tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57701358153154012132024-03-14T03:45:25.845-07:00Sister Mary Hart Children's ProgramHarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712602015862902575noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-72605240107078529912013-05-09T17:39:00.003-07:002013-05-09T17:39:58.165-07:002012-2013 School Year Comes to an End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks to Annelise, one of our fantastic volunteers from BC for making this video and for uploading <a href="http://srmaryschildren.tumblr.com/">many pictures to the tumblr</a> over the course of the year.Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-8675252273554632072012-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:002013-02-09T19:46:45.727-08:00Afterschool goes to BrandeisI was sorry to learn the the Halloween party at Emanuel was cancelled because of Superstorm Sandy. I was trying to think of something nice to do for the children to make up for it. So I invited them over to Brandeis the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We had a small meal of grilled cheese, an apple, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and cupcakes. The kids seemed to have a great time.<br />
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Sr. Joanne was very happy for them to see the Brandeis campus, and add another college to the list of places they have been. It's never to early to put the college bug in a young scholar's ear, right?<br />
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I enjoyed meeting the children I did not know and catching up with my
former campers. They are a bright and cheerful group, and well behaved
to boot. It was also nice to see my old boss, Mrs. Grayson along with
Sr. Joanne and Lorraine "Ma" Smith. Before the children had to leave we
all said one thing we were thankful for. It was a nice time of
fellowship in the Thanksgiving Spirit. <br />
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<i>Credit where credit is due...</i><br />
I want to thank my friends Mehraj, Dan, Ari, and Ross for the use of their apartment. I would have hosted the children in my own room, but I live in a dorm and have only a single person bedroom with not nearly enough space for 13 pleople. I also want to thank my friend Deepti who helped me prepare food, clean the apartment before the children arrived, and helped clean up after they left. It is because of them that we were able to have such a nice time.<br />
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-BenjaminBenjaminHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10094513853773486148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-61140739831951957842012-08-15T12:05:00.002-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.402-08:00Beginning to a beautiful endWhen trying to take the time to sit down and write this, it seemed like it was one of the hardest things to do. I had convinced myself that I would do it in due time. However, obviously by the date of this you can tell this is the only later I have come to know. In trying to really understand and delve into my experiences as first as an after school member, to a church goer, to a camp counselor, to now...there are a lot of things to be grateful and thankful for. Most of all though, it is for one person to say they believe in you and have that change your whole world.<br />
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As an after school member I hardly really remember coming to, but what I do remember was learning how to double dutch, which at the time seemed like the most complex things. Jumping with one rope was in my past, for two was always better than one. I remember the van ride that picked us up from Mission Grammar. I remember never wanting to do homework...I mean I know the reason for me coming is to get work done, but I could always do it at home. I never understood why we had to be quiet during homework time either, I mean multitasking was a specialty of all children. We could possibly do homework and converse. And for a long time I could not understand how a women who was shorter than me could make one sound and quietness would hush any mouth and even as short as she was, she always knew when one person in a room full of 30 kids, was still talking. But many days when we would be hushed, she was not telling us only to be quiet, rather she was telling us stories of what she wanted each of us to be and that was greatness. I for one do not remember a story she told, if you ask me now, but I remember asking why? Why was it so important for us to become great. I mean were we destined to become anything we wanted and she wanted us to become great. What was so good about that? It was more than becoming great, rather she was probably for most, the first person to say to a child how much she believed they could amount to anything they put their mind to. Maybe for me as these questions arised in my own mind, I wanted to make her proud. So when she promised she would always hold a spot for me as a camp counselor, I made sure I took her up on that offer. Even though I had switched schools, had only seen her in church every Sunday, she reminded me every Sunday of her promise; asking me my age every Sunday as well.<br />
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When I started in 2004, 14 years of age I was by far the most nervous there. I didn't know what she or the person I would be working with expected. Luckily my first year I had the privilege of working with Andy and Dominque. They showed me by example what they were doing and I followed, always asking if it was correct, not wanting to mess up. After that year had passed it got easier. The next year Ben came and I was still working alongside Dominque as Andy left and it was much easier to get comfortable. The year after that I was now in charge of my own group. I think I asked Sister Mary about five different times, if she was sure. I told her I was fine working with Dominque. She looked at me and said, "You are ready. You can't keep walking in the shadows of someone else. You must do it on your own now and I believe you can. Now stop asking me if I am sure. You think I don't know what I am doing?" I sure did not want to be the one to tell her she didn't know what she was doing and she was wrong so I came in that summer prepared...well over prepared but by the second week I got the hang of it and I had the confidence not only to lead my group but also train someone else who may like me have to take my place one day.<br />
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Throughout the years, Ben and I took the train together discussing the day and the kids, how they had their own personalities. We discussed what worked that day, what didn't, what we could expect the next day, the next week, and even the next year. And as the years went on and we have seen every person come in and go out; we've had some hard years and some questionable years, but always knowing in the back of our mind one day we would have to be the ones who would not come in again, rather we would be the one who would go out. And this year we will. It is hard knowing the comfort of having a job that is so good. It is a job that is challenging but we smile more than if I was working any other job. We get more hugs than if I was even holding a "free hugs" sign during Christmas at Downtown Crossing. We are greeted most days with smiles and even though Ms. Grayson has her ways, you can clearly see even through her own sarcastic manner she enjoys what she does. So trading the smiles, the screams, the singing, the years, and the warmth of hugs, to enter the "real world," I can only be grateful for the memories as those. I can be appreciative for getting to know a heroine like Sister Mary and even as her memory lives on and children come in and out of the program many of them are too young to know the woman who the camp now is dedicated to. We can only hope through the shared memories of laughs and bringing her up and the few who do know her carry on. We can only hope that she is never forgotten, for a person like her, can never be forgotten. I can pray that she watched over me finding a place like hers and hopefully my love for children will not fade.<br />
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KhadijaSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-63860982635019165232012-08-08T11:45:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.407-08:00End of Camp Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well camp ended last Friday. We are still working on loading the videos from the talent show, but here is the slideshow showing many of the different activities we did and the trips we took. Enjoy.BenjaminHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10094513853773486148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-24787291688552746562012-08-08T11:43:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.386-08:00End of an EraI first started working at the Summer Camp program in 2005. I didn't really decide to do it so much as Sr. Mary <i>made</i> me do it. I was 14 years old at the time, and it was my first real job. She placed me with Mrs. Grayson's group (Group 1, the 4-6 year olds) and told me to do whatever Mrs. Grayson told me and to learn from Mrs. Grayson. So I did the best I could, tried to keep kids in line and make their days fun. I got to know how complicated a "he said-she said" argument between kindergarteners can be. That summer I made some money, had a good time, and gained some experience.<br />
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The next summer, when I was 15, I returned to summer camp by my own decision. I worked under Mrs. Grayson with Group 1 again. It wasn't until I was 16 years old, that I was ready to lead the group of young children. As time passed, Sr. Mary stepped down as program director and left Mrs. Grayson in charge. Sr. Mary still told me to do whatever Mrs. Grayson said and to learn from her. And that's what I've been doing these past 7 summers.<br />
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The summer camp program has meant a lot to me. I have gained many skills from the duties I had to perform. I have learned how to handle not only young children, but my peers better because of the summer camp. The camp has helped me to grow and mature as I went through my high school, and now my college years. I tell anyone who asks that it is the best summer job in the world. My friends have had all sorts of summer jobs and experiences, but I wouldn't have traded places with them for an instant.<br />
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Of course I can't talk about working at this summer camp without mentioning Khadija. She started working here the year before I did, and so she has 8 years under her belt. That means combined we have 15 years of experience! We had known each other through church before we started working at the camp, but we got to know each other better through the summer camp. Throughout my seven years at this program, the only faces I have seen ever summer in the staff are Mrs. Grayson, Renee, and Khadija. I wouldn't say that we are pros, but I would say that we have developed into competent, fun, and engaging counselors.<br />
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Sadly for both of us, this was our last summer. We had both been saying for the past few years that "this summer might be our last one," but this time it is true. She has graduated Salem College in North Carolina and is off into the adult world. I will be studying abroad in Lima, Peru next Spring and their semester runs through July, meaning that I won't be able to work at the camp next summer. The summer after that I will have graduated college and I too will be exploring the adult world. I don't know if we are moving on to "bigger and better things," but we are moving on to the next thing. Not because we are tired of camp, but because it's just time for us to go on. I know that next summer, I will miss camp dearly, and I am sure that camp will miss us. But I am equally sure that the campers will be in good hands.<br />
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It's been great to meet new kids each summer, and it's been even better to see returning campers as they grow through the years. Khadija and I have been at this camp for almost a decade, so it is the end of and era at the summer camp. It is also the end of an era in our lives. All we can say is thank you. Thank you Sr. Mary, for seeing the potential in us and making us believe in it. Thank you Mrs. Grayson for showing us how mature and skilled we could be. Thank you campers for not giving us too much trouble. And finally, thank you God for all those summers.<br />
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-BenjaminBenjaminHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10094513853773486148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-10608320316401495382012-08-02T18:40:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.377-08:00Puppet ShowLast year we added a new field trip to the schedule. It was a trip to see a puppet show, and it was my favorite trip of the summer. I was very pleased to see it on the trip schedule again this year, and Keayra and I had a lot of fun with the 10 campers we chaperoned on the trip to see the puppets today at the <a href="http://www.puppetshowplace.org/">Puppet Showplace Theatre</a> in Brighton.<br />
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The man who ran the show did a long introductory bit about how some simple puppets work. He was very funny, and had all the kids laughing before his show even started. The show itself was spectacular, with beautifully painted sets and intricate marionettes. The puppeteers masterfully guided the various characters through the storyline. All the campers were transfixed by the actions on the stage. One of the most exciting parts of the show was when the main puppet made his way through the audience and climbed onto one of the parents there watching the show. Other exciting special effects included a giant spider, and an evil snake that was beheaded in a bright flash. Fortunately none of the campers were afraid of the monsters onstage, but rather found them exciting. <br />
