing, and could tell he was enjoying every moment of it. We learned from Spartan that we all have gifts, but sometimes it takes awhile to find them.
We got to see many different horses at the barn in all shapes, breeds, colors and sizes. Mary told us that it is important to understand how each of these things makes the horse unique, but also help us understand what they will need in terms of food, health care, exercise and training to thrive. Truthfully, the horses at Bridle Path all looked very healthy and very happy. Mary helped us to learn the importance of respecting and valuing our uniqueness and differences so we can also thrive.
After thanking the horses at Bridle Path by sharing some Reading Rocks with them, it was time to go back to Kentucky. The day was so exciting that we used up all our energy and slept on the way back to Trinity in our big yellow bus. It was a day for fun, meeting horses, lambs and a baby cow, riding horses and watching horses, and a day for some unexpected lessons. And that’s part of the beauty of Reading Camp – the learning is fun, meaningful and constant, even at a barn.
-Lucie Collier, a member of St. Andrew's in Fort Thomas, reports as a camp director at the Northern Kentucky Reading Camp.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
Flash from Grahamstown: The Magic has begun!
As I write, most of you at home are likely still sleeping, but the first full day of South African Reading Camp is well underway and the excitement is already full and contagious. (The one type of contagion this camp nurse hopes to encounter!)
As always, the work of the Leadership Team, headed by Camp Co-directors Kary McConnachie and Matt Kellen, has been astounding. The Holy Cross brothers’ hard work, dedication, and ceaseless fundraising efforts makes this camp possible. Kary and Matt have worked tirelessly in their organizing and it certainly showed when we arrived to set up on Saturday. With the team they put together prepared and knowing their roles well, the conference room at Assegaai was quickly transformed into a new environment full of wild animals and adventure in each of the six stations through which the children will rotate every morning. The clinic was set up by myself and my colleague Rose and the campers’ rooms were enthusiastically and imaginatively decorated by the counselors in a way that will make each child feel special and welcomed. The work was rewarded by an evening braai (barbeque) prepared by the wonderful kitchen volunteers.
We began Sunday morning with a beautifully musical chapel service led by Brother Daniel and then were privileged to again have a presentation by and discussion with Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the South African Police. She gave us a great deal of information about the disturbingly dangerous world in which these children live and we discussed methods of recognizing signs of abuse which may present as well as how we will all work to assure that this week will be one of total safety and refuge for our campers, allowing them the freedom to simply be children and enjoy; something that is not often possible for them in their daily lives.
Again this year I was privileged and humbled to accompany Kary on the rounds as we picked up the campers yesterday. And once more I was deeply moved by both the astounding poverty in which these children live and the way in which they, their families and the township community as a whole both recognize and deeply appreciate the opportunity that Reading Camp provides. I saw children emerging spotless and joyous from tiny shacks made of mud and/or rusting corrugated tin and without running water. Parents (mostly mamas or grannies) shared both appreciation and some apprehension as they sent their little ones off with us in faith that this is a door opening for them.
I will attempt to keep you well up to date this week with a number of “Holy Glimpses” of the happenings here and where, moment to moment we encounter God’s face and grace.
Just a couple as a beginning:
Last evening, after the campers arrived, they had a snack and then went outside to play and run off some of their excess energy. The counselors engaged in games of ping-pong, tag and soccer with them. Shortly, though, Counselor Hannah reports, two of her little girls, Albernique and Amber came to her and inquired if they “had to” continue to play… ”Can we read instead?” They were shortly curled up in the pleasure reading corner with the books they each had chosen.
This morning, Matt reports, Nomthandazo and friends were pretending at the breakfast table that they were students at Hostel (boarding school) which to them is the “privileged school” on the other side of Grahamstown where the wealthy children attend. They explained to Matt that they were playing this game because they feel they are “being treated like kings and queens at Reading Camp.”
