Aug 24

Monday, August 24, 2009

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A new week, and the last week of the PV Summer Program. Where has the time gone? Today at camp we had a special treat for the oldest group of kids. An organization called City At Peace sent out a representative to do an activity with the kids and to recruit them to join their program. I won’t go into a lot of detail about the program, (you can check out their website at www.cpnational.org/ny) but they are an amazing group who work with teenagers from all five boroughs of NYC. They come together for a year and share their stories with each other and work on improving themselves through the arts and community service. One of our young women from TGIA, the young womens empowerment group, was part of the organization last year and we were so impressed we asked them to come out to camp. It was really a great day for the older kids.

The younger two groups had group as usual. The middle group focused on singing today as their art and the youngest group did a weaving project. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood when they left camp today.

Tonight for dinner we are had a veggie (fresh from the garden) and shrimp combo and baked potatoes. Yum, yum! After cleaning up we gathered in the community room for reflection. We each read a short prayer about a different animal that would have been on the ark. We then shared which animal you connected with or connected with your day of service. Very interesting and thought provoking.

City At Peace working with the oldest age group

The kids expressing themselves through movement as directed by City at Peace

Aug 24

Sunday, August 23, 2009

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Trying to play catch up a bit…I haven’t had a chance to post highlights from last weeks pictures, but will do so when I can.

Saturday was a free day for volunteers so they took to the NYC streets and spent the day exploring.

Sunday was a day of change in the PV Community. We said goodbye to three volunteers and hello to four additional volunteers. It is amazing even though the makeup of the community changes each week the PV spirit is always there. There was one volunteer who is spending both weeks with us, so we headed into the city for our traditional community day. After realizing we weren’t going to be able to make a Broadway matinee show, we decided to go the the Tenement Museum on the lower east side. We learned about the history of the tenements in New York and the families who lived in them. Our particular tour focused on families connected to the garment industry and it was really interesting. After the museum we decided to stroll around Little Italy a little bit and pick up some yummy Italian treats. It was a wonderful way to spend the day.

We returned back to the church just in time to welcome the incoming volunteers. Amazingly enough all 3 cars arrived within 3 minutes of each other. After catching up a bit we had a dinner and then had a commissioning.

We forgot to take a picture in from of the Tenement Museum, so we figured this was the next best thing. We asked if we could keep the fans they gave us for the tour so we could use them back at the church.

Aug 24

Sunday, August 23, 2009

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Trying to play catch up a bit…I haven’t had a chance to post highlights from last weeks pictures, but will do so when I can.

Saturday was a free day for volunteers so they took to the NYC streets and spent the day exploring.

Sunday was a day of change in the PV Community. We said goodbye to three volunteers and hello to four additional volunteers. It is amazing even though the makeup of the community changes each week the PV spirit is always there. There was one volunteer who is spending both weeks with us, so we headed into the city for our traditional community day. After realizing we weren’t going to be able to make a Broadway matinee show, we decided to go the the Tenement Museum on the lower east side. We learned about the history of the tenements in New York and the families who lived in them. Our particular tour focused on families connected to the garment industry and it was really interesting. After the museum we decided to stroll around Little Italy a little bit and pick up some yummy Italian treats. It was a wonderful way to spend the day.

We returned back to the church just in time to welcome the incoming volunteers. Amazingly enough all 3 cars arrived within 3 minutes of each other. After catching up a bit we had a dinner and then had a commissioning.

We forgot to take a picture in from of the Tenement Museum, so we figured this was the next best thing. We asked if we could keep the fans they gave us for the tour so we could use them back at the church.

Aug 24

Sunday, August 23, 2009

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Trying to play catch up a bit…I haven’t had a chance to post highlights from last weeks pictures, but will do so when I can.

Saturday was a free day for volunteers so they took to the NYC streets and spent the day exploring.

Sunday was a day of change in the PV Community. We said goodbye to three volunteers and hello to four additional volunteers. It is amazing even though the makeup of the community changes each week the PV spirit is always there. There was one volunteer who is spending both weeks with us, so we headed into the city for our traditional community day. After realizing we weren’t going to be able to make a Broadway matinee show, we decided to go the the Tenement Museum on the lower east side. We learned about the history of the tenements in New York and the families who lived in them. Our particular tour focused on families connected to the garment industry and it was really interesting. After the museum we decided to stroll around Little Italy a little bit and pick up some yummy Italian treats. It was a wonderful way to spend the day.

We returned back to the church just in time to welcome the incoming volunteers. Amazingly enough all 3 cars arrived within 3 minutes of each other. After catching up a bit we had a dinner and then had a commissioning.

We forgot to take a picture in from of the Tenement Museum, so we figured this was the next best thing. We asked if we could keep the fans they gave us for the tour so we could use them back at the church.

Aug 22

Friday, August 21, 2009

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We picked up about 15 more kids today at camp, to the point where the two oldest age groups are almost maxed out. The youngest group still has the fewest number, which is very different from what we are used to. The activites during continue to be wonderful and challenging for the kids. Each day they have explored different ways to express themselves through different art forms.

For the volunteers, today was a bittersweet day. Most of them will be leaving over the weekend, so it was the last day with the kids. This week has really gone by quickly! As a community we gathered together for a closing prayer service to talk about our week. After we finished we headed into the city for a celebratory dinner at the South Street Seaport. When we came out the skies began to open up and threaten to rain. It made for some amazing pictures of the city and the Brooklyn Bridge. (I will try and post some over the weekend.) Once the threat of rain passed, we decided to continue the PV tradition of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. It ended up being a beautiful night to walk across the bridge. Once we got over to Brooklyn Heights we stopped to have dessert. Yummy!