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I think that puppets have a certain magical quality to them when handled by master puppeteers. They engage the imagination of the viewer and can employ a special brand of humour that live actors can't pull off. Watching a puppet show is a lot like watching a great cartoon, but with the intimacy of the show being live and in the room with you. I hope that in future years we can work with the Puppet Showplace Theatre in a workshop setting where the campers can learn puppet mastery skills. Until then, they can play with puppets on their own time. It's a lot of fun.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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<br />Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-70012479419179581192012-08-02T18:11:00.002-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.410-08:00Children's Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We went to the <a href="http://www.bostonkids.org/">Children's Museum</a> yesterday!</div>
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Above you can see the famous blow up doll of Arthur the Aardvark from the incredibly popular and successful PBS tv show. Arthur has been sitting up there since I was a kid (back in the 1990s). I'll be honest, as a counselor I've gotten tired of the Children's Museum. I've been there seven times with campers since I started working here. But summer camp isn't about me, it's about the campers, and for them it is perfect.</div>
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The Children's Museum has changed a lot since I was a kid. Some exhibits, have stayed, some have been updated, and some have been replaced with new exhibits. One of the great things about this museum is that it is an educational place as well as a fun place. There's lots of videos explaining different aspects of different cultures and scientific principles. The campers loved trying to blow bubbles bigger than their heads in the bubble room, or making dinner for me and Brittani in a play kitchen. Let me tell you that getting served by 10 kids 7 and under is a high energy experience. If you ever find yourself in the situation I advise that you eat your food quickly, because the child who is assigned to wash the dishes is probably bored and will take you plate to clean it before you get a bite.<br />
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The campers loved it (almost as much as <a href="http://srmaryschildren.blogspot.com/2012/07/canobie-lake.html">Canobie Lake</a>). And I know I said that I've gotten tired of the Children's Museum as a young adult, but I guess I was wrong because if you look below you can see that Brittani had a good time as well.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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<br />Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-70180656711078143232012-08-02T17:52:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.411-08:00B.U. Dance WorkshopThis post is two days late but don't worry, the memory of yesterday's visit is still fresh in my mind. The campers always love the B.U. (Boston University) dance workshop. It's only 45 minutes long, but it's 45 minutes of movement games, music, and of course dance. All the campers think they are Michael Jackson when it comes to dance skills, and on Tuesday they had the chance to prove it.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The B.U. student who lead the workshop was very skilled with the children, maintaining their focus and attention and getting them to enjoy the exercises. He began the workshop with a number of different movement games designed to increase the campers' awareness of their bodies and surroundings. He moved on to some different contests where the campers had to make groups and work together in order to win. After about 25 minutes of warming up, the campers were ready to finally dance.<br />
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The student taught them a simple dance, comprehensively broken down into different sections (the final section was three poses of each camper's own choice). They practiced each piece separately before they were ready to do the whole dance. Then they practiced the entire dance twice before splitting into two groups to "battle" each other.<br />
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After 45 movement-filled minutes, it was time to sit still and listen to the story teller from the Read Boston StoryMobile. Surprisingly, the campers were very still as they listen to the story teller. I believe it was a combination of the enthralling stories, and the fact that dance, while movement-based, requires focus, so the campers' focusing abilities were already in play. Whatever the reason, it made a cool Tuesday morning.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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Here's the dance video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8t96fq32RI0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-78299023741414538662012-07-31T18:37:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.416-08:00Morning PraiseEvery day at Summer Camp is unique. With three different age groups heading off to different trips and participating in different activities it's hard to lock down a specific schedule that works for each day. However one thing we always do is morning praise. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>As the children are dropped off, they are allowed to play outside with each other. Usually a game of 4-Square gets going, along with some shots on the basketball hoop and some tag. At nine o'clock, we line the children up for morning praise. First we pray for a good day. Different staff members and/or campers lead the prayer each day. Then we sing. The songs all involve specific motions which keeps the attention of the younger children. It usually takes about a week before every camper is comfortable with the songs, but by the end of camp they are all singing loudly. This is also preparation for the end of camp Talent Show where they will all sing for their parents.<br />
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Morning Praise focuses the children and provides a definitive starting point for the day. It gives us a gathering time to appreciate the blessings in our lives as well as ask for the things we need to make Summer Camp great. It also gives us the chance to make announcements and let the children know what is going on for their day. It's a great way to start the day.<br />
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-BenjaminBenjaminHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10094513853773486148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-62575125556814456502012-07-30T21:12:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.406-08:00Slave QuartersJuly 30, 2012<br />
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Today the campers got to go to the slave quarters located in Medford, Massachusetts which was built in the early 1700s. Although, we had no idea the details of how to get there, but with even the smallest of directions, we could figure it out moment by moment. Not one child, ever knew I had not been there either.<br />
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From the moment we arrived the campers were very intrigued by the things our tour guide was saying. They had a whole lot of questions and many of their questions got answered. First we went into the house on the owners of the slaves in which they were wealthy for their trading of sugar in which at the time, was a lavish business to get into. Issac Royall inherited millions by the time he was at the age of 18 and the ownership of slaves made living in luxury much easier. They were one of the richest families at the time. We learned that one could show how rich they were not only by how many slaves they owned, but the house they kept as well. There were a few additions to the house made to increase the size. <br />
