For the Kids Speak Up section, I asked one of our younger boys a few questions about his time at camp this summer. This was his first time at Camp Hope and he fit in so well. If he wasn't walking around singing Justin Bieber he was busy doing something with his friends or the leaders. He was the kind of kid that leaders love to have around; always helping out and paying attention.
Q: How old are you and what grade are you going into? A: 8 years old and going into grade 3.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do at Camp Hope? A: Have fun.
Q: What is your favorite lunch at Camp Hope? A: Tacos.
Q: Who is your favorite singer? A: Miss. Alex, The StreetLeader.
May 2010
We have been exchanging pen pal letters with some children from Camden, NJ, who are also involved in UrbanPromise AfterSchool Programs. Here is a sampling of some of the recent letters Camp Hope children sent to Camden.
Dear Dahnaj,
Hello, Dahnaj. I live in Canada. It is fun in Canada. When I get older I want to be a boxer. Yes, I have a bike. I want to meet you too. No, I did not go to the Olympic Games. I like playing hockey and basketball. Good bye.
---------- From Your Pen Pal, Thomas
Dear Chirana,
Heyyyyy! How are you? What grade are you in? What school do you go to? How many siblings to you have? I only have 2 sisters. My favourite colour is blue. What is yours? Do you have to share a room with your sibling? I do. Where do you live? Do you have any pets? I only have 3 cats. Do you love hockey? I do.
---------- From Katie
To My Friend Tasiah,
I am 7 years old. How old are you? I have two brothers that are annoying and I have two sisters. Do you have brothers and sisters? I am going to my cousin's house this summer. I like singing.
----------From Gnane
April 2010
Since we have been learning about Moses and the Israelites experience leaving Egypt, we of course came to the story of the 10 Commandments. We talked a little about what they mean and then I asked the grade 1-4s in small groups, to come up with their own 10 commandments. Here are some of the things they wrote:
You should not be rude. Thomas, Gr.4
Do not hurt or make someone sad. Queen, Gr.4
Do not talk when other people are talking. Kabu, Gr.1
Don’t cheat, for instance at spelling tests. Kristina, Gr.2
Don’t fool around- do what you’re supposed to do. Steven, Gr.4
Don’t be mean if you’re jealous. Albert, Gr.4
Choose to do the right thing. Jessica, Gr.1
Respect nature. Tina, Gr.1
February 2010
In effort to earn Spring Break Trips, students are asked to improve in various areas at camp and also are given an opportunity to earn bonus points each week through a write-up to a particular question. Below are some of the answers we received.
Why should you get to go on the Spring Break Trip?
I think I should go to the spring break trip because I am very kind to people. I think I should go to the spring break trip because I am very fast at cleaning up. I think I should go because I listen a lot. I think I should go because I cheer people up when they are sad. I think I should go because I help people when they need it. I think I should go because sometimes I help my friends with their homework. I think I should go because it will be fun. ~Ruay, Gr. 3
What or who do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a dress shopper. ~ Jessica, Gr. 1
I want to be a fireman when I grow up. ~ Kabu, Gr. 1
When I grow up I want to be a biathlete because I like to shoot stuff and I like snow. I can also be a hockey player but I might not. I really want to join the Olympics because I want to win a gold medal. If I can’t be an Olympian I would work for a video game company because I like video games. If I can’t work for a video game company, I will be an engineer because I’m really smart and I like to make stuff. Being an engineer also sounds really fun because the name sounds fun. ~ Albert, Gr. 4
I want to be a skater, zoo keeper and a gymnast when I grow up. If I become a skater I will be in the Olympics and win lots of gold medals. And if I am a zoo keeper I will see lots of animals and I will get to feed them and love them but I wish they were out of cages so they can run through and be free because I love animals. But I will also be in Olympics too. If I get to be any of those things I think it will all be fun. ~ Queen, Gr. 4
What is your dream Spring Break Trip? In my dream SB trip, I will like to go to science world because there are lots of games and movies at science world, a telescope that can see far and they have a wheelchair contest too. I would also want to go to Camp Grace because they have pottery and room for indoor hockey and more lego. I also want to go to Miss Greta’s farm because they have cows and a forest where you can make a tree fort. I want to go to Hawthorn Park because they have a playground and a water park too. ~ Thomas, Gr. 4
I want to go to the beach. ~ Nyawal, Gr. 1
My dream spring break trip is skating, the farm, science world, Splashdown and Newton Wave Pool. ~Kristina, Gr. 2
November 2009
A few weeks ago, when we had a lot of rain, a few children chose to use their indoor playtime to be creative to make a “store”. They occupied themselves with making signs, being very secretive and planning for when they could sell their items. When the day arrived, these kids gave me specific instructions on how to distribute money for good behaviour—and I was told to be generous! So whenever I saw children paying attention well, I gave them money—little pieces of paper with the dollar amount of $50, 100, 1000 or 5000 handwritten on them.
