2008Montage

Here is the 2008 Heritage Camp photo/music montage. I keep having technical difficulties getting it posted, so, hopefully, it will work this time. Look for an updated one with more photos soon!

A Wonderful Camp Week!

Could the weather have been any more perfect this week? With sun and 60-70 degree temperatures,, everyone was able to get outside and we didn't have exhausted, cranky, hot kids (and parents). Well, maybe you had exhausted, cranky kids falling asleep as soon as they got in the car!

Knapp Forest now really feels like "home" as it's our third year there. Everyone is familiar with the lay-out and is using the space effectively, which is good as we had about 380 campers this year!

Tuesday's picnic was again well attended, providing a chance to meet new friends and connect with old friends. It is especially nice for the many out-of-town families. The number of out-of-town campers has been increasing and this year, for the first time, we had an "official" Heritage Camp hotel, the Country Inn and Suites.

The assemblies featured Korean dancers and drummers and Chinese Lion Dancers so they were colorful, loud, and exciting! The Korean group spent extra time visiting and were very impressed with camp and the dedication of everyone who makes it such an important part of our children's lives.

In our quest to shorten the Parade of Nations, thanks to co-director Amy Turner's idea to put everyone on risers, it was only 48 minutes long and went very smoothly. The audience was treated to a photo/music montage, songs from every camp, a tae kwan do demonstration, and a lion dance.

It was a very successful, fun, memorable camp, thanks to hours and hours of work by many volunteers who know how important it is for our children to experience their birth cultures in a variety of ways.

Help Build The Wall (of Juice Boxes)!

Teen campers this year will be volunteering at Kids Food Basket, a Grand Rapids organization that provides 1400 sack meals per day for children who may otherwise not have a meal. Each camper is asked to bring one package of 100% fruit juice to help build a "wall of juice" at camp. When a package of juice boxes is donated, the camper will receive a magnetic frame PERFECT for your class picture and suitable for any refrigerator door! These will be one-of-a-kind handcrafted works of art made by our preschoolers (with a little help from their Teen "buddies.")

Hotel for Heritage Camp

Camp is just over 2 weeks away! If you haven't already, you'll soon be receiving a "welcome packet" from your camper's classroom teacher and/or camp coordinator. If you are coming from outside the GR area, there is a block of rooms available at the new Country Inn and Suites. It's much closer than any other hotel in the area and the rate is $79 per night. That includes breakfast, a 10% discount coupon for the Pizzeria Uno, which is adjacent, and complimentary cookies. The hotel is completely non-smoking and has a large indoor pool. To make a reservation, call 616-942-7000 and mention the FFIC group rate. It's suggested to make your reservations as soon as possible. Here's a link to the hotel.

Poster-Maker Needed

Here's a chance to volunteer right NOW for Heritage Camp 2008, which starts in 3 weeks! We need someone to take the photos from last year and make them into posters to display. Everyone enjoys seeing Heritage Camp from past years. If you would like to be creative and help make memories, please contact Susan McCaffrey at susanmccaffrey@gmail.com and the pictures will get to you!

Bring A Flag to Camp!

On the first day of camp, we have an opening ceremony to welcome campers and volunteers, learn the two "official" camp songs, and to celebrate everyone's heritage. Campers are encouraged to bring a flag from their birth countries (purchased or homemade).

Calling All Musicians in Latin America/Eastern Europe Camp!

Are you coming to Latin America or Eastern Europe Camp this summer? Do you play an instrument? If you do, please bring your instrument to camp (no, not your piano....there is already one!) this summer! Mrs. B.G. would like you to play along with the songs your classes will be learning. It will be "music to our ears" to hear what she has in store for you!