Camp St. Joan is an in-house exploration event for children age 4 to 11. Children met during the week of July 9th- 12th from 9 am to 12:15 pm for cultural/religious education. This year, Native American religion and culture was the theme. Camp St. Joan is in it's third year and coordinated by Cristine Patlan and Janet Brown, Pre-school Religious Ed. Directors.

Yako Myers shared much information about the Ojibwe culture.

July 9-12th marked our third year of Camp St. Joan, and what a week it was! This year, as has been our tradition the last two years, we celebrated the beauty of diversity. This year we focused on three Native American tribes that are located in the MN and WI area. On Monday we learned about the Dakota/Lakota people, who say they have always been in this area, Tuesday we became aquainted with the Oneida people from Wisconsin, and Wednesday and Thursday we experienced the culture of the Annishinabe or Ojibwe people. Each day we had people from each of the tribes come and speak about traditions, language, culture and beliefs.

We had 200 children ages 4 years through age 11 join us. We couldn't have done it without the tremendous help from more than 60 volunteers. Each day Anna Vagle and Judy Moe started us off with energetic music and lots of drumming and percussion. We learned a Dakota love song and a beautiful song called "We Are a Rainbow People." We also had our prayer, "North, South, East, West, Great Spirit bring us home to rest."

Below are a few of the many highlights of our week.

• Monday- We were honored to have elder and holy man, Gary Cavendar from The Mystic Lake band join us for an opening peace pipe ceremony. He prayed to every direction that we would have a wonderful week and learn with enthusiasm. As we moved through our different learning centers, younger children made parfleche bags Mary Seng & Annne Gomez and played Native American games (as they would each day) with Andrea Baker and Lizette Glueck while the older children made delicious fry bread (that was doused in powdered sugar & honey) with Evelyn Wilkins and learned about plants and foods that were used for healing from our own naturalist, Janet Larson.
• Tuesday- Carol Bauman made the trip from Green Bay, WI to give us some insight into the Oneida tribe and was able to show us examples of her beautiful beadwork. She also taught us a fun game led by parent Katie Kreitzer for the older children called the Bone Dice game. This is usually played at wakes and funerals for hours at a time and uses dear antlers cut into disks and rolled like dice. The children loved playing this game in the two giant 18 ft. tipis set up in the gym by Clyde Belecourt of AIM (American Indian Movement). Evelyn Wilkins led a great cooperative clay project for the oldest children and the youngest children made traditional clay pots with Amy Burke and helpers.
• Wednesday-

  Dreamcatchers hang over the children's bed and catch the bad dreams in their webbing but allow the good dreams to pass through.

  Wednesday was a very busy day with many highlights. The youngest group made beaded bracelets with traditional Ojibwe beader, Yvonne Schmidt. They also spent a spell binding time with Susan Gooding who came from Wisconsin to share her incredible software program Maawanji'ding (Gathering Together) which documents over 300 hours of elders telling their stories and sharing their traditional way of life. The oldest children made traditional dreamcatchers with Jack Daly. Our own Rachael Kroog spent time with the groups discussing native animals, while Evelyn put together a fabulous time line with this group.
• Thursday- Our day started with an exciting visit from Johnny Smith and some of the dancers from Heart of the Earth Cultural Survival program. The group of six dancers grade school age through High School thrilled us with 40 minutes of traditional dances.

  Our friends at Native Trails, from left: Marylin, Rachael, driver Don, and our wonderful guide and trivia expert, Carolyn.

  The youngest group made their own dreamcatchers today with Karen Savage & Diane Roman as well as making porcupine quill (toothpick) art with Evelyn. They also got outside for their much loved game time. The oldest group had their time with Susan's software program and Ojibwe beading as well as fabulous speaker Yako Myers, who shared many insights into the Ojibwe culture.

  The oldest group of 40 children (the Eagle group) had a full day today with a catered lunch and an informative, fun field trip from 1-5 PM with Native Tours. This was an insightful trip to Ft. Snelling, the burial mounds in St. Paul, Battle Creek in St. Paul and Minnehaha Falls. Our tour leader shared much information about why these areas are significant to native people and how much this area was impacted by these first people. She also dispelled quite a few myths. One being that Columbus never actually set foot on any part of what we now call America!

  Both parents and children enjoyed the Heart of the Earth Cultural Survival dance group led by Johnny Smith.

