Yesterday I joked with our custodian Rob, kitchen coordinator Judy, and program coordinator Cheryl: "one more sleep!" I was referring to the fact that today, Friday is the last day of the kid's Summer Camp for 2013. In the end, roughly 80 children passed through the doors of the historic Bridge St. United Church building. They injected the stately stones with plenty of energy as they explored what it means to be neighbours as Christ's people.
I like the solid, biblical Cokesbury curriculum which is a lot of fun and Christian at the same time. It is the same curriculum used by my former congregation, St. Paul's. Each day the children learned more about being neighbours with a different bible story. The bird puppet Godwin holds the attention of little ones and the DVD is well done.
There is flexibility in the planning, so our music director Terry worked with groups of children each day on music. The rhythm instruments have been a' ringin'! There is an outreach component which gets the kids out of the building to serve others, an aspect of being a good neighbour. This year they made bag lunches for Gleaner's Food Bank and delivered them. Today folk from the Conservation Authority are here to help the gang consider what it means to be a good neighbour to other creatures.
Meanwhile a strong team has kept the children stoked with nutritious snacks all through this day-long program. I'm glad that the Bridge St. Foundation assists in underwriting the costs for this Summer Camp, but it is the many volunteers in all aspects which make it go. In a time when these kid's programs are on the wane I am delighted they flourish in congregations I have served.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Thoughts and observations anyone?
Just finished up here in Bowmanville with our Celebration Service and hot dog lunch on the lawn. There might have been a quiet corridor between our two energetic camps somewhere around Cobourg...maybe?
ReplyDeleteTeachers all said they benefitted as much as kids.
May the world feel a little different as our campers head out into the world to be friendly, giving, bold, forgiving and welcoming neighbours.
I liked that the two VBS's were happening simultaneously using the
ReplyDeletesame material. The theme was excellent. The lunch was hotdogs here as well...lots in common for the two B-villes!
It is very good to open our doors to children in the community and welcome them in with fun and games and music - and Bible stories !
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