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Reading Camp is a Mountain of Fun!

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Past Issues

Faith Matters: Reading Camp is a Mountain of Fun!

The Cathedral Domain

By Drew Eclov

In a world where movies, video games, and television reign as the main forms of entertainment, it’s hard to get kids excited about reading. It comes as no surprise that when kids fall behind in their reading ability, they fall behind in school and lose confidence in themselves. Through the cooperation and hard work put forth by volunteers in the Diocese of Lexington, many third and fourth grade children have learned how fun reading can be.

In its fourth year, Reading Camp at the Cathedral Domain has been joined by day camps at Lexington, Danville, Hazard, and an overnight camp at Harlan. This year was my initiation into Reading Camp. Stationed at the Cathedral Domain, I had no idea what to expect. I had heard tales of homesick kids, gross weather, and much more that led me to be a tiny bit wary about being a counselor. I was in for a big surprise.

They came in buses and cars, either shouting or afraid to look me in the eye. It was hard to believe that in a week’s time that I’d be tearyeyed sending the little rascals home. My fellow counselor, Eric, and I spent 21 hours a day with the kids, doing everything from taking them hiking, swimming, and singing silly songs at campfires, to quadruple-checking that they actually brushed their teeth at night. The six boys in my cabin and many of the kids around camp came from very different homes than mine. I had an eye-opening experience the first day, when I was telling a boy to hurry up and get ready for dinner. He looked at me and said, “But, we’ve already eaten today, haven’t we?” I hadn’t given thought to the idea that not everyone eats three square meals a day. It helped me realize that the time I had with these kids needed to be special, and it was my job to give them an unforgettable experience.

Three hours in the morning were spent in classrooms that resembled a circus. There were clowns pasted on the walls with ribbons streaming from the ceiling (which I might add were a pain to put up). It was an amazing atmosphere that helped the kids learn that reading isn’t just boring print on a page. They played games with words, wrote poems, described the clouds, and acted out plays. Authors came to visit them and brought autographed books as well as their Dachshunds. There was a woman who brought a garbage can band (you can imagine the noise from that one), and there was a visit from a real live clown that entertained both the young and the old. On the final night a carnival was held, where everyone played games, like putt-putt and ring toss, to win books as prizes.

When all was said and done, and we waved as our kids drove away, I realized what an amazing week it had been. I had met kids who never knew their parents or had only one meal a day, yet their love of life and their spirits hadn’t been broken. I saw boys and girls make new friends and gain confidence they had never known before. Reading Camp has taught these children about reading and themselves, but I think that I, as well as all of the others involved with camp, learned just as much from them.

Hazard Day Camp

By Jenny Williams

Swimming, boating, hiking, and reading — that’s how the 25 kids who attended the second Perry County Reading Camp spent five wonderful days. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, nestled in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, hosted the camp this year, and they couldn’t have been more accommodating. The staff bent over backwards to make sure our campers had a good week. Chef Dave and the dining room staff made sure we were well-fed, and Sue and the recreation staff made sure we had fun. In addition to swimming in the lake, hiking on the well-kept trails, and playing mini-golf, the kids got to take a pontoon ride, and each child got a chance to drive the boat. We’re already full of plans for next year’s afternoon activities!

We were housed in the beautiful convention center in the bottom of the lodge. The view of the sparkling lake from the full-length windows was so beautiful that we didn’t need to decorate much. One day, we even got to see baby deer, still in their white-spotted coats, grazing right outside our learning centers. There was plenty of room for us to spread out and learn and play in the convention center, even on the
one day when it was too rainy to play outside.

The kids worked hard in the mornings, and so did the teachers. This year we were joined by two new volunteers, Peggy Rice and Carlene Shakelford. Both women have many years of teaching experience, and were a wonderful addition to our group. Randy Moon, Scott Lucero, and Judy Moore returned this year to teach as well, and Debra Combs rounded out our group. We were also blessed to have C.C. Johnson with us for the week to provide support — after all the camps she did this summer, she was certainly a pro by the time the Perry County Camp rolled around!

In the afternoons, we were joined by nine teenaged counselors, who had almost as much fun as the kids. They taught the kids songs and games — the pirate game and human foosball proved to be the most popular — and kept them safe and happy throughout the afternoons. Nancy Allen, the author who worked all five camps this summer, was a big hit with the Perry County kids. Jane, John, and Jennifer, of the division of forestry, made a hot afternoon hike into a fun learning experience for the kids. And Alice Noble, a former teacher, helped them build kites, which they got to take home.

The good people of St. Mark’s in Hazard were, once again, incredibly helpful and supportive. They built dividers, helped us set up, and hosted the end-of-the-week picnic for us. All in all, the Perry County Camp was a magical experience this year, and I think we’ve found a permanent home at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. They’ve asked us to come back next year, and we’re looking forward to it. Now if we can just talk someone with a houseboat into inviting the staff to use it all week…

Mission House, Lexington

By Lucy Cox

A Mission House “Horsemania” kicked off the 2005 Reading Camp season the week of June 6-10 with 23 third and fourth graders from Lexington.

The young readers arrived Monday morning at the stately Mission House which had been transformed by colorful horses and various “thoroughbred” learning centers. In this exciting environment they concentrated on improving their reading skills to become more proficient and confident readers. A team of 12 reading specialists, assisted by an ample “support” team, insured that the students enjoyed an almost one-to-one ratio for the three hours of instruction each morning. It became clear that the stimulating games and the highly creative curriculum was both enlightening and encouraging to the at-risk readers. As the week progressed, a more hopeful attitude toward reading emerged and an enthusiastic sense of accomplishment prevailed.