Finally for today, we sadly had one camper drop out yesterday because of a death in her family. Kary immediately set about calling the alternates to find a replacement as not one precious spot/opportunity will hopefully be wasted. Early this morning Kary did reach one Mama who very much wanted her daughter to come but had no transportation to get her from the family farm they were visiting. A visitor from Canada at the Monastery had given Brother Daniel a donation to help support the camp and Kary was able to take 100 Rand (approximately $13.50) from this and provide a taxi to get this child to us. The visitor had been given a sum from a Rotarian back home and asked to “donate it where you find a need.” This kind of generosity and grace is what has always blessed Reading Camp and will, we pray, continue to always.
All here send their love and appreciate your prayers and support. The days are cool and windy but with brilliant sunshine thus far. More later!
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
As always, the work of the Leadership Team, headed by Camp Co-directors Kary McConnachie and Matt Kellen, has been astounding. The Holy Cross brothers’ hard work, dedication, and ceaseless fundraising efforts makes this camp possible. Kary and Matt have worked tirelessly in their organizing and it certainly showed when we arrived to set up on Saturday. With the team they put together prepared and knowing their roles well, the conference room at Assegaai was quickly transformed into a new environment full of wild animals and adventure in each of the six stations through which the children will rotate every morning. The clinic was set up by myself and my colleague Rose and the campers’ rooms were enthusiastically and imaginatively decorated by the counselors in a way that will make each child feel special and welcomed. The work was rewarded by an evening braai (barbeque) prepared by the wonderful kitchen volunteers.
We began Sunday morning with a beautifully musical chapel service led by Brother Daniel and then were privileged to again have a presentation by and discussion with Inspector Milanda Coetzer of the South African Police. She gave us a great deal of information about the disturbingly dangerous world in which these children live and we discussed methods of recognizing signs of abuse which may present as well as how we will all work to assure that this week will be one of total safety and refuge for our campers, allowing them the freedom to simply be children and enjoy; something that is not often possible for them in their daily lives.
Again this year I was privileged and humbled to accompany Kary on the rounds as we picked up the campers yesterday. And once more I was deeply moved by both the astounding poverty in which these children live and the way in which they, their families and the township community as a whole both recognize and deeply appreciate the opportunity that Reading Camp provides. I saw children emerging spotless and joyous from tiny shacks made of mud and/or rusting corrugated tin and without running water. Parents (mostly mamas or grannies) shared both appreciation and some apprehension as they sent their little ones off with us in faith that this is a door opening for them.
I will attempt to keep you well up to date this week with a number of “Holy Glimpses” of the happenings here and where, moment to moment we encounter God’s face and grace.
Just a couple as a beginning:
Last evening, after the campers arrived, they had a snack and then went outside to play and run off some of their excess energy. The counselors engaged in games of ping-pong, tag and soccer with them. Shortly, though, Counselor Hannah reports, two of her little girls, Albernique and Amber came to her and inquired if they “had to” continue to play… ”Can we read instead?” They were shortly curled up in the pleasure reading corner with the books they each had chosen.
This morning, Matt reports, Nomthandazo and friends were pretending at the breakfast table that they were students at Hostel (boarding school) which to them is the “privileged school” on the other side of Grahamstown where the wealthy children attend. They explained to Matt that they were playing this game because they feel they are “being treated like kings and queens at Reading Camp.”
Finally for today, we sadly had one camper drop out yesterday because of a death in her family. Kary immediately set about calling the alternates to find a replacement as not one precious spot/opportunity will hopefully be wasted. Early this morning Kary did reach one Mama who very much wanted her daughter to come but had no transportation to get her from the family farm they were visiting. A visitor from Canada at the Monastery had given Brother Daniel a donation to help support the camp and Kary was able to take 100 Rand (approximately $13.50) from this and provide a taxi to get this child to us. The visitor had been given a sum from a Rotarian back home and asked to “donate it where you find a need.” This kind of generosity and grace is what has always blessed Reading Camp and will, we pray, continue to always.
All here send their love and appreciate your prayers and support. The days are cool and windy but with brilliant sunshine thus far. More later!
-Mary Jane Amick, a member of St. Raphael's in Lexington, reports on her volunteer service again this year as a nurse at South African Reading Camp in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, the blog postings from last week’s Reading Camps in Danville and Northern Kentucky were not posted in a timely fashion. The above post is one of a series of those belated entries from those camps.
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