Camp

Last week was wonderfully tiring! We had our day camp, which was themed "Protect our environment, our future depends on it". It was held at Violet Petty Primary school in Shelagh's village of Lodge. Each day we had kids from all over the island, about 140 total, come from 9 am to 3 pm.

The first half of the day was always a bit educational. There were speakers from the various branches of the government ministries who talked about what they do to help the natural environment of St. Kitts. There were some field trips to the bottling company and the landfill, and the Ag Dep labs. I don't think the kids were too impressed though, and I don't blame them. It all seemed a bit boring for young kids. They were more into activities that got them dirty and involved. They mainly looked forward to crafts in the afternoons, which were facilitated by Peace Corps volunteers. We showed them the glory of paper mache and how to make egg cartons into bugs and flowers. We taught them how to make paper from old newspaper and what wonderful window decorations you can make from plastic bottles. It was all good dirty fun!! I always ended up with paint or something else in my hair and on my clothes by the end of the day.

The main craft project that came out of this was a mural that the kids helped fellow PCV Shelagh paint. It is on a cobblestone wall right off the main road. A project that will hopefully be there for quite a while and something the kids can be proud of and say they had a part in. But I must say, there is quite a funny story that goes with it as well!!

On Thursday, the children all went on various hikes around the area. Fellow PCV, Bob, was with one group. I think it was the younger group of 7-9 year olds. Anyhow, when they were returning back from their hike, Bob took them by the wall that at that point had only the sketching and some painting of the mural done. Bob explained what it was going to say (it had the camp theme on it and a picture of the ocean and St Kitts) and how Shelagh and the older kids were working together on it. Well, one little kid, Kalvin (8), was standing next to Bob with his cricket bat resting on his shoulder and staring at the wall. After Bob explained the wall, Kalvin looked up at him with quite the serious face and said, "Seems like a big waste of time to me Bob". This took Bob off guard and he just chuckled and shook his head, but it was quite the comic relief for the rest of us volunteers that were back up at the school, and whom the story was promptly retold to. This is now a very favorite quote among all the volunteers, and I don't think Kalvin understands the lasting impression he has made!!

I put up some pictures of the camp in an album on my photos link. You should definitely have a look at them. I am also posting this video of 2 boys from the camp that showed off their dancing skills at the talent show the last day of our camp. Enjoy!!

Boy steals show

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