A Volley from the Canon, Number 114, Reading Camps

A VOLLEY FROM THE CANON, NUMBER 114:

READING CAMPS—A JUBILEE MINISTRY IDEA!

The idea comes from the Diocese of Lexington, but it is being implemented in both Ohio dioceses and elsewhere. The isolated and impoverished areas of rural Appalachia have chronic problems with poor reading progress. Children clearly need more help than the school term can provide. So the church is offering reading camps for children at risk of falling behind. Lexington offers one-week camps at its Cathedral Close camp facility at Irvine, KY. There are also some parish-sponsored day camps, providing an alternative plan.

Reading camps are for children entering grades two to four. They are identified as slow readers by their schools. The children are invited to apply to the Reading Camps, and the camps are free, sponsored by churches. Trained volunteers run the program.

A typical day of Reading Camp would involve morning reading tutoring for three hours, with the children rotating through six learning stations, each featuring a different aspect of reading instruction. And they love it, typically having no idea they are being taught!

After lunch, the focus shifts to other life skills, one of which is swimming instruction: a high proportion of rural mountain children do not know how to swim, and are therefore vulnerable to drowning accidents. Additionally, they get lots of TLC and encouragement, which can be just as important as any of the instruction. A high staff-to-pupil ratio is required.

This is what Sunday School started out to be: extra attention to reading instruction for poorer children who suffered from lack or inadequacy of public schooling! If your congregation, ministry group, or deanery is looking for a cooperative ministry venture, consider Reading Camp. Now would be the time to begin planning for a start-up next summer.