WINTER 2008-2009 |  Volume 5 : Issue 1

ESF Dream Camp Updates

After school Program Re-cap:  Philadelphia

“525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?” To borrow the songs from Broadway show “Rent,” how can one begin to explain all the new memories that were created at Dream Camp this past year?  We expanded our after-school numbers to over 115 students strong and 30 mentors.  Students experienced a variety of activities, challenges, and smiles throughout the year.

One of our biggest accomplishments was reaching over a 90% attendance rate for the Spring Semester.  It seems that our Dream Campers are like the mail men and women—snow, rain, and sleet won’t stop them from coming to the place they love!  With a full house almost everyday, here are some of our favorite events….

• Poetry Festival- Last year, after seeing such interest in writing poetry and observing the literary talent of our Dream Campers, we decided to make it an integral part of our program.  Students prepared a variety of poetry ranging from nature poems to amazing poems about their lives, hobbies, and Dream Camp.  In addition, they celebrated National Poetry Month by listening and researching different genres of poetry each day.  The students eagerly put all of this work together and produced their own “Poetry Packet” in the Fall. 

• Fitness Frenzie-Along with NBC’s “Biggest Loser” challenge around the nation, Dream Camp Philadelphia hopped on the “get fit” band wagon.  Our spring semester was dedicated to getting healthy!  With recent statistics stating that “1 in 3 children in the United States are in danger of becoming over-weight and a majority is from the urban locations” (www.healthiergeneration.org), we knew we had to do something to help.  Our Fitness Frenzie included bringing in a personal trainer, getting tips about eating healthy, holding a basketball knock-out tournament, and learning ways to exercise without leaving your home!  Students all agreed that getting fit was way more fun that they thought it would be!

• Chess Tournament-All the mentors may still not know how to move their pieces, but our Dream Campers can certainly show us a thing or two!  The second annual Chess Tournament was a huge success.  It could be in the chess learning room or in the advanced level bracket, students were silent, brains were turning, and strategies were being implemented.  We celebrated our first female Chess Champion, Kaycia, who was amazed when we brought out the four foot trophy with her name on the front!  Although Robert’s mom was probably the most excited of all our winners, she moved the whole living room around just to center the trophy!  Rafiq, our final winner, knew from the first day of the tournament he was going to win.  He had been practicing all year and even made himself his own “Chess Champion Heavy Weight” belt in order to keep him focused!  Congratulations to all of our players!

• Dream Camp Election- If you think the competition was tight between the presidential candidates, you should have been at Dream Camp during the Pennsylvania primary!  Dream Camp decided to run an election of our own.  Each of the 5th grade groups created a candidate, campaign, and platform.  The younger students completed activities to learn about the voting process and all students registered to vote in the Dream Camp Election.  On the eve of the election students could be seen handing out popsicle sticks, home-made buttons, and flyers advocating their party.  It was a close battle right down to the debate, but in the end the new President of Dream Camp was elected, Justice Kidd and his wife, Freedom Child.  They have several speaking engagements over the next couple months, but feel free to make an appointment to come and meet them!

• Academic Olympics- Here in Philadelphia we celebrated the Olympics with  our own little twist—Academics!  After working all year on a variety of skills, we thought it only appropriate to allow our students to compete using the skills they have gained.  Both of Philadelphia’s after-school sites competed against each other on a variety of academic and physical challenges in our first annual Dream Camp Academic Olympics.  Events ranged from demonstrating geography, problem solving, and spelling skills to double dutch, basketball, and obstacle courses.  The students took the challenges by storm and in the end our South West location, Cornerstone Christian Academy, took home the Gold Medal.  We congratulate all of our “World Class Students!”

• Reading Challenge -She read articles, books, and anything she could get her hands on—reading over 65 books, Genesis Sonii was awarded our Dream Camp Reading Award for the 2007-2008.  One would have thought she won a million dollars as tears dripped down her face and she danced around the room screaming, “I won, I won, I won the computer!”  Two weeks later her smile had yet to subside and she could not wait to set everything up for her and her brother to share.  Genesis and her brother both attend Girard College and are being raised by a single father.  Their father called recently to say, “Thank you for making our family so happy and making my child realize that if she works hard and puts her mind to it, there are rewards in the end.”  We are very proud of Genesis and we cannot wait to see the dreams she achieves with the addition of this new resource!

ESF Dream Camp Trinity Updates:

On April 24, 2008, the ESF Dream Camp After-School Mentoring Program concluded. On this warm Spring afternoon, the room was filled with laughter, smiles, conversations and good spirits. Some students worked on their homework, while others conversed with their peers and mentors. The day ended when they all gathered in the meeting room, ate pizza and patiently waited to see who had won Dream Camp’s Book Challenge. The festivities were well-deserved, as the students worked extremely hard all year long to enhance their education through various activities. It was equally exciting for the mentors, who constantly provided guidance to the students and helped foster their educational growth.

Staying true to the program’s mission, Literacy remained the focus in every activity presented throughout the year. Students in Grades K-5 participated in “Kidzlit”, the literacy component of the program that strengthens their comprehension skills in reading through discussion and creative interpretation of the subject matter. Grades 6-11 participated in discussions that involved art, creative writing, life lessons and social interaction.

A series of special activities provided a break in the routine and provided the students with an outlet for creativity. One such activity involved a workshop hosted by The Hartford Children’s Theatre.  Through discussion and participation in improvisational skits, the students were able to step away from their comfort zones and tap into their imaginations to reinforce the importance of creativity. This creative expression sparked informative dialogue that allowed everyone to participate and contribute fresh ideas.

Another special activity involved the Dream Maker series. This activity was comprised of various professionals from the local community that visited the program in an effort to communicate to our students on how hard work and determination can help to achieve success. One such Dream Maker was the Honorable E. Curtissa R. Cofield, the first female African–American judge in Hartford Superior Court.  Other Dream Makers included an Infectious Disease Nurse, a Restaurant Entrepreneur, and a Program Manager from the Hartford Mediation Group. These Dream makers talked about the communities where they came from, their education, and their determination to remain positive and focused on their career goals.

Through activities such as these, along with the continued participation of the students, parents, mentors, Trinity College, and generous funding, the ESF Dream Camp After-school Mentoring Program can continue to empower the inner city youth and make them believe that “If you can dream it… you can do it.”

Please join me in congratulating the graduating class of 2008: Trinity College  Mentors: Ian Hendry, Kelly Mearns, Madeline Bierbaum, Rebecca Brill, Erica Anthony, Michael Aryee, and Jason Haber; Dream Camp graduates: Kindergarten- Kelly Zea and Charity James; 8th grade- Adelisse Rivera and Angela Sumpter.

“Each child has his own individual expressions to offer to the world. That expression can take many forms, from artistic interests, a way of thinking, athletic activities, a particular style of dressing, musical talents, different hobbies, etc. Our job is to join our children in discovering who they are.”                                                                                                       

- Stephanie Martson