5th and final day of English Camp

WOW, what a week! I can't believe the last day of camp has come and gone! I'm positive that everyone involved had a BLAST and it's going to be hard to go back home and to our every day lives outside of English Camp. Jeremy and I would like to personally thank everyone who worked so hard to make this camp a success. Thanks to all the volunteers (Americans and Czechs) and all the families that hosted Americans or had them over for dinner. We know that each camp takes a lot of time and planning, but it would not have been able to happen with out all your help. Thank you.

This post is going to be a little different than the others. We still have pictures, so "czech" those out, but also make sure you keep scrolling down and read the thoughts about English Camp from a few of our Czech volunteers.

2010 English Camp: Friday

Thoughts from some of the Czech volunteers

Pastor Jan: The most exciting thing about the camp is how lively this place is. The campers, the Americans and the volunteers are just full of so much energy. After camp I like to walk around the church and feel all the loose floor boards that weren't there before. I really like the openess of our doors - people coming and going, being relaxed and being themselves.

Jitka: I'm a leader of the teenage girls and they are really hard to impress, but they really like it here. They are having fun and it is because of you.

Petra: For me camp is mainly about relationships. I'm happy my friends from America came so I can see them. And I'm happy I got to make more friends. Your company really means a lot. You always bring so much energy and it really inspires me.

Hanka: This is my first year and I didn't think it would be this great. I can see you like this work and you like to work with children and the children really like you and so do I. This camp is a really specail thing.

Dan: I'm not from here (Policka) so English Camp for me means doing something good and making friends and seeing old friends - both Czechs and Americans

Day 4 of English Camp

Today was all about courage. Courage to make new friends, courage to speak another language, courage to try something new (and possibly a little scary), and the courage to do something silly when everyone else is watching.

The skit of the day was David and Goliath, with was good because it was about a younger boy who was being brave. In the stations the campers had to try out their own courage while they did different activities involving mouth traps, tennis balls, and trusting one another.

2010 English Camp: Thursday

Thoughts from the Oklahoma team

Barb Henderson: Thank you Policka. English Camp is awesome! Keep a smile on your face. Give love from your heart.

Jordan Scott: Yesterday was the best day of camp. I liked the family that we ate dinner with.

Coleton Crockett: English Camp has been a ton of fun so far. I think my favorite thing about camp is being able to meet new people.

Kim Shanks: Have you ever seen God in an unexpected way? He's here and you wouldn't recognize Him if you were looking for Him in the usual way. Praise God!

Tim: Schlais: During one dinner hosted by a Czech family in Policka, we began a converstaion about the youth here and their search for something greater in life. A realization hit me that sometimes the search may be important and will create a deeper faith for someone whose belief was come too easily. My greatest hope is that our week here will help someone begin their faith journey.

Day 3 of English Camp

The middle of camp has come and gone, but not without having an amazing time. It seems like the first two days start off a little slow each year, but once Wednesday comes around the campers are done being shy and the really fun can begin.

The theme of the day was kindness, and was kicked started with a skit about the Good Semeritan. No matter how many times I've heard the story, it still makes me smile when someone "unexpected" does the right thing and helps a person in need. There are too many times in life that we take the easy way out and ingore the people in need around us, so I'm hoping that through the skit it will show the campers that no matter who they are they can always lend a helping hand.

After a morning of shirt making, dodge ball playing, skits and snacks all the camper teams came back to the church to preform their group song/chant before lunch. Every group had made a great sign about their superhero and a song to go along. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Pokec with the church band:
Cerna Ovce (One black sheep)

Most days that Americans are taken for some sort of trip after lunch, however Wednesdays have been a little different the last three years. During Kati Salmon's last year in Policka she helped to form a church band with the youth. Since then the band has grown and mattured to the point that they are now writing and playing their own songs!

So, today at 4:30pm about 50 people came to the church to watch Cerna Ovce play. Their guest was Kerry, so many of the Czech volunteers from camp, as well as some campers, came to see what Kerry would say. It really made me happy to hear so many people say how much the band had progressed in the last three years, and I hope that the members will take those words as encouragement and continue to grow.

2010 English Camp Wednesday

Thoughts from the Oklahoman team

Jean Crockett: The meals have been delicous! The soccer game last night was lots of fun. Coleton scored two goals :)

Day 2 (hooray!)

