1. Having a staff of eight people (including three full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs at no cost to The GreenHouse) was a huge blessing. Everything ran so smoothly and there was plenty for everyone to do! I'm really not sure how we used to do the exact same programming with a staff of four. I think we were a little crazy.
2. The "Passport to the Promised Land" theme for the elementary camp was a great springboard for Bible stories, memory verses, crafts, games, and even field trips. Lots of fun and loads of learning.
3. New relationships were established and old ones were strengthened. We enrolled a lot of new kids this summer. With a staff of eight, I was determined to keep our enrollment numbers as high as they could possibly go facility-wise. It was great to have so many new faces in our programs. We enjoyed getting to know each and every one of the kids and teens and can't wait to continue those relationships in the fall through our after-school program. In addition, we were able to strengthen relationships with the youth that have been around awhile. A few of our long-timers took on new leadership roles this summer which was awesome to see!
4. Kids coming out of their shells and having a blast on the field trips is always a highlight.
5. Parent involvement was at an all-time high this summer. Our end of the summer closing ceremony was packed out with parents - so great to see.
And, as is usually the case, summer also brought with it some heartache. News of two teen pregnancies (one of them with twins) and another very hard situation with one of our families brought us to our knees in prayer throughout the summer (and will continue to into the future...)
For a recap of the summer in pictures, check out the slideshows that we showed on our last day of camp. Have I mentioned that I heart Animoto?
Adventure Zone (Elementary Students)
Liquid (Teens)
Another first for this summer was that we enrolled Jonah in our elementary day camp. As a first grader, he's finally old enough to be part of the program. I haven't decided if having him there this summer was a "highlight" or if it should be added to the list of "things that were hard." I think a little of both. I will say this...it is challenging to have your own child in a program where you work (particularly when he is not meek and mild)! I had never experienced that before. It brought up all kinds of issues of pride and control for me.
But, I also loved that it brought us one step closer to "we" and one step further from "us and them." Having my child in the day camp caused me to consider the quality and safety of the day camp in a way that I never had before. It's the "felt- need concept" described by Dr. John Perkins and CCDA. As the schools become our schools and the neighborhood becomes our neighborhood and the programs become our programs, we can listen, learn, and love in a much deeper way! I can better understand the hopes/dreams/needs of the parents (and vice versa) because our children have experienced something together. And, Jonah had the benefit of making a whole new set of friends this summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment