4-H Day Camp from a Teacher's Perspective

Over the previous two days, I have learned a great deal about the Dominican way-of-life through my interactions with the children.  Though tiring and (at times) frustrating, it was a memorable experience to watch the day campers participate in the variety of exercises, crafts, and games Carol and Christine arranged.  It is my understanding that the children are on summer vacation from school, and they only attend school for a few hours per day when it is operational.  Many of them, especially the more underprivileged from Veron, lack opportunities be engaged in extracurricular activities and organized fun.  Before committing to chaperone the trip, I didn’t really know what to expect; I had some idea of the purpose of the project, but I finally saw it all come to fruition today.  The 4-H Clubs, the coordinators, and the teenagers have done (and continue to do) wonderful things for these children.

As a teacher in the U.S., it’s sometimes difficult to have much “fun” with children given the rigorous educational standards and lofty benchmark expectations.  It was nice to be able to cut loose today by designing a fish project made out of CDs and coffee filters, simulating the effect the coral reef has on the entire environment, coordinating a game regarding the water cycle, and playing a variety of card games with the children.  Though we come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, we still managed to have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime.

P.S. Hi, Kait!  I miss you and apologize for not having emailed you.  There is no internet access as a I type this, and my cell phone, of course, does not work.  I love you, and can’t wait to see you next week!  Finally, GO TEAM U-S-A!

Contributed by Justin Broughman, chaperon from Bath County