What a day! We started off energizers and then jumped right into the theme of creativity with a skit about Noah and the ark. Super J and Wonder Girl were ready to help protect the animals from the flood waters, but of course our Superheroes were dissapointed that they were not needed, because Noah trusted in God and took care of the problem at hand in a creative way.

In the each station the campers where given taskes where they also had to be creative or solve a problem. For example, in Crafts they made a coin purse out of a juice box, in Power Station they invented their own animal and talked about pollution, and in surprise they decoded and solved riddles.

There is a lot more great things planned for the rest of English Camp, so be sure to czech in and read about what's happening each day and look at some pictures.

2010 English Camp: Tuesday

Thoughts from the Oklahoman team

Kim Shanks: This is SO much fun!

Kerry Ebert: This camp had already been a great blessing to me, especially the honor of serving communion with Pastor Jan on Sunday.

Paula Denson: For me the mission trip has been full of unexpected kindnesses, which I have seen from people caring for other. It makes me think that our goal of finding "everyday superheroes" in both groups - Czechs and Americans - has already been accomplished. I'm looking forward to finding more "superheros" all week long.

Day 1 of English Camp!

First day of camp! Waahooo!

I'm pretty sure that every camp started off with just as much excitement and energy that this camp did, but it's always quite the feeling to walk into a room full of people and hear the energizer songs and seeing a smile on everyones face.

When Jeremy and I were planning the camp we were nervous that there would not be enought campers interested in attending since there are two other big camps going on at the same time. However, as the applications trickled in, I was surprised to hear that our final count was 90 students!

The theme of this years camp is Superheroes, and each day will have a mini theme that is a characteristic of superheroes (friendship, creativity, kindness, etc...), which the campers will be learning about. However there is a catch. Everyday there is a skit, biblically based, were there are two superheroes that are trying to save the world, however they are always too late - a normal, everyday person does the job for them. Because you see, you don't have to be a superhero to do good things.

Everyday I plan on posting pictures and thoughts from the Oklahoman team, so that you back home will have a taste of what is happening here. Of course you'll have to wait until everyone is back home to hear all the great stories :) So feel free to leave comments for the team and please keep the camp in your thoughts and prayers.

2010 English Camp: Monday

Thoughts from the Oklahoma mission team:

Kelsey Goebel: Today was amazing. The children were so excited. Seeing the smiles on all their faces was so inspiring. I can't wait to continue working in the camp.

Malory Scott: As Monday came around the corner, from all the preparation, I realized that even though it is the first day I already feel the connection between the campers and us. The excitement they has was encouraging even though they were cautious with how they responded to us. I hope that everyone can step away from this week with the feeling that they had made a connection and a difference in the lives of the camper this week.

Tonya Scott: My first day of English Camp made me realise that kids are so very similar - regardless of geography. Today I had students of all ages and I watched them laugh, talk and wrestle. I had expected quieter, more withdrawn children, thinking American kids were more rambuctious, but I quickly realised that they are the same - the smiles, the laughter, the curiosity. Even though it was a hot and tiring day it was full of excitment and reward.

Sunday Worship

Sunday worship

Rock band and submarines

"The best way of making friends is by making a fool of yourself" - Jarda

2010 Saturday program

The Saturday before camp is always about meeting all the Czech and Americans volunteers, doing crazy stuff and making new friends. Jarda says it every year that the best way to make new friends is to make a fool our of yourself first, and he is exactully right. During the upcoming week Czechs and Americans will be working together to up on an English camp for about 85 Czech campers, so being able to have fun together before the week is a good way to start.

Our Saturday program started off with a preformance by some of the Czech volunteers. They had a rock band that lip-synced five or six songs ranging from ACDC to Elvis. This broke the ice and from there out the mood of everyone involved was a playful one.

Later on we played game called "submarines". Everyone except the five captains were blind folded and they used the rest of the people in their team as torpedos and tired to sink other "submarines". It took a lot of team work, as well as trust because without the guidance of the captian, and the rest of a submarine, a torpedo would be blind and left to wonder. This week do don't want anyone one who is helping with the camp to feel like that are lost at sea and left of wonder through the camp on their own. We might be two groups - Americans and Czechs - but we are one team, and our goal is to make the camp the best possible experience for the 90 campers that are attending this week.

