A Shared Heritage: sharing our faith with lifelong learners

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Exploritas Program

A few pictures from our class and field trip on the Mennonites and Amish. A special thanks to our Amish Friends who take time out of their lives to share with the students of Exploritas. For more information on Exploritas (used to be Elderhostel) visit Exploritas.org

Get them Started!

An OEE group is getting prepared to learn and have fun. I am reminded again and again at how great this experience is for the kids and how much work their teachers go to to pull it off. In a lot of ways it is a rite of passage for them. A marker that they will remember into adult hood. Our job as Amigo staff is to provide a learning experience and a place for kids to grow. It takes time and energy invested by the school staff, volunteers and camp staff, but is there really a better thing to invest in than our kids. Thanks!

grace&peace

Dedicated Professionals and Volunteers

Misting rain and cool temperatures does not keep these dedicated staff inside.

Marketing in Action

Snapped a photo of Kent taking some video for a promo for this summer. A little music video of "Say What?" We continue to look for ways to help spread the word about Amigo, both summer camp and program events. Also, outdoor education, hosting other events here, camping, reunions are also great things that happen here. Keep spreading the word, tell your friends about Amigo, there is no better advertising then a friend recommending something.

Jason

Value of Outdoor Education

A few reflections on outdoor education this morning. I came to Camp Amigo with Shipshewana Scott Elementary along time ago, it was the second group that came from Shipshe-I remember being bummed because before that the sixth grade class always went to Chicago, we sold Chicken Barbecue as a fundraiser. Now I remember things I learned that trip, things about canoeing, bees, orienteering, that I have no business remembering. Of all the facts that we have thrown at us as students, the things I remember most are the things of doing.

It is easy for me now to get stuck in the Amigo way of doing things so this week when I went to pick up my kids from school and the fourth graders just got back from an outdoor overnight experience, I got to see the other side of it. The tired kids and parents and teachers looking like they just had an experience. I got to hear some of the stories and know that it wasn't all fun and games, but they were experiences that they will remember and talk about for a long time. The real investment is the time and energy that goes into pulling it off, it takes a community effort to pull it off. (they did go to another camp, in a couple of weeks the 3rd graders come to Amigo for the day, then I will get to experience being a parent of a student at Amigo)

Then I hear constantly about schools not meeting standards and having to make budget cuts and I know there are lots of hard decisions to be made. I also know the excitement, the need for experiential education and the community building that happens on these trips. Which brings me back to the picture I posted, the leaves which at once were very beautiful now nourish the flower which is blooming. The natural cycle of life and I wonder what the next stages of education and camp will look like. I am hopeful and excited about the opportunities but it will take faith and time to see things through.

grace&peace