Join us in DC! Kids and Cultures Announces Five Destinations for Bus Trip

Thaniel and Katia Wenger stand in front of the Indonesian Embassy. Participants in the Embassy Row Tour will visit this building, which is the former home of the Hope Diamond.

Note: the registration deadline has been extended to September 15

Finland. Indonesia. Cyprus. Côte d’Ivoire. Chile. For most Americans, these countries are just names on a map, and perhaps only occasionally mentioned in the news.

We invite children, parents, and others to join us on a bus trip from Lancaster, Pa., to Embassy Row in Washington, DC, on Monday, September 29. The trip includes visits to the embassies of the five countries mentioned above, lunch at an authentic Moroccan restaurant, and other educational activities to help participants put faces, facts, and experiences with the names of these countries.

At each embassy, a representative of that country will give a short presentation about his or her country to help the participants gain awareness of what life is like for children in that country, followed by questions and answers, and in some cases, a tour of the embassy. Participants will also learn about the purpose of embassies, the role of ambassadors, and related topics. The trip, designed for elementary age children and their parents, is open to people of all ages, with or without children.

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New Board Members Appointed

Glen Hostetler and Felice Ethun

Glen Hostetler, Mount Joy, Pa., president of Hostetler Insurance, Lancaster; Felice Ethun, York, Pa., director of education and public programs at Lancaster Historical Society; and Kathleen Roth, Harrisonburg, Va., former director of Diamond Street Early Childhood Center, Akron, Pa., have accepted two-year terms.

Kids and Cultures Campers Participate in World Refugee Day Event

More than 20 of the Kids and Cultures Camp campers attended the June 21 World Refugee Day event at Eastern Market in Lancaster, Pa. The event, sponsored by Church World Service and Lutheran Refugee Services, honored the food, music, art, and new friendships of refugees who now call Lancaster home.

The campers played the thumb pianos they made during Camp, camper ZuBai shared a story, and the campers danced a Chinese dance (with balloons) they learned at Camp. Camp presenters Ronni Sakamoto and John Protopapas also attended the event.

Camp Ends with a Trip to Myanmar (Burma)

Day 5: Myanmar (Burma)

Kids and Cultures Camp concluded on Friday, June 20, 2008, at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.

The 73 campers finished their trip around the world with a "visit" to Myanmar (Burma) with Mosez Saw, who told us about his country, dressed in a typical outfit, and taught us games. We also tasted sticky rice with coconut, made our own facial sunscreen designs, played games, and heard a folktale. Campers Zu Bai, Monica, and RaMaTuLa helped Mosez with his presentation.

In the Extras sessions, campers learned about and put together disaster relief kits with Mennonite Central Committee, and studied French 101 with teacher Jessica Martin.

Visit Camp Memories 2008 for photos of the 2008 Camp sessions.

This summer's destinations were Italy, South Africa, Venezuela, Hawaii, and Burma (Myanmar).

Extra activities included French 101, Hunger Awareness, Beijing and Beyond, Global Games, Taeguk Taekwondo, and Hula Happiness.

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