<a name='more'></a>They had already had a pretty big house which consisted of more than one rooms in the house. Usually, there was a kitchen, living/dining area, and one bedroom, however the Royall had two bedrooms and they were grand, a changing room, a kitchen, and a living/dining area as well. For the time period they were living in, they were living far beyond comfortably. We got to see the old stoves they had, made now in comparison to fireplaces with distinct features that set apart. We saw the stairwell that the slaves went up, narrow and hidden, while the stairs the owners went up was widened and free. We saw the changing room, in which our guide hinted at the intimacy of the slaves and the family in changing them and grooming them for however long they cared for them, until either one of them died.<br />
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Our guide talked about the jobs of the slaves, working endlessly throughout the day. Their tasks included cooking, cleaning, grooming, changing, outdoor work, gardening and planting, and much more, but their work was never done. He showed us the beds the slaves would sleep on in the kitchen; which was a makeshift sac, about the size of rice with some cushion to lie on during the night as the sun that came through the window began their day every morning. While the guide never talked about the treatment of the slaves, i could never make an assumption that it was good or bad, from what I saw I cannot even hint to imagine what went on at that time. Even as we walked many of the campers were in a stand-still stuck in between what we felt was our present and warped back into our past. It was all of our pasts that allow us even room to have a future. This nation was built on the backs of those who unfortunately were not free in order to allow the freedom we have today. While they had not known the impact they made, we can look back and be grateful that they did. All in all a very great trip to Medford and by far something I wish everyone knew.<br />
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KhadijaSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-52643828120829884672012-07-27T15:23:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.395-08:00When Life Gives You Lemons, Make LemonadeI can't pretend it wasn't a disappointing start to the day. It was grey and dreary outside with the threat of rain. To add to that, Groups 2 and 3 were not able to go to the State House today like they had planned due to a scheduling mix up. Even on the disciplinary side of the day it was a tough start. By ten o'clock two of my seven campers were in time-out for disrespecting their fellow campers. It seemed like it was going to be one of those long, drawn out days where everyone ends up on the wall at least once and we are more than happy to leave once three o'clock rolls around. But it was not one of those days.<br />
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For Group 1 the turn around in the day came when we finished rehearsing our play (there's a talent show coming up on the last day of camp, August 3) and went into the hall. There we found some card games that Lloyd thoughtfully left out for our use. We had indoor free time, with some campers coloring, some learning to play Go Fish, and others playing a somewhat rowdy game of Wonderball.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>After lunch time, the day had really morphed into a fun day. We brought all the campers outside to play Musical Chairs using an old radio. The game was fun, and the kids also knew all the songs so they sang and danced. As they marched around an ever decreasing number of chairs, you could feel the charged atmosphere of the whole camp. Campers were rooting for members of their group and were quick to congratulate their winner, or offer their condolences if their group member lost a game. It's the strong connection between campers that isn't really finalized until Week 4, and it's a great thing.<br />
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There was a great deal of picture and video taking (go to <a href="http://srmaryschildren.tumblr.com/">srmaryschildren.tumblr.com</a> to see more photos/video) in anticipation of an end of camp montage that the counselors plan to create. Hopefully we will be able to get it online within a week after the end of Summer Camp.<br />
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There was one very special moment for the camper below today. All afternoon she was wiggling her tooth. Finally, at about 2:30, it fell out! You can just see the gap to the right of her top front teeth. We hope the Tooth Fairy works Friday nights!<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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<br />BenjaminHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10094513853773486148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-78188242027724544832012-07-26T17:10:00.003-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.414-08:00Natural HistoriansToday the entire camp went the <a href="http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/">Harvard Museum of Natural History</a>. It was a cool trip for me because I had never been to the museum before. We split into small groups to tour the museum. One of the great things about the museum is that almost everything is displayed in a class case, so there it is almost impossible for excited children to ruin special exhibits by touching them.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>This museum really had a lot to offer. There were many fossils of extinct animals, and plenty of taxidermy animals on display. The exhibits showed how different species are related to each other and explained how evolution has shaped and affected different species that we see today. The animal galleries lead you to a two story room which holds a wide variety of species. But by far the coolest thing in the room (and perhaps in the museum) was the three fully assembled whale skeletons hanging from the ceiling. The campers learned the difference between whales that use teeth to eat other fairly large sea creatures, and whales that use baleen to eat tiny krill. I have always been amazed that an animal so large can survive on a diet of micro-organisms. The campers really liked the mammals displays. A few were looking out for the different species of monkey that were characters in the story that the Read Boston Story Teller told us on Tuesday. It's impressive how the children are able to draw connections between different aspects of camp.<br />
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Another great thing about the museum is that there were a number of stands where museum staff would demonstrate different things and explain the science behind it. For example one man showed the campers the way that ultraviolet (UV) light can make certain minerals glow. One of my campers in particular loved this demonstration and the man very generously let him play around with the light and the minerals. Another great demonstration was this table set up to simulate a fossil dig.<br />