I will post a bunch of pictures from the week over the weekend. It was really a wonderful week. A great community and a great bunch of kids. We are looking forward to next week.

Aug 22

Friday, August 21, 2009

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We picked up about 15 more kids today at camp, to the point where the two oldest age groups are almost maxed out. The youngest group still has the fewest number, which is very different from what we are used to. The activites during continue to be wonderful and challenging for the kids. Each day they have explored different ways to express themselves through different art forms.

For the volunteers, today was a bittersweet day. Most of them will be leaving over the weekend, so it was the last day with the kids. This week has really gone by quickly! As a community we gathered together for a closing prayer service to talk about our week. After we finished we headed into the city for a celebratory dinner at the South Street Seaport. When we came out the skies began to open up and threaten to rain. It made for some amazing pictures of the city and the Brooklyn Bridge. (I will try and post some over the weekend.) Once the threat of rain passed, we decided to continue the PV tradition of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. It ended up being a beautiful night to walk across the bridge. Once we got over to Brooklyn Heights we stopped to have dessert. Yummy!

I will post a bunch of pictures from the week over the weekend. It was really a wonderful week. A great community and a great bunch of kids. We are looking forward to next week.

Aug 22

Friday, August 21, 2009

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We picked up about 15 more kids today at camp, to the point where the two oldest age groups are almost maxed out. The youngest group still has the fewest number, which is very different from what we are used to. The activites during continue to be wonderful and challenging for the kids. Each day they have explored different ways to express themselves through different art forms.

For the volunteers, today was a bittersweet day. Most of them will be leaving over the weekend, so it was the last day with the kids. This week has really gone by quickly! As a community we gathered together for a closing prayer service to talk about our week. After we finished we headed into the city for a celebratory dinner at the South Street Seaport. When we came out the skies began to open up and threaten to rain. It made for some amazing pictures of the city and the Brooklyn Bridge. (I will try and post some over the weekend.) Once the threat of rain passed, we decided to continue the PV tradition of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. It ended up being a beautiful night to walk across the bridge. Once we got over to Brooklyn Heights we stopped to have dessert. Yummy!

I will post a bunch of pictures from the week over the weekend. It was really a wonderful week. A great community and a great bunch of kids. We are looking forward to next week.

Aug 21

Thursday, August 20, 2009

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Today was field trip day for two younger groups of kids. We took the kids to the Museum of the City of New York and specifically to the exhibit, growing up in New York. The kids were shown toys that kids played with over the past 100 years. They also got to play with a few including pick up sticks and view finders! At the end of the day the kids were asked to create their own mural of what it is like to grow up in New York now. The creativity was quite impressive. As far as field trips go, it was a great day.

Tonight for dinner we decided to give ourselves a bit of a break and eat in the air conditioning of the basement. We were treated to a very yummy smorgasbord. Two different salads, hamburger helper made with beans instead of hamburger (thanks!), chicken and a lovely pitcher of orange water to wash it all down. It was delicious and really hit the spot.

After dinner we decided to stay in the air conditioning and have our reflection in the basement. We were led in a wonderful reflection on the washing of the feet. We reflected and related our experiences in the symbolism of washing someones feet or someone else washing ours. It was wonderful to hear what everyone had to say.

We finally retreated back out of the air conditioning but decided to hang out on the stoop for a little bit to at least feel a little breeze. It is a gorgaous night, but still a little hot and sticky.

Aug 21

Thursday, August 20, 2009

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Today was field trip day for two younger groups of kids. We took the kids to the Museum of the City of New York and specifically to the exhibit, growing up in New York. The kids were shown toys that kids played with over the past 100 years. They also got to play with a few including pick up sticks and view finders! At the end of the day the kids were asked to create their own mural of what it is like to grow up in New York now. The creativity was quite impressive. As far as field trips go, it was a great day.

Tonight for dinner we decided to give ourselves a bit of a break and eat in the air conditioning of the basement. We were treated to a very yummy smorgasbord. Two different salads, hamburger helper made with beans instead of hamburger (thanks!), chicken and a lovely pitcher of orange water to wash it all down. It was delicious and really hit the spot.

After dinner we decided to stay in the air conditioning and have our reflection in the basement. We were led in a wonderful reflection on the washing of the feet. We reflected and related our experiences in the symbolism of washing someones feet or someone else washing ours. It was wonderful to hear what everyone had to say.

We finally retreated back out of the air conditioning but decided to hang out on the stoop for a little bit to at least feel a little breeze. It is a gorgaous night, but still a little hot and sticky.

Aug 21

Thursday, August 20, 2009

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Today was field trip day for two younger groups of kids. We took the kids to the Museum of the City of New York and specifically to the exhibit, growing up in New York. The kids were shown toys that kids played with over the past 100 years. They also got to play with a few including pick up sticks and view finders! At the end of the day the kids were asked to create their own mural of what it is like to grow up in New York now. The creativity was quite impressive. As far as field trips go, it was a great day.

Tonight for dinner we decided to give ourselves a bit of a break and eat in the air conditioning of the basement. We were treated to a very yummy smorgasbord. Two different salads, hamburger helper made with beans instead of hamburger (thanks!), chicken and a lovely pitcher of orange water to wash it all down. It was delicious and really hit the spot.

After dinner we decided to stay in the air conditioning and have our reflection in the basement. We were led in a wonderful reflection on the washing of the feet. We reflected and related our experiences in the symbolism of washing someones feet or someone else washing ours. It was wonderful to hear what everyone had to say.

We finally retreated back out of the air conditioning but decided to hang out on the stoop for a little bit to at least feel a little breeze. It is a gorgaous night, but still a little hot and sticky.