Arts and Crafts Camp 2019 – Our 11th Camp

From January 15 – 17 we held our 11th annual arts and crafts camp at Youngnak Church in Seoul. We hosted 26 2nd – 6th grade girls from 8 different children’s homes.

During the camp each girl was paired with a trained volunteer who would help her make crafts over the three days. Our camp director Jee Lee (full time staff with Jerusalem Ministry) did an amazing job instructing the girls and leading the camp. The volunteers did a fantastic job loving the girls and not being moved or discouraged when the girls were difficult. Their steady love helped the girls feel secure and so even the tougher girls were smiling and behaving well during the camp. I would notice some of the girls wanting to act out at times but then controlling themselves because they were enjoying the camp too much. The first three listed fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, and peace. Those three were very tangible during the camp.

Here are some photos and stories from the camp…

Each morning all the volunteers lined up on two sides to welcome the girls in. In years past the girls would cover themselves when entering on the first day (out of insecurity), but for this camp most of the kids seemed to enjoy it right away. We had a great start!

We then started the camp day with prayer and orientation

After orientation everyone received a morning snack and had a little time to get to know each other. I was blessed seeing my 2nd grader (first time at the camp) smiling and enjoying talking with her volunteer

Our first craft was making erasers from clay. It’s a bit difficult to see but the girls shaped the clay into different designs and then we put the clay figures into boiling water and they hardened into erasers.

This girl had a theme to her erasers: Home. A turtle in a shell, peas in pod, and an egg in a shell. She was very creative!

After each craft we have some time for show and tell. Usually the girls are very insecure and don’t want to present on the first day. So instead their volunteers presented the crafts for them. It was cute watching the girls receive sweet responses from the volunteers (we would “oooh” and “ahhh” with each presentation).

For our second craft the girls made a lamp from mini Christmas lights in a jar along with different decorations

Here was the end result…

At the end of the first day we had some time for volunteers to compliment their girls. Here is one of the volunteers sharing sweet things about her girl

We had the girls stand as they received their compliment. This was her girl listening to her share… so sweet =)

On Day 2 the girls were even happier as they entered in the morning

For the morning craft on day two the girls made designs from perler beads. They placed the beads onto a pegboard and after finishing a volunteer ironed the perler beads so they stayed together.

By day 2 the girls were all confident enough to stand in front of everyone and share about what they made. I am always blessed watching these girls share and receive healthy attention and loving affirmation from all of the volunteers.

I’ve been teaching these two (twins) English for a few years now at the children’s home. I was blessed watching their confidence grow during the camp.

One way my staff knew that this camp was special was that in every group picture the girls were all happily smiling. Usually when we take pictures of the groups both Jee and I have to stand with the photographer and be silly to try and get each girl to smile. Because a lot of the girls are insecure there used to be at least one girl in every group picture not smiling or avoiding the camera, even with Jee and I there encouraging them. But this year Jee and I were both busy and couldn’t be there during group picture time, and even so every girl smiled! I was so blessed looking through each group picture. Even the most insecure girls couldn’t help but grin. =)

In the afternoon the girls each made a house and decorated the inside of it with furniture made out of origami (paper folding), cloth (for curtains, rugs, etc.), stickers, and paint

This craft was a lot of work but the girls enjoyed it and it was fun seeing their creative touches

Along with the crafts we made a “Thank You Tree” out of the handprints of all of the girls and volunteers. After making the tree we had each girl and volunteer write what they are thankful for over their handprint.

Here is one of my girls writing what she is thankful for with camp director Jee helping

Jee came to Korea in late 2008 to join the staff and live in a children’s home. Right after she arrived I told her she would be directing our first arts and crafts camp for young girls starting in January 2009. She has done a fantastic job leading these camps. Girls from those first few camps are now in college and on our scholarship/mentoring program (Oak Tree Project). They all have fond memories of these camps.

In the morning of day 3 we put out glue, food coloring, and an activator and let the girls make slime. It sounds wild, but the girls loved it!

Happy girls!

In the afternoon of the last day we had some time for face painting and nail art. The girls love this time.

During the camp the girls also received some gifts from different sponsors. One sponsor (Vatos Urban Tacos) provided the girls with a new pair of shoes

Another sponsor provided the girls with custom made backpacks. Jee asked if some of the girls would like to model the backpacks in front of everyone. To my surprise one of my 2nd graders happily jumped up on stage to give a fashion walk

Two 5th graders went up after her

One of the girls from my children’s home moved into the home with her younger siblings just before our camp last year. She had been struggling adjusting to life in the children’s home but came to life during our camp last year. She absolutely loved it and even though she was offered by another group to go to a water park/ski resort this year instead of the arts and crafts camp, she chose to come to our camp. She couldn’t wait! All her energy and excitement almost caused her to shut down on the first morning as she suddenly became quiet and insecure. But within just 15 minutes or so she relaxed and ended up having a wonderful time during the camp.

Her younger sister (2nd grader) attended the camp for the first time and soaked up all the love and attention from the volunteers. It brings me so much joy to see these kids cared for and to see confidence, joy, creativity, and personality come out of them that we don’t usually see from them in the children’s homes.

Here is a picture of me with the four girls from my home who attended the camp. Personally, my favorite part of the camp was driving these girls to and from the camp. We had a lot of fun in the van together and it was sweet seeing how excited they were each morning.

I long for the kids in the homes to be in more settings where they can receive such focused love and attention. It is so encouraging to see the sweet, healthy side of the kids come out as they receive the love from the volunteers. The girls are already excited about next years camp and my staff and I are excited too! Thank you to all who served, sponsored, and prayed for the camp!