Week 2 Pictures from Bed-Stuy

A PV helping campers with a weaving project


A PV weaving specialist helps teach the kids her craft


The middle age group group shot


One of our former campers, Junior, stopped by to show off his son


Week two group shot with the junior counselors


The PV community working on their own art project


The male PV contingent helped put the quilt together


During the carnival a PV gets excited as a camper excels


The annual talent show always starts off with a number by some PVs.


This is actually the week 1 group shot, but I didn't have it to post last week : )


A special music program by a visiting PV had the oldest group listening intently


A camper making their quilt square


All smiles here!


The whole camp gathered in this room to thank our special helper, Dorothy


It's all about peace in this camp.


The oldest group on their field trip to the Museum of the City of New York. We got there a little early so we headed over to central park for a little bit.


A beautiful spot in central park.


Junior counselors working with the youngest kids


Our two birthday girls!


What beautiful smiles!


The oldest group's group shot


Our annual junior counselor dinner is always a good time


Talent show participants...










A camper picking their prize at the carnival


The campers quilt


Who said the games were just for the campers!


A camper playing Guitar Hero

Friday, August 28, 2009

We awoke this morning to a gray and rainy day. I have to admit that the coolness felt really good, but the rain certainly put a damper on carnival plans for the kids. In all 12 years we have had the camp, we have never had rain on the last day. We quickly made some adjustments as to where the kids would go inside for the different carnival activities, and then we were thrown another curve ball. As we started to head downstairs to make lunches and set up the room, we looked out the front window and noticed that a funeral was getting ready to begin in the church, the room right above where we feed the kids. Knowing that it would be impossible to keep the kids quiet, we moved them over to one of the classrooms for lunch. Again we were impressed how easily the PVs and the kids just rolled with the changes. After lunch we brought the kids back over to the social hall for the annual Peace Camp Talent Show, completely organized by the junior counselors. Once again we were impressed with all that the kids shared. We caught it all on video and will try and upload it for your enjoyment. Once the talent show ended it was carnival time. The kids were free to roam from game to game, craft to craft. It is always a fun way to end the camp. We couldn't have done the camp without the wonderful group of PVs who played a part, whether in person or by writing a curriculum, and the wonderful 12 junior counselors who play such an important part. THANK YOU!!!

After a quick clean up of all the classrooms, the PVs gathered together for one final closing. During camp the kids made a beautiful quilt, so for reflection, we used the whole idea of the quilt as our reflecting tool, reflecting about the different parts of the quilt and the symbolism of the quilt. It was a bit bittersweet, being the last closing of the 2009 Summer Program.

After reflection we went out for a celebratory dinner in Brooklyn. This last dinner of the summer is always a highlight for us, especially after what we feel was a successful summer in both WV and Brooklyn. Thank you everyone that played a part in making this such a successful summer.


** Bed-Stuy week two pictures will be posted shortly **

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Today was our last day in our individual classes with the kids. Another day full of special things for the kids. Not only was there a PV birthday, but one of the younger kid's birthdays was celebrated as well. Her mom brought in a beautiful princess birthday cake to share with everyone. The middle kids received an extra treat of having their turn at weaving, like the older kids did the previous day. For the older group of kids they had another special guest, a PV who lives locally came in for the day to talk about music with the kids. A good day was had by all!

Traditionally, the last Thursday of each camp we invite all the junior counselors over to share dinner with us. It was wonderful to eat our baked Ziti and look around the room and see all the dedicated young people helping in their community. We topped off the meal with a birthday cake for one of our favorite PVs.

After all the junior counselors left the volunteers gathered for evening reflection. Tonight we were given a bunch of different art supplies and were asked to created something that represented our day. It was fun to get a chance to use our creative sides!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Today was a great day for camp. The kids came a little late, most coming after lunch, but they came. The oldest group had another special day, with a special project. One of our volunteers different weaving projects with the kids. They were thoroughly entranced with their projects. The other two groups continued with their study of the arts. The middle group worked on their quilts and did english mad libs. The youngest group did a lot of one on one reading time.




















This being Wednesday evening, it is a free evening for the volunteers. Everyone is headed out for a fun filled evening, some meeting up with old friends, others catching a comedy show and others settling for a relaxing evening out.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Today was the field trip with the oldest age group. We took the group to the Museum of the City of New York, the same place we took the younger group last week, but did a different exhibit. The older group got a general introduction to the museum. The tour started with an excellent 25 minute video on the history of New York. Afterward, the guide talked about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, transportation throughout the city, the changes that took place in Manhattan and the history of toys in the city. The kids were excellent. They were very interactive and seemed to learn a lot. We were all quite impressed.

After camp we had a little bit of downtime and then it was time for dinner. Dinner was a simple, but very scrumptious meal of beans and rice, and salad. We moved pretty much right from dinner into reflection. We reflected on a Abraham Lincoln quote that was in the museum, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” We took the quote and reflected on the kids in the camp and what they have done that should make their community proud of them.

The evening was capped off with a ice cream run to the grocery store. Klondike Bars, Bunny Tracks and Pistachio ice cream for all. Yum yum!

Week 1 Pictures (in no particular order....)

On the way to the Museum of the City of New York. We love our camp shirts!


Friday night as a community, we went out to eat and then walked back across the Brooklyn Bridge. Even though it rained on and off during the evening, our walk across the bridge was dry.


A group of junior counselors getting together to plan the upcoming talent show that ends the camp each year.


Sidewalk chalk is always a hit out back on "recess"


More sidewalk chalk


A happy camper!


Hanging out in the back


A great shot of all the different activities that go on simultaneously in the parking lot.





Bubbles anyone?


The older group works on an assignment to recreate a Van Gogh painting





The front of the church where all the action happens


The group listening intently to the museum guide


The middle age group















Look at this double dutch















Lunch time at Peace Camp















The Brooklyn Bridge from South Street Seaport where we had the end of the week dinner celebration. There is a great group shot from here, if someone has it could you email it me?




















Junior counselor and camper, Awwwww!




















Setting up for lunch