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It was a such a great museum that we spent most of the day there, only returning to the parish center because we had to eat lunch. The museum was fun, informative, and engaging...the three things necessary to make a great museum. <br />
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-Benjamin<br />
<br />Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-81807566475370335972012-07-25T17:57:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.422-08:00A Simple Day for Those of Us Back at CampToday Group 2 went to tour the Taza Chocolate factory today...unfortunately we couldn't all go (I was sorely disappointed that I couldn't position myself as a chaperone for the trip). So those of us left behind at the parish center decided to have a fun outdoor morning at our favorite local <a href="http://srmaryschildren.blogspot.com/2012/07/beating-heat.html">playground</a> (behind the police headquarters). We had a race around the playground and spent some time playing tag. After lunch we chilled out in the church and watched The Smurfs movie.<br />
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It was a nice quiet way to follow a busy rowdy morning. Before we knew it, Group 2 was back (bearing some samples of rich dark chocolate with him). For those of us back at camp it was a simple, but enjoyable day.<br />
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By the way, Group 2 had a wonderful time at the chocolate factory. There's a post on its way about their time there.<br />
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-BenjaminSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-32226293478859149012012-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.389-08:00Group 4Anyone familiar with the Sr. Mary Hart Children's Summer Program in the past few years knows that there are 3 groups of campers. However, there when one considers the entirety of the camp, one realizes there is a fourth group, also known as the counselors. There are 7 of us ranging in ages from 15-22. And we truly are a group of our own. We challenge the campers to games of 4-square, basketball, and keepaway. We are a strong team that does its best to keep the children in line. That being said, I'm sure we get on Mrs. Grayson's nerves at times. This "Group 4" dynamic is one of the strengths of the summer camp. At camp, it's not only about making sure the campers have a good summer and use their minds, but also about training leaders among the staff. This is a reminder of Sr. Mary's dedication to all 18 years of childhood, not just the elementary school years. She recognized that teenagers have different needs for their development, and by providing many teens with their first summer job, she helped meet that need for a chance for responsibility. In Group 4 we are charged with responsibility, but we are still allowed to embarce the child within us, still able to spend the summer having fun at a great summer camp.<br />
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-BenjaminSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-12427669306319524862012-07-23T20:52:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.379-08:00Museum of Science<em>July 23, 2012</em><br />
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<em>Today the children in group 3 and a select few of group 2 took a trip to the <a href="http://www.mos.org/">Science Museum</a>. Each year, you never know which of them will be far more interested in the exhibit as opposed to the others. However, today many of them were very intrigued with the exhibits we did get to see. We started off first at the new Mummy exhibit, which allowed many of them to try and understand the time frame of the Egyptians and most importantly their spiritual beliefs. Many of them needed clarification on what it meant as the afterlife. Explaining to them, that Egyptians believed that after death, one's soul would live on and whether or not they lived well was their significance in body on earth. After allowing them time to all take a picture on the camel, provided in the exhibit, we ventured on to the mathematics section in the red wing. This by far made them understand probability, illusion, inventors and creators of all that we know today, based on the forefathers who paved such a road for us to embark on. We continued onward to the space equipment, which also allowed them to go into an interactive space shuttle and lay and see just how astronauts live while in space. </em><br />
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<em>We went to many of interactive exhibits that had the children explore and most importantly quiet down and learn. The one good thing about the museum as opposed to other years, was it was not crowded. This allowed every child to venture off through the section of exhibit, but not worry to have to wait until the line lessened, not worry of other children around with far more distractions; it just made everything a bit more easier with their ability to be able to question certain things, read about it, learn about it, and continue on. Even on the train ride back you could tell that they were still thinking about what they had seen; train ride was pretty quiet as they sat back listening to the wheels of the train take us back to Ruggles street.</em><br />
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<em>Khadija</em>Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-77998545950439170692012-07-19T10:04:00.003-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.413-08:00Science in Action: Yogurt Making<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been asking the kids to save their milk cartons for the past week. The reason-we were going to make yogurt. Yesterday was the day to put together the recipe. While Kearya heated up milk to 200 degrees on the stove, I explained the science of yogurt making to the campers. Most were disgusted to learn that yogurt is made by adding bacteria to milk, though, they soon learned that some bacteria (like the bacteria in yogurt) is good for human health. The campers walked through the kitchen to watch as the milk was heated, and then cooled. Each camper prepared a carton of the milk with a bacteria culture to make the yogurt. Then the cartons were carefully sealed with duct tape and placed inside the fridge to keep cold. It takes 8 hours for the milk to become yogurt, so sometime today the campers will be enjoying a delicious and nutritious, home made snack, and they'll be able to explain how it was made and why it is good to eat.<br />
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-ReneeSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-78349225145524084562012-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.418-08:00The Heat Breaks!It was excruciatingly hot and muggy yesterday morning. There was no breeze to move the uncomfortable mass of air pressing on us like a blanket. It was so hot that even the campers were avoiding the sunlight and moving less than usual. So we changed into bathing suits and walked to the playground behind the police station, where we went to cool off <a href="http://srmaryschildren.blogspot.com/2012/07/beating-heat.html">last week</a>. The counselors armed themselves with iced coffees from the Ruggles Station Dunkin Donuts, and we found ourselves having a ton of fun as some campers ran through the sprinkler and others played on the playground. After a little while a basketball game of sorts broke out on the court behind the playground. One five year old camper impressed us all as he made numerous shots on a regulation height basketball hoop. We spent the entire morning there. The counselors and kids were all playing together, and it was so much fun that we almost forgot to go back to camp in time for lunch. <br />