While we did an art project at the end of the day, children were called up two at a time to come to “the store” where they were warned of slow service! While the “buyers” looked over all the posters and made their choices, two children worked in the “back” making up all their little items by drawing and colouring them in on small pieces of paper! The service was a little slow and went over the regular time of camp ending but the store employees stayed until the last person was served!
During the Creative Writing Arts Adventure this summer Camp Hope, kids made a zine - aself-published, self-authored magazine. They explored poetry, short stories, and autobiographical writing and the result have published the first issue of "Completely Hopeful" for us all to enjoy!
Click on the thumbnail to see each page full size.
April 2009
We asked the children to complete the following statement: “I think we should keep Spring Break Trips next year because…”
“They have things you can learn about that interest you. For example, I saw an iguana at the zoo. I also saw a monkey who got scared and jumped at the window of its home in the start of the zoo” ~ Nyaruot
“It is amazing and very fun. Going on the Spring Break Trips is a very good opportunity to meet new people. Also going on the trips is a great way to try new things and a way to get away from home. I like going on the trips because it give me something to do in spring break and not just sitting around at home.” ~Angela
“It is fun. Oh and spring break we always to to fun place and it will be sad it we didn’t have Spring Break Trips.” ~ Breanna
“So many work hard and their behavior is so good and that is why I think we should and because people have never been out of the place or have fun with the other people from different camps and get to meet them.” ~ Gunder
“It is really fun! Also we should have it next year because when I went this year we went on a lot of fun trips. Like we went to Miss Greta’s farm and we went shopping for a little while. And we went paint balling. That’s why we should keep on going on spring break trips. If we stopped going on SB trips then everyone would be very sad that maybe people wouldn’t really want to go. So we should keep going on spring break trips.” ~Katie
February 2009
One day last week when we walked into the church, Ruay said, “Hey, that’s Obama on that newspaper!”
I responded, “Oh yeah, it is, Ruay, can you tell me who Obama is?”
“The president of the United States,” replied Ruay.
I said, “Good job, do you know who the president was before Obama?”
Ruay frowned, “No, I don’t."
His sister, Nyaruot, joined the conversation at this point, “Was it George Washington?”
I smiled, “Well actually, no, he was the first president of the United States, but George Bush was the president before Obama."
Nyaruot looked at me pensively, “Hmmm, so there was George Washington, George Bush and what about George Clooney, when was he the president of the United States?”
For the Kids Speak Up section, I asked one of our younger boys a few questions about his time at camp this summer. This was his first time at Camp Hope and he fit in so well. If he wasn't walking around singing Justin Bieber he was busy doing something with his friends or the leaders. He was the kind of kid that leaders love to have around; always helping out and paying attention. 
Since we have been learning about Moses and the Israelites experience leaving Egypt, we of course came to the story of the 10 Commandments. We talked a little about what they mean and then I asked the grade 1-4s in small groups, to come up with their own 10 commandments. Here are some of the things they wrote:
In effort to earn Spring Break Trips, students are asked to improve in various areas at camp and also are given an opportunity to earn bonus points each week through a write-up to a particular question. Below are some of the answers we received.
