Week 2: Creativity

Campers have created their teams and our camp family is coming together! This week, we're focusing around our positive character trait of the week:

CREATIVITY!!


Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.  Freetown Village Summer Camp thrives on the inspirational vision and team effort of our campers, volunteers and community. Our progress grows every day, with each activity and every positive influence, and we strive to motivate creativity within every week of camp.



It Takes A Village: Meet Program Partner Art With a Heart

One of our program partners, Art With a Heart (AWAH), is excited to team up with Freetown Village again this summer.  AWAH has developed art production lessons to support our overall theme, “It Takes a Village.” Last summer, AWAH guided our campers in creating a community quilt. This year, after studying the artwork of James Rizzi and his vibrant “dancing” buildings, campers will create their own structures and collaborate with one another to design a village made from a variety of materials.  Be sure to check back in a few weeks for the final project! 

Fingerprint Pendants


Campers rolled out their individuality on Tuesday with handmade clay pendants that carry their own stamp of approval! Clever Coyotes, Kayla O., explained the process behind making these simple keepsakes. 

 

"We rolled out the clay into flat squares, then we colored our finger with a marker and pressed our fingerprint into the clay. Then we decorated them with our own design. Before we put them in the oven, we poked a hole in the top so we could put a string in it." Kayla explains.

She's going to give her pendant to her mom as a reminder of her time at Freetown Village Summer Camp.

Volunteer Spotlight: Alumni Camper Rachel O.


Our volunteer staff are an invaluable asset to the growth and success of the Freetown Village Summer Camp. We are extremely grateful to have such an eager and dedicated group, helping to enrich the lives of our campers. 

After three years as a camper, Rachel O., is giving back as an enthusiastic alumni volunteer this year!
Rachel enjoys the friendly and supportive environment that camp has to offer, as well as collaborating with campers to bring them the same friendly, supportive experience. 

"I like working with the younger kids, helping them with reading and learning." says Rachel.

The most impactful character trait she learned at camp was initiative. At the age of 12, she learned that doing something without being told can be a very valuable and positive character trait to possess. Her initiative in camp has allowed her to grow as a student, a role model, and a goal-driven individual.

Rachel is currently a freshman at Charles A Tindley Accelerated School, and plans to go to college to become a pediatrician. She also plans to return next summer as a volunteer at Freetown Village Summer Camp. 


Posted by Raechel Amey

Week 1: Responsibility

Freetown Village Summer Day Camp brings campers and volunteers together at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. Children in Grades K-8 can focus their energy towards history, culture, group activities, health and nutrition, math, theater, language arts, gardening, learning positive self-esteem and civic responsibility. 

We're off to a great start! We are excited to introduce new campers and new activities this year. Campers kick the week off with hands-on activities and summer learning focusing around our positive character trait of the week: 

RESPONSIBILITY

Team Shields

Each class starts the week identified as Class A, B, C, and D. As we begin to grow as a team and a camp family, each class will come together to create their own identity, complete with a team shield reflecting their positive character traits. Each shield includes 1) an animal, representing strength of character, 2) a team word, 3) a favorite place to go, and 4) a learning symbol.

This summer, our camp family includes the Powerful Antelopes (K - 1st), the Brainy Badgers (2nd - 3rd), the Brave Horses (4th - 5th), and the Clever Coyotes (6th - 8th)!

Homemade Ice Cream & Strawberry Shortcakes

Traditionally, our campers come together at the end of their first week to make hand-churned ice cream and homemade strawberry shortcakes. 

The Brave Horses made our ice cream, and half of the fun was in the process! From pouring ingredients, mixing the batter, and churning the ice cream, they learned how ice cream was made the old-fashioned way. It took about 45 minutes to thicken up, and the churn crank was not turning properly, but the Brave Horses pushed through with determination and made us some darn good ice cream!

Some of our Clever Coyotes were responsible for prepping strawberries from South Circle Farm, baking the shortcakes, and serving fellow campers the completed strawberry shortcakes topped with ice cream. YUMMY! Pausing to savor the flavors, campers exclaimed how much they loved their ice cream.

Together, our campers took on different responsibilities in order to create a favorite sweet treat for the entire camp to enjoy. We appreciate the hard work and care everyone put into making our Friday snack extra special! Again, we're reminded of the love that is part of the foundation of so many of the foods we eat.

Spelling Contest

The Brainy Badgers and Powerful Antelopes raced to be the first team to spell the word "responsibility." Learning what the word means is the first step in teaching young children how to be responsible throughout their daily lives. 

Kickball

We didn't let a little sprinkle of rain get in our way of having fun! Recess would not be complete without a game of kickball.

Come back next Monday to see what activities and positive traits we will learn about during Week 2!

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Interested in signing up your child for summer camp? It’s not too late!

Please call our camp at 317-828-1848 or email at freetown@freetownvillage.org for more information.

Camp hours:  8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Cost: $75/week per child (non-members)


Posted by Raechel Amey