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After lunch was when Mother Nature decided to be kind and dropped the temperature by 10 degrees. Wind began to blow, and by the time it was time to go rain was pouring down. Running through the rain may not be the most dignified way to travel, but it sure felt nice after dragging through the heat for so many days.<br />
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-BenjaminSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-81796081579605359422012-07-17T19:50:00.002-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.420-08:00Canobie LakeThe trip to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH is probably the biggest highlight of the summer for the campers. The trip is funded by the Knights of Colombus, who sponsor a number of camp groups to go enjoy the theme park. For those of you unfamiliar with how the trip works, we take a chartered bus from the parish center to Canobie Lake. There we take a picture with the Knights, and then they give us our tickets. Once inside the park, each camper and staffer is given a budget of $10 to spend on whatever they want (souvenirs, food, soda, toys, etc.). The counselors for Group 1 hold the money for their young charges (we don't want them to put their money down when they get on a ride and forget to pick it up). The campers are divided into small groups and taken around the park by an individual counselor, usually there are 4 or 5 campers to 1 counselor. That's when the fun happens.<br />
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Canobie Lake is an exciting place, with all sorts of cool rides, costumed people walking around, and the smells of junk food wafting through the air. My four campers skipped past the biggest, most intimidating rides to find the rides that were thrilling without being terrifying. Every year there are children who are afraid of almost all the rides, but they still are able to have fun as they hangout with their friends and watch. I find it impressive when a camper says "I'm scared to go on this ride, but you guys can go without me. I don't mind."<br />
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My personal favorite park of Canobie Lake Park is the Castaway Island water park. The air is cooler there due to the thousands of gallons of waters rushing out of pipes and down slides. The children love it because it's a great way to cool off. They can easily spend almost two hours climbing the structure and going down the big water slides.<br />
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This year the lunches were not delivered until after our bus left, so the campers had to use most of their ten dollars to buy food, but many of them were able to save enough for a snack the eat devour before boarding the bus back home. The Canobie Lake experience is very different depending on a camper's age. The youngest children go on rides with height limits, while the campers in the older group try to stand up straight and measure up the the height minimum required by the more exciting rides. The great thing about the trip is that even though each campers has a different experience, they all absolutely love it. It's not a theme park without a roller coaster ride. To see a video of some campers on the Dragon Coaster click <a href="http://srmaryschildren.tumblr.com/">here</a>.<br />
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Soon enough it was 3:45 and time to meet board the bus back to camp. The bus ride back from Canobie Lake is usually a pretty mellow affair. The older campers are still excited and chatty in the back, but many of the younger campers (and maybe even a staffer or two) take a nap as we make our way back into Boston just as rush hour is beginning. We arrive back at camp around 5:00, and the campers are picked up one by one as we play outside. Each camper leaves happy. The only problem with the Canobie Lake Trip is that no activity or trip we staff can think up is as exciting as Canobie Lake.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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I am having difficulties with my digital camera at the moment, which explains the lack of photos. As soon as I get it fixed I will download the pictures and put some up on this post.<br />
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There will be many more pictures of the trip up on our tumblr (srmaryschildren.tumblr.com). For those who don't know, a tumblr is like a simplified blog. We use it mostly to display videos and pictures from the programs that don't fit here on this blog, though we sometimes post links to related news articles as well. It's worth looking at, there's a lot fun photos there.<br />
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*Note July 29, 2012-->As you can see, I've been able to recover my photos. My camera is still in the shop, so I can't access the video yet, but that will be posted as soon as I can. <br />
<br />Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-55529580407122432002012-07-13T19:56:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.397-08:00Zoo Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was free admissions day at the <a href="http://www.zoonewengland.org/Page.aspx?pid=219">Franklin Park Zoo</a>. So we changed all the campers into our new <a href="http://srmaryschildren.blogspot.com/2012/07/camp-t-shirts.html">Sr. Mary Hart Children's Program T-shirts</a> and caught the number 45 bus from Ruggles to the Zoo. A bus ride is always a big event with 30 children. There's the trouble of getting them all seats, keeping the noise volume to a bearable level for the other passengers and dealing with any disputes that may arise between campers during the ride. But the great thing about public transportation is the potential for interaction with interesting and enjoyable people. Here's one of our campers who spent much of the bus ride chatting with the lady in the hat. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us adults when we see a child so easily and willingly interacting with our fellow bus passengers.<br />
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When we arrived at the Zoo we sat down for lunch (turkey wraps and peaches) before splitting off into small groups to explore the Zoo. I cannot speak to the experience of each group at the Zoo so I will only recount the day I had with my four campers. All four boys were very eager to see the Zoorasic Park exhibit, which features robotic dinosaurs that move and roar. The absolutely loved to see the giant lizards, especially the one that sprayed cool water at onlookers (have I mentioned yet that it was 90 degrees today?). Before going in I assured them that the dinosaurs were not real live animals, but actually robots. The rest of the day, every time we saw a live animal they asked if the animal was a robot or not. Just a funny reminder that young children see the world <i>very</i> differently than we do.
