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HERITAGE CAMP 2008 INFORMATION:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 2008 HERITAGE CAMP REGISTRATION
If you are a current FFIC family member, you will receive 2008 registration forms in the mail. Registrations will
need to be postmarked by April 1, 2008. No late registrations will be accepted.
When: June 17-20, 2008, Tues.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. each day.
Who: You
must be a CURRENT FFIC family member to register for Heritage Camp. Not
a member? Not a problem. Joining or renewing is easy, before camp or along with your camp registration. Click here now to become a member. Costs: 2007 Camp
fees were $90 per student in most camps and $105
per student for Teen Camp. All registrations must include full payment of camp fees and any applicable
membership dues ($15 per family per year). Where: Knapp Forest Elementary School, 4243 Knapp Valley Dr. NE, Grand Rapids,
MI 49425 Who: You must be a CURRENT FFIC family member to
register for Heritage Camp. Not a member? Not a problem. Joining or renewing is easy, before camp or along with your camp
registration. Click here now to become a member. Costs: 2007 Camp
fees were $90 per student in most camps and $105
per student for Teen Camp. All registrations must include full payment of camp fees and any applicable
membership dues ($15 per family per year). Where: Knapp Forest Elementary School, 4243 Knapp Valley Dr. NE, Grand Rapids,
MI 49425
HERITAGE CAMP is day camp experience that
provides children an opportunity to learn about various ethnic heritages. FFIC is an
adoptive family group; so many children will have the chance to experience their birth cultures.
We also welcome interested siblings, friends, and any other children who wish to participate. In general,
children are grouped by the grade they will be entering in Fall of the camp year. Smaller sessions are
grouped into multi-age classes as appropriate.
Our
camp is completely run by volunteers; therefore Heritage Camp is dependent on sufficient enrollments, coordinators and volunteers--like
you! Every person is needed to make this a successful and fun-filled experience for our children. Although we
know it is difficult for parents who work full time to be at camp, there are numerous tasks that can be done before camp. Contact
us at heritagecamp@fficgr.org if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. Here
is a listing of Camp Volunteer Positions. Information Providers: If you have any suggestions for assemblies, know resource people, have craft ideas
or books, please contact us at FFICHeritageCamp@gmail.com or the appropriate specific camp coordinator (listed on each camp page). Heritage Camp 2007….Directors’ Report 360 campers
from preschool through 9th grade burst through the doors at Knapp Forest School to play and learn at the Families For International
Children (FFIC) Heritage Camp. Latin America doubled in size to 31, teens attended in record numbers (44), China welcomed
nearly 150 children, Korean stayed steady at around 84, Eastern Europe enjoyed 48 campers, and 15 preschoolers kept their
teachers busy! Highlights
included:· Opening Ceremony featuring a camper from each of 12 countries carrying
a flag while everyone sang and proclaimed “let Heritage Camp begin!” ·
2nd annual picnic
on a perfect summer night at the Grand Rapids Twp. Park. ·
Evolution Lion
Dance Team, Kevin Kameraad, and Young Champion assemblies organized by Judy Robinson. ·
Opening Ceremony
featuring a camper from each of 12 countries carrying a flag while everyone sang and proclaimed “let Heritage Camp begin!” ·
2nd annual picnic
on a perfect summer night at the Grand Rapids Twp. Park. ·
Evolution Lion
Dance Team, Kevin Kameraad, and Young Champion assemblies organized by Judy Robinson.
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(Director's Report continued...)
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Hands On Kids Kitchen for cooking
experiences, coordinated by Dawn Roblyer.
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Parent Resource room to gather
and find adoption and multicultural information thanks to Susan McFarland, Cheryl Wyma (who also organizes supplies), and
Patsy McGillivray.
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The popular International Market
Place, coordinated by Karen Huizinga, selling books, clothing, candy, and many other multicultural tidbits
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A group photo as well as class
photos and many candids taken by roving photographers Kristy and Jerry Barkley.
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Water bottles for each camper
were both earth-friendly and a great souvenir!
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Teri Cilluffo coordinated hotel
plans for the many out-of-town families.
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Individualized buttons created
by Sharon Tiemann, with name and country’s flag as well as other necessary information.
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Music and dance were everywhere,
thanks to Karen Betz-Griewahn, Jody Lamaire, and Lani Vandenend.
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Bright kiwi green and gold t-shirts,
thanks to our t-shirt coordinator Rachel Weener!
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The Parade of Nations featured
Chinese fan dances, lion dancing, Latin American and Eastern European song medleys accompanied by recorders, Korean songs,
a Teen Camp narrative, and a photo/music montage depicting camp scenes.
Each volunteer contributes to this incredible week,
fitting together like a human puzzle. Our “puzzlemasters”, Cathy Wood and Susan McFarland, organize the adult
and teen volunteers respectively while John Bekker quietly yet so competently manages the registration process.
Campers often say that they can’t wait for Heritage
Camp, which is evident as friends greet each other that first day! The sea of
smiling faces, the fragrant scent of international meals, the rainbow of glorious national costumes, the exhausted yet content
campers at the end of each day…..these are the memories that inspire each of us.
Special thanks to Laurie Zuchowksi, who completes an
amazing THREE years as co-director, outgoing kitchen coordinator Martha Porter, “retiring” teen coordinators Rita
Buck and June DeBoer, and camp coordinators Allison Trumbull and Jodi Lewis (Eastern Europe), Dee Dee Fredette (Latin America),
Beth Anne Fausonne and Amy Turner (Preschool), Amy Bronkema (Korea), and Kim Anderson (China).
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