By Chris Adams, Volunteer

Little Kids August Camp took place on Monday the 22nd and after a slow start to the day, it turned out great. It was a slow start because when we arrived at the scheduled venue, Destiny Gardens, we found it had been demolished and moved half an hour further down the road.  It took ages to find!!

However, after finding the right location we found it had a nice garden, swimming pools, and an amusement park with dodge’em cars and other rides.  Merry-go-round anyone?! Our kids didn’t have swimming gear but luckily we could rent them on the spot. It was a great decision to do so…we got great joy out of watching the fun the kids had. After lunch, they hit the amusement park again with gusto. Even when the rain came, it didn’t deter their enjoyment.

After the prize-giving ceremony around 5:30 pm, where each child received a soft toy donated by an Irish family called the Heekins, we all headed home.  We arrived back at the NRCF office nearly two hours later due to the traffic and the rain. The caseworkers took the kids home if their parents or guardians were not there to meet them. It was a very long day for everyone but the fun was super. Roll on to next year when the construction at Destiny Gardens is finished …hopefully!

Grammar Camp for kids ages 10 to 14 was the first camp on the calendar this summer.  It was held at a boarding school on the outskirts of Naivasha, Kenya. First camping experience was memorable, with memorable riding to campsite indicating great fun and enjoyment. Twenty student- and staff leaders and one hundred and twenty ecstatic campers rode three brightly painted buses with loud whistles, music, blowing horns, and more. The energy was contagious, and it was clear that the culture of camp is based around “fun!”

Daily Chores Start the Fun!
Each day at Grammar Camp began with cleaning the dorms, group songs and chants, and a reminder of our goal for the day: to have fun! The kids’ home lives are filled with cleaning, collecting water, walking to school, learning, studying, and more home chores necessary to make the home or boarding school function.

At camp, while still learning and taking care of environment, the kids are not only laughing, running, and singing but also literally jumping for joy due to the ample space they have to express themselves!

Camp is a unique experience to see the true spirit and beauty of the kids in our program.

Visitors from Tulane Helped Out
This year, two professors and three students from the Newcomb College Institute of Tulane University joined us at camp. They led sessions about gender roles, emotional intelligence, and leadership, and participated in crazy games. They built relationships with our students and were a listening ear for many.

Mini Safari Made Special
Students had the opportunity to go to Lake Naivasha safari hike and boat ride, observing giraffes, zebras, hippos and more. While sitting by the lake some of the boys gave me a Swahili vocabulary quiz, and I witnessed how this group of kids has truly become a family.; The shared difficult experiences and opportunities through the program create an important bond among the kids.

I had heard about camp is important for community building and for the success of the overall program. I have now seen it first-hand, and it is so true! Camp is a valuable time for our community of kids and caseworkers to continue to grow. Thank you to everyone who made Camp 2016 possible through your gifts to camp.