I would like to ask that you keep our team in your thoughts and prayers throughout the week, as well as the campers. English camp is much more than learning English. It's about making friends, high-fiving kids, and making a difference in someone elses life.

The Oklahoman team is here!

Early this morning twelve of the Czech volunteers from the Policka English camp loaded onto a bus at 5:30am and headed for Prague. Along the way I started the realise that the English camp is just around the corner, and also, in ten days Jeremy and I would be leaving the "home" we had made during our two years in Policka.

Upon arriving at the airport you could feel the level of excitment rise a little. We looked at the arrival board, which informed us that the Oklahoma team would be arriving at 9:40...we had an hour to wait. What I really like about the Prague airport is that there is a place where you can watch the planes land and take off. So I found that members of our "welcoming crew" would walk from the seating area to the look out point and then to the arrival board.

At 9:35 Jarda told us that the Americans should be arriving right now! We walked onto the lookout platform just in time to see the Luftansa plane pull up to the gate. And then we saw hands in the plane windows waving at us! The Oklahoma team had arrived, and were just as excited as we were. After 5 minutes of waving we went down to the exit to meet them; Jarda came prepared to greet Kerry and the others with a Policka pivo :)

2010 Airport

The seventh English camp is on it's way! And I'll be posting a little something everyday along with pictures, so czech it out!

English Camp 2009: Friday

English Camp 2009: Friday

Day 5: Last day of camp, and boy was it a great one!

The English camp finished with just as much fun and energy as it started. The only difference is that we have all met new people, made friends and shared experiences. I'm pretty sure that every kid has a signature or small note in their passport from each of the American helpers and most likely a few of the Czech helpers. E-mail and mailing addresses were exchanged and on each face was joy from the week and also sadness from knowing that camp was coming to an end.
Jeremy and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the camp in anyway. Everyone did a great job, and we hope that you had as much fun as we did. We know that a lot goes into the camp (like housing and feeding the Americans and planning the trips and lunches) and we really appreciate the eagerness of the community to make the Oklahoma team feel welcome. We would also like to say a special thanks for everyone back in the US who was praying for the sucess of the camp, and also the team of Oklahomans who camp to put on the camp for a week. You all were great! You were full of energy and joy, so thank you. We could have never done it without you.
A lot picutes have been put online, so please we checking back to see if we have added any web pages.
http://www.mruk.cz/tabor/index.html

English Camp 2009: Thursday!

English Camp 2009: Thursday

Day 4 of camp!

In most camp situations day 4 is slow; the staff is tired, the kids are tired, and there isn't much enthusiam left. I am happy to say that this is not the case! Both the Czech and American teams are showing just as much joy and energy as Day 1, and the kids are definatly just as excited too. As I write I can hear the kids running around upstairs, laughing and clapping, as they play a game :)

Today the kids "travelled" through Africa, which ment learning about animals in Snack and Celebration station, making african style masks in Crafts, and "translating" from an ancient language into English in Surprise. In sports they learned some african games, like Mamba tag, and the oldest groups learned about african exports and why they are important to the world durning Celebration station.

In the afternoon the team will visit an old castle before going to dinner with a family from the community.

Thoughts and reflections from the team:

Sam Steele: "The people - adults, youth, and children - of the Czech Republic are children of God, just like us in America. The only walls are the ones we build!"
Barb Henderson: "There is much joy in my heart to be in 'English Camp'. Policka has so many beautiful children."

English Camp 2009: Wednesday!

English Camp 2009: Wednesday

Day 3 of camp! Woot Woot!

Today the students "travelled" through Asia! Which means that in crafts that make batik banners that had asia designs on them and in snack they learned about working together and being in a polite community, as they are in most Asia countries, by having to eat their snack while their wrist were tied to two different people. This was a challenge for some of the kids, but definatly they grew from. In celebration station the younger kids learned about emotions through dragons and the older ones discussed what it ment to protest something, and why you would want to, after watching a short picture video about Tibet. It was cool to see the protest signs that the groups came up with: No Fastfood, Save the Earth, More Reading and Less TV, etc.

The Surprise room was a little different, in that it did not have an Asian theme. Rather, each group learned specifically about their country and had to make a poster which they would present at closing. They were given facts, pictures, crayons and glue and told to be creative, and that is just what they were. I have posted pictures of all the country posters for you to see, so people check them out.

