parents and teen assistants greeted 130 children ages 3 to 12, to the opening day of Camp St. Joan on July 19 - 22. They were to gather in 12 small groups, following the lead of their multi-talented teachers. Just as the Chinese calendar is based on the movements of the moon, the names for the stations were the animals associated with Chinese zodiac signs. Attractive signs and artifacts decked the gym and halls, directing all to find their stations, such as: ”Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, and of course, the Tiger of 2004. Each child had the opportunity to visit all 12 stations, with appropriate plans for each age group.
In the giant Chinese lantern and fan-festooned gym, the children were welcomed daily by their vibrant organizers, Christine Patlan and Jennifer Bodine(right). The standard for this early Group Time program included a daily prayer, and plans for the morning. Then, the groups moved to their individual cultural learning stations found in the gym, school rooms, the Parish Center, and the Hospitality Room. The chapel even made space for “work outs” with two expert teachers: one for Karate (a Black Belt), and one representing other Martial Arts.
Several Chinese-American teachers taught Calligraphy and common words and phrases in their native language. Participants focused their attention to listen, repeat, and practice, practice. On leaving class, on the way to another station, many were heard using their newly minted words and phrases with each other. A huge L-shaped Art Center also had a calligraphy kit to stamp the Chinese letters out. The artists in this center were diligently cutting, pasting, forming shapes of gigantic and colorful kites, fans, and working on a mural. They completed many items that would go on display for the Thursday night program for the parents.
The Market Place and the Cooking Center both had samples of food tasting. As the children arrived, they put on decorated slippers and sat cross-legged on a large red cloth mat on the floor. The Market served 12 foods, including … Hat du’a, pea pods, tea, Taro cake, ginger, orange stacking, and Fortune cookies. The Market was a large room that also displayed many beautiful and unusual artifacts from different parts of China. The Cooking Center, in the kitchen area of the Hospitality Room, was for cooking the rice and other delicious foods. There were many cooks, but they did not spoil the meal. Everyone helped. The center of this eating area, again a mat on the floor, had live exotic fish in aquariums, flowers, and other joyful Chinese artifacts in the center. The food was delicious, of course, as in the Market Place, and the children ate heartily.
Long juggling sticks with blue strings sailed through the air neatly. All groups tried it, but it seemed that it especially intrigued the older students as they worked hard to “get the formula right”. The dance classes were amazing. Even the 3 and 4 year olds found that they could artfully maneuver a scarf dance. The older children worked with giant fans and umbrellas, as well as the scarves. After the teachers demonstrated spirited dancing interpretations for all ages, they began to work and practice for the program they would present for their parents. It became easy for the participants to watch, to dance and to appreciate this art form with its music, color and movement. It was also easy to listen and interpret the many magnificent Chinese stories narrated and read at the Story Telling station in the library.
The parents and families who came to the Program on the evening of the last day of Camp St. Joan were amazed at the learning that evolved from their children’s four day experience at these fascinating study of China. The appreciation and talent of all concerned is a testament to another one of the great experiences of the St. Joan’s community .
If you missed it this year with your children, consider that India will be the next international summer adventure in 2005.
  |