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We took shelter from the heat inside the giant tropical rain forest tent, where the biggest attraction was the gorilla exhibit. Our evolutionary cousins weren't nearly as excited to see us as we were to see them. We saw all sorts of birds, mammals, and fish inside the rain forest tent. The great thing about the Franklin Park Zoo exhibits is that the exhibits are framed as educational, showing visitors natural habitats and providing informational plaques at each exhibit. There was real excitement when we left the rainforest and trudged up the hill to the lion exhibit, though some disappointment when we found the lion napping.<br />
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After about two hours of watching animals, it was time to head back to camp. We slowly walked back through the Zoo to meet up with the rest of the group and found shade to wait as the entire camp gathered together before walking to the bus stop. I personally enjoy these trips where I get to hang out with a smaller group of campers, it gives more time interacting, plus it makes it easier to keep track of the kids. It may have been almost unbearably hot, it may have been a long bus ride to and from camp, but it was a good day.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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PS-This whole day was made possible by a program called <a href="http://highlandstreet.org/">Free Fun Fridays</a> that allows the public free admission to all different sorts of attractions in the Greater Boston Area. This program continues to August 31, and is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for something to do on the cheap.<br />
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<br />Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-20605137007469766552012-07-11T14:57:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.382-08:00Swan Boats, Frog Pond, and Campers in the CityOne of the benefits of being an urban day camp is the easy access we have to places like the Boston Common and the Public Garden. We picked up the number 43 bus at ten in the morning and didn't come back to camp until two in the afternoon. We took a ride on the swan boats, which was a popular attraction for summer camp groups. We had to wait almost fifteen minutes as many other groups boarded the boats before us. It was the first time I have seen all the boats in use at one time. It was a nice ride around the little pond, and the campers in my group especially enjoyed watching and attempting to speak to the ducks that swam around us.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Then we walked across the street to the Boston Common where we ate lunch in the shade. After lunch the campers spent two hours splashing around in the Frog Pond wading pool. Some even made friends with children from outside our group during that time. The Frog Pond is always a great place to watch, because people are generally at their best, watching out for all the children and enjoying the ambiance of the public setting. <br />
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All too soon (from the camper perspective) it was time to return to camp and we trudged to the bus stop to catch the bus back. We kept cool, had fun, and had almost no behavioral issues. It was a good day. As this camper clearly believes: <br />
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-BenjaminSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-2667420868108772122012-07-10T15:32:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.388-08:00Beating the HeatIt was a hot day in Boston. We took the campers out on a long walk before it got too hot to bring them around the neighborhood. There may have been one or two complaints of sore feet as we walked past the Reggie Lewis center, but all complaints were forgotten when we returned to camp. There Mrs. Grayson was waiting with nice cold ice cream for all the campers and staff. We sat in the shade of the tree and enjoyed the ice cream, waiting for the story teller to come.<br />
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At 11:15 the story teller from <a href="http://www.readboston.org/">Read Boston</a> came to spend a half an hour telling the children stories. This is always a good experience, and the story tellers are very energetic and devoted to their performance. The campers, especially the youngest ones, love it. To end the story teller's visit, each child gets a free book to take home courtesy of the Storymobile. The campers thanked the story teller and the representative from Read Boston before opening up their new books.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>In the afternoon, the campers changed into bathing suits and the whole camp walked to a nearby playground. The playground is next to a sprinkler, which the campers loved. The counselors opted to stay out of the water and enjoy the nearby shade. <br />
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It was a fun, relaxed and enjoyable day, the kind of day that summer memories are made of.<br />
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-BenjaminSr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-82482224284270552142012-07-06T14:25:00.001-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.423-08:00Camper Perspective: Group 2 is GreatOne of our hopes for this blog is that it not only reflect the perspective of the staff, but also of the children. We seek to showcase their work and improve their self esteem as they see their best efforts published on this blog. In the interest of showing their work as honestly as possible, only minimal edits have been made to the child's work.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Journal Entries</i></span></i><br />
<i>7-5-2012 </i></div>
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Summer camp is fun because you can play. Then, we sing song and play again. I'm in group two. In group 2 you are first to do fun things and group 1 is too. But not group 3, they have to work hard. You get 30 minutes to play. Snack is the best because it's yummy. Then, we go to computers. Then if you are not home you play again.<br />
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<i>7-6-2012</i><br />
Today we play 2 fun game. I just play the game that was called snail. 2, 3, or 4, people can play. Also jacks. There were some games that were also fun. There are 2 ladies that show me the games. It was the best!</div>Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-61938943749092277402012-07-06T14:12:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.404-08:00Camp T-Shirts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0-9byiOyBvcrIFD32bNPES16GErN3T0o-FUnw_yfUIHQdSb05qxE5_6VOQJoFtb8eBcgB8QGQMYNf_4cX7HbzLjXHZMpSAyTUVWH-JH7wnAjB4BbNn3KxS0enciXtB8lqr_J6yscuI/s1600/100_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0-9byiOyBvcrIFD32bNPES16GErN3T0o-FUnw_yfUIHQdSb05qxE5_6VOQJoFtb8eBcgB8QGQMYNf_4cX7HbzLjXHZMpSAyTUVWH-JH7wnAjB4BbNn3KxS0enciXtB8lqr_J6yscuI/s320/100_0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks to our friends over at <a href="http://www.sflashtees.com/">Super Flash Tees</a> in West Roxbury, we have these camp t-shirts for the children. As an experienced camp counselor, I can tell you firsthand how valuable these t-shirts will be on field trips - it's much easier to see all your campers in a crowd when they are matching.<br />