  We were back in time for the fun and incredibly well attended family celebration from 5:30 - 8:00 PM in the gym. It was a great event and a chance for children to share a part of their week. We were also joined again by the Heart of the Earth traditional dance group which captivated both young and not-so-young alike!

As mentioned, this week wouldn't have been possible without the help of so many volunteers. A huge thanks to our group leaders and craft & games leaders, many of whom where helping all week. Eileen O'Connel-Conzet and Michele Dennis, who organized and ran our tiny tots camp which provided

Rachel Kroog once again shares her knowledge teaching the children about native animals.

childcare for younger siblings so that parents could help out. To Sheryl Gage who's behind the scenes work entering hundreds of names and addresses made our lives so much easier. To Sue Burk who not only helped most of the week, but shared tons of materials for games, stories, etc. that we used this week. To all of those people who helped out just when we needed them. To all of the people who helped with craft projects, nametags, posters, set up and clean up, especially the Dauth family, Anne Gomez, David Stenshoel & Ella. Thank you. To Jeff Rholl who jumped in as group photographer in addition to other volunteering. To the extra chaperones on our field trip, thank you! To those of you who set up snack each day. Sharon & David Kinney of Wentworth Screenprinting who made our beautiful camp shirts. To all the parents, grandparents, etc. who asked that invaluable question, "Do you need help today?" Thank you! You are all a true gift to St. Joan's!

Cristine Patlan is continuing on in an increased capacity as Pre-School Coordinator.

Janet Brown is leaving the staff as Pre-School Coordinator.

-Cristine Patlan & Janet Brown

p.s. If your child left a project, clothing, toy, book, etc. at camp you can claim these in the Parish Registration office in the school corridor. Items will be available for the next few Sundays.

Carolyn from Native Tours discusses the Indian burial grounds in St. Paul.	Children watched and listened to Maawaji'ding(Gathering Together) Ojibwe software developed and presented by Susan Gooding.

Two 18 foot tipis set up by Clyde Bellecourt were very popular.	Children learned how to make bracelets with Ojibwe beader, Yvonne Schmidt.

Eileen O'Connell-Conzet, left, and Michele Dennis organized a super nursery program for younger children of parent volunteers.

Much thanks to the volunteers who make Camp St. Joan possible!! -Cristine and Janet

Group Leaders
Jessica Schmidt Kyle Grinberg Bev and Jim Randel Kari Neidfelt-Thomas Nicole Patlan Ashlee Jurwitz Karen Wendt Charity Densinger Brie and Stephanie Roland Katie Woodling Crystal Creighton	Martin Loman Jim Emory Cori Adams Laura Hinnendale Laura Pezan Tara Roland Amy Bissonette Mike Dennsinger Kathy Itzin Laurie Aylward Kate Cohen

Games Leaders Andrea Jasken Baker Lissette Gluek Crafts Leaders Mary Seng Anne Gomez Angela Vargas Diane Roman Susan Stuppning Sue Burke Karen Savage Maggie Weis Michelle Walsh Amy Burke Jill Dauth

Nursery Co-op Goddesses Eileen O'Connell-Conzet Michele Dennis Nursery Volunteers Amy Robinson Kathy Munshower Sarah Schultz Helpers who helped wherever needed(and we needed the help!) Jeff Rholl Sheryl Jakes Anne Emory Margie Arndt

Family Celebration helpers Monica Gross Mari Findley Kate Krommer Ann Merrill Ann Hoops Jill Dauth Pre-Camp helpers Sheryl Gage Cyndi Wright Mary Burnside Cheri Sheehan

Group Photos
Click on the group number to see their photo.
Group 1: Bev and Jim Randall Group 2: Kari Neidfelt-Thomas Group 3: Ashlee Jurwitz/Nicole Patlan Group 4: Charity Densinger/Katie Woodling Group 5: Brie Roland/Stefanie Roland Group 6: Crystal Creighton/Martin Loman Group 7: Jim Emery/Cori Adams Group 8: Jessica Schmidt/Kyle Grindberg	Group 9: Laura Hinnendale Group 10: Laura Pezan/Tara Roland Group 11: Amy Bissonette Group 12: Mike Densinger Group 13: Kathy Itzin Group 14: Laurie Alyward Group 15: Kate Cohen