ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END-- Thursday August 5th

This year’s Camp Jumpstart concluded with a medley of glee, gladness and goodbyes. The

children delightedly gathered to present their favorite circle activities to their parents, siblings and friends towards the end of the day, much to the pleasure and enjoyment of their beloved onlookers. The day concluded with a refreshing treat of water ice and a final frolic in the playground. Then came the saddening goodbyes said between campers and their teen mentors, accompanied by a peppering of “see you soon” s and “stay in touch” s.

Upon reflection it was clear to all that this year’s camp had been a fantastic success, the children had improved a great deal in their academic performance, gleaned crucial fine motor skills and built upon their social interaction abilities. Camp Jumpstart 2010 provided all involved with numerous bright smiles, terrific life lessons and wonderful, long lasting memories.

ADVENTURES IN AGRICULTURE-- Tuesday August 3rd

The perennial Jump Start highlight, a fun-filled day trip to the Kimberton Waldorf School’s Garden Center and the Seven Stars Farm, took place on Tuesday. The anticipatory campers loaded onto the bus immediately upon arriving at the Kindergarten Center and eager shouts and giggles filled the vehicle as it chauffeured the campers to their marvelous field trip destination.

The morning’s activities encompassed a delicious and nutritious tasting tour of the organic gardens, and the baking of delectable zucchini brownies, an unusual recipe that produced mouthwatering treats. The afternoon was comprised of the much awaited walk to the Seven Stars Farm to see the crowing chickens, corpulent cows and a wide array of tasty organic fruits and vegetables.

Fortunately enough, a baby calf had been born an hour prior to the camp’s arrival on the farm and the campers looked in awe as they were granted the chance to see the tiny newborn cuddled up to its mother. The campers were sad to leave the farm but were surely impacted by the spectacular day they had had.

A DRAMATIC START TO WEEK TWO-- Monday August 2nd

The first day back to camp was greeted with wide smiles and eager

enthusiasm as the campers were reunited with their buddies and as they skipped, hopped and ran with gusto to the main room for the now familiar morning circle time and story. The morning’s tale of Koi & the Kola Nuts, a story highlighting the cyclic nature of good deeds and kindness, was bolstered by various creative activities meant to strengthen the camper’s comprehension. Mrs. Birdsall’s concept of Enlivened Literacy encompasses an emphasis placed on drama and performance. The campers donned brightly colored cloths and were given parts to play in the reenactment of the morning’s story. This provides the campers with a greater opportunity to understand and connect with the story and, most importantly, engages their creativity. Minimal props are used, compelling the campers to use their imaginations and oration skills to make the story come alive to their “audience” of cheering and encouraging teens.

The campers also dove deeper into the story as they drew pictures of their favorite parts of the tale in lively hues of crayon and colored pencil.

ACADEMICS & ATTACHMENTS-- Thursday July 29th

Included among all of the aforementioned unique and fun activities is an emphasis on academic

preparation for the transition from kindergarten to first grade. Led by generous Kindergarten Center teacher Ms. Katie McGowan, this facet of the camp is chiefly comprised of a review of the fundamental skills the children had learned during the kindergarten school year. Highlighted aspects include basic addition and subtraction, counting, reading comprehension, rhyming and word recognition. The campers work both one on one with their teen buddies and in groups with their peers to strengthen their skills and abilities. The close attention paid to specific needs and questions is highly beneficial and can be seen in the tremendous strides made in various academic subject areas throughout the two week duration of camp.

By the end of the first week, the bonds building between campers and mentors are evident. Many of the mentors are accustomed to the speed in which they become attached to their littler buddies as almost all of this year’s teens have participated in Camp Jump Start in previous years. Included among the mentors are recent high school graduates and college students who have such entrenched connections to the program that they elected to return even after high school. Despite the crucial service and summer fun the camp provides the children, astonishingly, it often makes the deepest impression on the teen mentors.

CAMP GETS CREATIVE--Wednesday July 28th

Day three of camp saw the first opportunity for the campers to act out the morning story after hearing Mrs. Birdsall’s enthusiastic oration of “The Vingananee and the Tree Toad”, an action packed story in which teamwork, friendship, bravery and a little divine intervention win out over the greed and malice of the forest dwelling Vingananee. Glee was evident as campers got to dress up in colored capes to portray various characters and, with the direction of Mrs. Birdsall, narrate and perform the tale.

The campers experienced another first when they got to enjoy the first day of water play; the preferred coolant being the sprinkler. Peals of laughter and giggles filled the playground as campers zealously leapt through the giant water spout.

The campers were later greeted with yet another hands-on experience as they began to sew their pencil cases.

The thrill of learning a new skill was accompanied by the garnering of crucial fine motor skills as the children were obligated to employ their dexterity to make intricate stiches in order to create a functional, attractive pencil case.

CAMP GETS COOKIN'--Tuesday July 27th

The second day of camp began with Mrs. Birdsall’s reiteration of “The Little Red Hen”. The presentation was bolstered by the circle time addition of “Little Red Hen” verse and exercise that incorporates active storytelling into the morning curriculum. The campers again got a taste of the value of the little red hen’s hard work and the essential importance of teamwork as together they measured out the ingredients for, cooperatively stirred and subsequently baked a delicious cornbread to be enjoyed later in the day.

CAMP JUMP START LEAPS INTO ACTION-- Monday July 26th

Camp started as it traditionally does, children with nervous smiles apprehensively trailing their parents into the foyer of the Phoenixville Kindergarten Center. They were quickly swept up in the excitement of camp, however, as they were paired with a friendly teen mentor and guided into the main room for circle time and Mrs. Birdsall’s animated recitation of the perpetual camp classic, “The Little Red Hen”.


Later in the morning the story came alive for the campers when they got to grind corn to make into cornbread. This gave the campers the first taste of the fantastic hands-on approach to learning that Camp Jump Start takes.

Campers later got a refreshing reprieve from the heat with a snack of juicy watermelon slices, a treat that evoked many happy grins. Laughter resounded throughout the playground as the campers got their first chance to play with their new mentors, largely referred to as their "buddies". The interaction and the bonds forged between the camper and his or her buddy has often proved to be the most unique, beautiful, lasting and beneficial aspect of the program and there is little doubt that this year will be any different.