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-BenjaminHarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07712602015862902575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-79766191955213483772012-07-06T14:09:00.002-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.419-08:00Historic New England<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy belated Independence Day! Boston is known as the cradle of liberty in this country. It was the site of many a protest and home to some of the founding fathers. The Revolutionary War started in Lexington, only a few miles away. <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/">Historic New England</a> is an organization that seeks to preserve historical landmarks and artifacts in the region and educate the public about the lives of New Englanders from generations past. Each year they come to the summer camp and spend an hour with the campers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhVoxW_wfxdqI-kegcIlmJvfnvb1jKsc0g9bV_usbI5j4IwNWyHpEjWHtH-4N3cmoOnw_b_B29xvMaQCyH9ZgXv_1UMZjGBRh0QYVUCZxMzSSo-tJNqy_iwqXbkLsicLuK6BWL1qvQk/s1600/100_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhVoxW_wfxdqI-kegcIlmJvfnvb1jKsc0g9bV_usbI5j4IwNWyHpEjWHtH-4N3cmoOnw_b_B29xvMaQCyH9ZgXv_1UMZjGBRh0QYVUCZxMzSSo-tJNqy_iwqXbkLsicLuK6BWL1qvQk/s320/100_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They began their hour by explaining the mission of Historic New England. Their focus today was on how children in the past played and had fun. All children in all ages have played games with each other, though they did not have the gaming technologies that children today have. Instead they played games like tag, hide-and-go-seek, and games that needed only simple toys such as jacks, pick-up-sticks, checkers, and a board game called "snail."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhVoxW_wfxdqI-kegcIlmJvfnvb1jKsc0g9bV_usbI5j4IwNWyHpEjWHtH-4N3cmoOnw_b_B29xvMaQCyH9ZgXv_1UMZjGBRh0QYVUCZxMzSSo-tJNqy_iwqXbkLsicLuK6BWL1qvQk/s1600/100_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aGWeo9VYrDS2aIxkCoB7XJAV5FJeS5EEEuH9T-pPLtgcNkqllylmg4qSG5QQEaGhTILT0xl5EClI9mFGj-Qb4TJ3Vrmk6tTWkiU-QyRDX1F5P9TmWrV92fooAqKwJED60XU5fc11Tgg/s1600/100_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aGWeo9VYrDS2aIxkCoB7XJAV5FJeS5EEEuH9T-pPLtgcNkqllylmg4qSG5QQEaGhTILT0xl5EClI9mFGj-Qb4TJ3Vrmk6tTWkiU-QyRDX1F5P9TmWrV92fooAqKwJED60XU5fc11Tgg/s320/100_0256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The campers enjoyed the games and were active participants in the discussion lead by the Historic New England workers about lifestyles from the past. For the last twenty minutes, they made pinwheels out of paper, pencils, and thumb tacks. It was a nice morning and at the end of the hour the campers thanked Historic New England and wished them well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aGWeo9VYrDS2aIxkCoB7XJAV5FJeS5EEEuH9T-pPLtgcNkqllylmg4qSG5QQEaGhTILT0xl5EClI9mFGj-Qb4TJ3Vrmk6tTWkiU-QyRDX1F5P9TmWrV92fooAqKwJED60XU5fc11Tgg/s1600/100_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkgZn7lN2iPFVMO8BKQrxr7imVUB7p8wBmzwhIwkr1lbd3ED23FDdTYdFnwdOlwREL8Yp3N9cr_IZCAXcK0H_XkwRjXRM08OqpmSppG4eu84O6wDgG96kD-Ofl1XQDSko7E9BKmCbe2I/s1600/100_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkgZn7lN2iPFVMO8BKQrxr7imVUB7p8wBmzwhIwkr1lbd3ED23FDdTYdFnwdOlwREL8Yp3N9cr_IZCAXcK0H_XkwRjXRM08OqpmSppG4eu84O6wDgG96kD-Ofl1XQDSko7E9BKmCbe2I/s320/100_0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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See more Historic New England pictures at srmaryschildren.tumblr.com<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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<a href="http://srmaryschildren.tumblr.com/post/26637974060/campers-explore-the-kinds-of-fun-they-would-have">srmaryschildren.tumblr.com</a>Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5770135815315401213.post-50991540189266031062012-07-05T19:50:00.000-07:002013-02-09T19:54:25.394-08:00Summer Learning Gain: Group 1's Quiet Morning of Learning<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_learning_loss#cite_note-0">Summer learning loss</a> is the loss in academic skills and knowledge over the course of summer vacation. It affects all students, but it affects students of low socioeconomic status the most. According to a study on summer learning loss, "Two-thirds of the academic achievement gap in reading and language found among high school students has been explained through the learning loss that occurs during the summer months of the primary school years." This is a serious phenomenon in the American school system, but it can be combated. By engaging children in educational activities, such as reading, writing, science and math projects, summer learning loss is made less severe. Our summer camp is not just about fun in the sun, but making sure that our children return to school in September without having forgotten too much over the summer. Our goal is to combat summer learning loss, and promote summer learning gain.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>On that note:<br />
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Kearya and I only had five campers from our group present today. So we decided it would be a good day to contain their physical energy and get them expend some mental energy on writing and math worksheets. The children wrote their first journal entry today ("My favorite animal...") and afterwards we read a pop-up book of <u>Horton Hears a Who</u>. The children were very excited to try and touch the three dimensional images. After the book, they sat down for some math worksheets which helped them to practice their addition skills. <br />
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Sometimes doing these kinds of activities is like pulling teeth. But today the campers were exceptionally well behaved, and produced quality work. It's never completely silent with a group of five-year-olds, but it was extraordinarily quiet as they focused on their work and challenged their mental abilities.<br />
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-Benjamin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRzPb5WkQQ2p00ADKqcrWu6JxxkBmsmsMkiWpBV44gkwv3ARAGh7PsXYuGx_QMqlvsVc9GlFj51PqjK_yi7f8yAry2DQWN5oNSepsv4x6Z7FBedVSpfjyaUqv47ZI7WCdoYJvzpbP3t4/s1600/cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRzPb5WkQQ2p00ADKqcrWu6JxxkBmsmsMkiWpBV44gkwv3ARAGh7PsXYuGx_QMqlvsVc9GlFj51PqjK_yi7f8yAry2DQWN5oNSepsv4x6Z7FBedVSpfjyaUqv47ZI7WCdoYJvzpbP3t4/s320/cheetah.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>Sr. Mary's Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01175902747781540193noreply@blogger.com0