In just 3 weeks time 35 campers will come down the hill from the village of Anse La Verdure ready to begin Camp Sylvester 10. Some will be excited and ready for the first hugs of summer. Others will be super cool and offer a nod or a high five. A few will come down anxious to see who will greet them and what is in store for them.
They will be greeted by Auntie Chara as Camp Director, Uncle Herb leading week 1, Auntie Anna who has an exciting week 2 planned, Auntie Dixie our kitchen facilitator, and Auntie Shel who will care for the Rug Rats(our first time campers). We are still hopeful that a few more Aunties or Uncles can join us.
With such a small but dynamic team we are brainstorming ways to meet all the campers needs while keeping safety first. It may mean less swim time if the sea is rough but who doesn’t love to build sand castles and play soccer on such a soft surface? We also plan to rely more on our junior leaders, giving them a bigger role in programming. There may also be less structure and more free play time in the mornings. It could be very exciting.
Thank you to all who have supported a camper this year. Your financial support makes this possible but your commitment to your camper also makes them feel so special. We lucky few will try to collect all the hugs on your behalf!
This summer will have a number of challenges as we learn more about the ongoing impact of all the new taxes and price increases. It will certainly affect our budget at camp but we can only imagine the impact it must be having on our village and the rest of the country. We are committed to continuing to provide the most nutritious meals possible for our campers, soup in the village on 4 Monday nights, and overflowing Blessing Bags at the end of camp.
I am leaving this Thursday for St. Lucia. I will spend a week getting things ready in the capital. This will include meetings with schools for our teaching program in November, Blessing Bag and camp purchases, and connecting with a potential local volunteer. The following Thursday Dennis arrives and we will spend time getting the site ready. There are lots of little repairs to be addressed and a new structure needs to be made for the outdoor shower. Hopefully by Sunday, July 14 everything will be ready for the arrival of Team 1.
Please keep our village, our campers, our seniors, our women and our teams of volunteers in your thoughts and prayers. The campers will need a sense of peace and love at camp, the seniors will need health and energy, the women a sense of peace, trust and love when they come to us, and the volunteers will need energy, health, and a daily awareness of how fortunate we are to get to serve in St. Lucia. Please pray too that we will be able to continue to grow our role in the local community in ways that are sensitive to the local culture.
Blessings
Auntie Shel
