Project Thanksgiving 2011:: hope-full memories

Abby and I have recovered from the busyness, fun and miracles of Thanksgiving - hopefully you have too.  We had a great Project Thanksgiving Day Camp.  With 25 campers and with the cooperation of 3 churches (College Avenue Presbyterian Church | Fruitvale Presbyterian Church | Montclair Presbyterian Church) we changed the world in Oakland, even if just for a day.

Here's some video highlights of the day along with some interviews.  Unfortunately because it's not a YouTube video, Google or blogspot, won't let me insert the video in a viewable format into this blog post.  To view the video simply click on the link below:


http://vimeo.com/33258955

Recreation :: Thanksgiving Project | Nov 22nd

RECREATION :: THANKSGIVING PROJECT

A collaboration of Oakland Presbyterian Churches:

College Avenue, Fruitvale 
and Montclair

www.recreationvbs.blogspot.com  
Like us on FB:  Recreation VBS

Tuesday, November 22^nd, 
Recreation is back for a day! 

Day 5 Photos

Day 5 brought us to the end of the week after 4 days of fun and a gallery night of art.  The morning began with multiple singings of "Pharoah, Pharoah" and "King Jesus is All", the Feeding of the Multitudes in John 6 and then Keeping the Dimond District clean with "Keep Oakland Beautiful" all organized by local Dimond District organizer Kathleen Russell.  After walking through the neighborhood on a trash pick up we rendez-vous-ed at Dimond Park for a picnic lunch, games, play structure fun, creek walks and multiple splinters!  We had a contest for trash pick-up - the heaviest and the most volume won.  Abby's group: Ellie, Elodie, Kylie and Talia won.  I think it was rigged! (Monte) We then were treated to free Italian Ice at Flavor Brigade in the Dimond on Fruitvale Ave for our community work.  The volnteer leaders got coupons for treats at La Farine thanks to Stan Dodson.  You can patronize both locally owned businesses to express your gratitude!

Day 4 Photos

A day full of fun, learning, service and CRAZY hair.  We finished our tie-dying, painting and prayer flags with Abby, Angie and Jaqui after hearing about how Jesus calmed a storm [John 6:1-15] and a parable about weeds and wheat [Matthew 7:16-20].  After lunch we encounter Muff the Cencilla and Charlie the Tarantula.  We also planted our plants gathered from several gardens - all with the help of CVS in Rockridge who donated plants and Joaquin Miller Elementary School's garden club which shared tools and resources with us!  A true community service project and learning opportunity.  Drive by and see the garden at the corner of Laguna and Damuth, one block East of MacArthur Blvd.

Day 3 Photos

Day 2 Photos

DAY 1 PHOTOS

Here's some photos of our first day at Recreation VBS filled with painting, tree sketching, wish writing, scooter games, the parable of God as a crazy seed planting farmer, and a visit from chickens Hermoine & Belle.  To see a larger version of the picture, simply click on the picture and wait a few seconds.

Welcome to Camp!

1 part VBS +  1 part Art Camp + 1 part Community Gardening = 3 times the fun!

Our campers will be divided into three groups as the rotate through the art activities over the course of the week.  Below is the break-down.

Group A: Bailey, Elodie, Talia, Olive, Nina, Bradley, Caiden, Turtle

Group B:  Ana, Nascha, Elan, Kylie, Sophie, Maya P, Neela, Simone

Group C:  Maya V., Lisa, Austin, Scout, Zayla, Mikayla, Suhayla, Katie, Angel & Brendan

Important Camp Events

Monday

·      Check-out time is 3:30pm.

·      We’re working on the parable of the Sower and the Seed (Mark 4:1-8)

·      Need to check in early or check out late? Please visit the help desk, where you can sign up for Extended Care the if you need it, space permitting.

introducing teaching artist: angie wilson

angie wilson has been a "resident artist" of fruitvale presbyterian church's belfry studios for almost two years.  she was one of the first artists to work in our attic, quickly making her studio her own.  she works mostly with fabrics and textiles.  her tiny studio is mostly occupied by her beautiful loom--a complicated an lovely machine that she is generally willing to demonstrate.

she is an artist who with more than creativity, she genuinely possesses ingenuity.  her thesis project for her recently completed Master of Fine Arts from San Francisco State University was a gigantic rug made out of shirt sleeves.  she used traditional weaving and knotting techniques with a non-traditional material, making all her viewers question the way we use materials, the way we interact with everyday things, and the ways we might give old things new life.  up cycling at its best.

angie is warm , encouraging and enthusiastic and is excited about working with recreation.  you can see more of her work here and looking forward to meeting her on Monday, August 15.

recreation vbs: get the picture!

One part vacation bible school, one part art camp, and one part gardening party will make for a unique and exciting week for kids in Oakland and throughout the East Bay!


This summer, Fruitvale Presbyterian Church and College Avenue Presbyterian Church, along with other Oakland Presbyterian Church communities, are partnering to sponsor this unique and fun opportunity for students Pre-K- through 8th grade.  Recreation VBS will be an exciting week of fun, discovery and new friendships as we learn about our environment, get a larger picture of the world and city in which we live and work together to do something to improve it. 


Each day will begin with worship on the theme of God's creation, followed by a morning of making art with artist-teachers and an afternoon of making our very own community garden in the Dimond District of Oakland.  

August 15th - 19th, 8:30am-3:30pm

for Pre-K - 8th Grade aged children

at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

2735 MaCarthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94602

Cost is $75 per child, $50/each additional child in a family.  

This includes lunch and snacks each day.  Please make checks payable to College Avenue Presbyterian Church

Register by August 10th

by emailing to recreationvbs@gmail.com

or by surface mail to College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Ave., 94618 

for questions email or call Monte at (510) 658-3666.