Friendship Center 40th Children’s Camp a Huge Success!

Twelve wonderful, lively kids, ages 9-12 gathered at the camp and spent a week playing, swimming, hiking, reading, writing, riding horses, singing, hoola hooping and stream walking.

Each morning the group would gather to read and discuss folktales from around the world.  The “themes” of these folktales reinforced the values of Friendship Center Camp:  speaking kindly, building bridges, developing character, resolving conflicts and making a difference in the World.

The rest of the morning was spent doing archery with Tom, cooking international foods with Gretchen, Anna Rose and Julie Pearson, hiking to Vince’s garden and picking vegetables and exploring the Friendship Center property with Karen.

Afternoons were spent swimming (every day), hiking, playing outdoor games with Anthony and Aisha, making hoola hoops with Julie and Elliot visiting a farm with Becky and Elizabeth and stream walking with Les and Judy  Evenings saw us enjoying campfires and smore’s, exploring the night sky with Dave, singing with Jen and telling stories.

The Grand Finale of the week was the children’s participation in the community “Lanterns for Peace” program at Governor Dodge State Park.  The kids helped set up the lantern bases and the food table before participants arrived.  They sang three beautiful and moving songs with Jen for a crowd of about 100 people and were the first to put their decorated lanterns in the lake at dusk.

Thanks to many volunteers, there wasn’t a dull moment at camp. While each staff member had certain areas of interest, we all joined  the many activities really too numerous to count.

For more pictures of camp CLICK HERE.

Full time staff:

Karen Tennesen - Camp Director

Dave Pearson

Gretchen Pearson

Vince and Jane Kavaloski

Anthony Powell

Aisha Hill - Junior Counselor

Part Time Staff:

Tom Boehm - Archery

Julie Hitchcock and Elliot Tomoro - Hoola Hoop construction

Judy Kingsbury and Les Grosberg - Stream Walk

Becky Jones and Elizabeth Jones - Farm Animals and horse rides

Louisa Hoessel - Transporting kids from Milwaukee and post camp clean-up

Ana Hill - Post camp clean-up

Julie Pearson - Cooking

Anna Rose Tomoro - India Cooking

If you would like a copy of the 2010 camp newsletter, call Gretchen and Dave at: (608)935-3613

or email info@friendshipcenterwi.org