After lunch the team had a free afternoon to explore Policka. It was great to see the igerness of the czech volunteers to take them around and show them everything. It makes me smile even now thinking about how well the teen volunteers has accepted this older team.

Before going to dinner, the team was invited to attend a Pokec (talk show) which was hosted by the church band. The special guest was Chip Whipple! For thoughs who do not know Chip, this is his 6th English Camp and I think he is more excited every time!

Thoughts and reflections from the team:

Paula Denson: " I have observed the following:

1. How similar we (CZ and US) are in the things that we value most: family, home and pride in our heritage, as well as many who share similar beliefs and faith.

2. I love their happy nature when we get to know them in the Church and in their homes. They make me drop my serious cover and enjoy life!

3. I believe that Czech people are very giving and generous in all ways and I appreciate their sincere interest in each of us as we build relationships in Policka. "


Jody Whipple: " My first visit to the Czech Republic with the English Camp was four years ago. The kindness and generosity of the Czech people and their children has been an important part of my life since that time. I thank Policka for letting our team return to enjoy them, the scenery, architecture and hospitality of this beautiful village."

English Camp 2009: Tuesday!

English Camp 2009: Tuesday

Day 2 of English Camp and what a BLAST! Today we focused on the region of Central and South America. The craft was a South American style sand painting, Surprise room celebrated a ancient Inca mummy holiday, and the celebration station played Mexican bingo.

It has really been a joy walking about to each station to take pictures and watching how much fun the kids are having. It is also neat to see how the team members have adapted the program and ideas they were given to work with this week. Both the Czech and American team have been working hard and are doing a fantastic job making this years camp fun, energy packed and special for each kid.

Today after the camp, the team got their choice of going for a tour for the Policka brewary, visit an open air museum, go on a nature adventure or visit a local castle.

Refections and thoughts from the team :)
Jean Crockett: "The Policka English camp, at the Brethern Church, has fun game, interesting crafts, and lots of fun! The teenage helpers and the adult teachers make a great team. There is lots of love here."
Bob Henderson: "If the enthusiastic smiles of excited students amd volunteers could be captured and shared around the world, we would be much closer to peace on earth."
Leah Hrachovec: "I'm so impressed with the number of Czech volunteers and their dedication. We get to be a part of a team with them and it's a joy to work together and get to know each other throughout the week."
Julie Bills: " One of the things that impressed me the most in that Policka and the Czech country side is so clean. I never see trash along the highways or in the parks. Also, I love the typical Czech breakfast: fresh, homemade bread, cheese, and salami with tomatoes and red peppers right out of the garden. "

English Camp: Monday

FIRST DAY OF CAMP!

English Camp 2009: Monday

Today was the first day of the English Camp and excitement is everywhere! We have about 100 students enrolled in the week long camp, 14 volunteers from Oklahoma, and countless Czech volunteers.

The theme of this years camp is "One Big Village" and the kids will be hearing stories from the travels of Paul and then learning about different regions of the world each day as they travel through the different stations.

To start off the morning the kids met the new Oklahoma team and went into Energizers! There are so many familiar faces from last years camp, but also some new ones, from both the volunteers and the kids.

During the day the kids "travelled" to crafts where they decorated a picture frame with Paula, Jean and Sam. Then to Recreation where they played games with Tim, Rachel and Austin. Next was Snack with Jody, Chip and Barb where they introduced one another and filled out their passport information page (Tuesday they will get there passport picture!). After Snack they travelled to Celebration station where they put together a puzzle map of Europe and talked about Fairy tales with Julie and Ben. And last, but not least, they headed to Surprise to see Leah and Kelly for a "trip around the world" with a paper airplane. Bob followed the groups around to capture the fun on video.

This year is a little different from the past, mainly because the camp activities were planned by Jeremy and I (hopefully the kids will have as much fun as they did in the past). Also, the group from Oklahoma is made up of mainly first timers, so they kids get to meet a whole new group of people! (however, Ann, Bill, Kati, Jackie, Kerry and every one else who has come in the past are dearly missed). There are many of the Czech youth that have stepped up and taken some ownership of this camp, which is great to see.

Keep checking the blog for more updates for about the camp!

Americans arrive

Oklahoma team arrives