The high level of enthusiasm spilled into the afternoon activities which found the campers exploring various “horsey” points of interest nearby. Among the highlights was an afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park, where the campers enjoyed the “Parade of Breeds” illustrating the many colors, sizes and uses of the horse. Each was given an opportunity to then ride a horse, which proved very exciting.
The knowledge gained from this outing was helpful as we created a “Miniature Horsemania” display at Mission House. Small wooden horses were painted in a variety of colors and patterns; each child patiently created a horse and delighted in its completion and exhibit.

We also learned about the very practical use of the horse by our Lexington Mounted Police. Officer Postlewaite and his staff provided demonstrations, a tour, and answered a number of the children’s excellent questions when we visited their headquarters on Sixth Street. Later in the week, our new mounted police friends visited us on their rounds about town, which came as a most welcome surprise!
The equine veterinary firm Rood & Riddle was the site of yet another eyeopening experience. Upon our arrival at this equine surgical facility, we were invited to observe several orthopedic surgeries. The children were highly impressed and amazed at the sophisticated level of care these racehorses received.
The week seemed packed with interesting experiences and people. George Ella Lyon and Nancy Kelly Allen, noted children’s authors, visited us to share their books and their love for literature. Another day, puppeteer Bruce Brylinski performed a unique musical one-man show and assisted the children in fashioning their own puppets.

Another group of people — Coach Jack Ebel and his Transylvania swim instructors — also played a key role in the success of camp. At the end of each day, we landed at the Transy pool for expert swimming instruction. The results were both amazing and esteem-building for the children as their swimming skills grew.

The hard work of the campers, the volunteer staff and the various community resources combined for a successful week of great fun and remarkable achievement. A very special key to the week’s success was provided by the Church of the Resurrection. Its provision of bus transportation, complete with skilled and loving drivers, made it all possible. We thank all the wonderful contributors to Reading Camp....there were so many.

Pine Mountain Settlement School

By Linda Reeves

In mid-July, most students are enjoying a break from school. They play video games, go swimming, and hang out with friends. But from July 10-16, 38 children from southeast Kentucky chose to buckle down with books for a week long overnight reading camp at the Pine Mountain Settlement School (PMSS).

How would you like to be sent to a camp to work on your weakest skill? The miracle was that all 38 campers arrived on Sunday afternoon bright eyed and excited about the week ahead. This was the second and final year of reading camp for 18 of the 38 campers. Out of the 21 who were eligible to return from last year, 18 came back for another week of reading instructions. An 86 percent return rate is great in any market!

This is the second year for reading camp at Pine Mountain and the Settlement School is a perfect setting. The historic buildings and beautiful grounds are ideal for campers to learn how to fine tune their reading skills and about the environment around them. The original parcel of land for PMSS was donated by William Creech shortly after 1900. It was his intent that the land be used for educational purposes “for as long as the constitution of the United States stands.” And reading camp fits very well to Mr. Creech’s dream.

In the library, learning centers were laid out and decorated with colorful balloons and streamers, and circus posters decorated the walls. Students sat on carpet squares and worked individually with certified reading specialists. They concentrated on the building blocks of reading, including phonics, strategies for word recognition, and comprehension. Some students engaged in creative writing while others read aloud to teachers and other reading camp staff. Small groups allowed the teaching staff to accommodate various learning styles.

Sara Meekins, the teacher coordinator for the PMSS reading camp, says she and her staff strive to mix learning and fun. “Reading Camp does not look or feel like school.” She said. “The setting and the teaching materials are new to the children. Each child is helped to read books of their choosing, encouraged to develop a love of reading, and given tools for reading proficiency. The children receive personal attention in a ‘failure-free’ setting.”

After lunch, campers headed out in all directions to take advantage of the many activities available to them. Lessons in stream ecology, bird watching, orienteering, pioneer history and Native American culture were taught by the Environmental Education staff at PMSS. Although it rained most every day at camp, rain did not dampen the spirits of the campers nor stop the outdoor lessons.

Several guest speakers were woven into the daily schedule. The guest list included clowns, authors, and storytellers. Fashoo, a professional clown, mixed magic tricks with an underlying message about the importance of reading. Kentucky authors George Ella Lyon and Nancy Kelly Allen shared their love for books and how it led to careers in writing. Lexington clowns Stella and PJ were on hand to spread silliness and magic tricks on Monday evening. A group of storytellers from St. Mary’s in Middlesboro entertained the campers and staff Friday evening.

Thirty-nine individuals volunteered their time at PMSS reading camp. Included in that group of volunteers were certified teachers, a registered nurse, counselors who are high school or college students, and various other support staff. The volunteers arrived from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and various parts of Kentucky one to two days early to make sure the decorations were in place and lesson plans were completed before the campers arrived on Sunday. Men and women of all ages who have such a great love for children and a desire to help others that they give up their vacations, leave their families, and drive for hours to donate their time and skills to the children formed this dedicated group. Even more impressive is the fact that 24 of the volunteers worked at camp in 2004. It takes at least 12 teachers, six teacher’s aids, one nurse, 18 counselors, and two directors to run a camp for 38 campers. So with 39 volunteers, reading camp was not over staffed, especially since the goal is to have a one-to-one ratio of staff to camper.

Reading Camp at Pine Mountain ended on Saturday, July 16. But the wonderful memories, lessons learned and new friends will live on in the minds of the campers for years to come. Campers that the teachers fell in love with because of their spirit and eagerness to try and the ones now excited about reading books that have never been able to so before will live on forever in the hearts of the teachers.
Reading camp is a win/win situation. The campers win when they are selected by their teachers to attend camp and the volunteers win by getting to spend a week with the delightful campers. Both groups were teary eyed at the thought of leaving magical Pine Mountain. But there is always next year with a new group….

Advocate Online Staff:

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