ELCA Neighborhood Camp
Emmaus After School for Youth

Wednesday Camp
Neighborhood Camp to Start July 12 After School for Youth
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Wednesday Campers Wrap Up Another School Year

The closing program was full of enthusiasm as the kids reenacted the story of Lydia, the first European woman to become a Christian. The boys portrayed a "spirit" choir and the girls spoke in unison of their prayer time at the river while God worked through Luke and Silas to convert the well-respected business woman, Lydia.

The kids presented their offering of a shopping cart full of canned goods to Cindi and Loren Larsen for the Northside Food Pantry. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Bibles appropriate to the age level of the campers.

Find more pictures of our kids at our Flickr site.

Neighborhood Camp Starting Date Is Pushed Back

Registration for Neighborhood Camp is ongoing and the numbers are growing daily. The Emmaus site is almost at full capacity of 50 campers. Forms are available in the narthex.

Please check the display board in the narthex for items that are needed for camp projects. Your help is needed and appreciated. Sign-up opportunities to help with meals will be posted soon. We are looking for help with serving meals and providing snack items such as gelatin desserts, cookies and fresh fruit.

Due to the emphasis that Racine Unified is putting on summer school this year, Neighborhood Camp will not begin until July 12. Camp will run for five weeks and conclude the week of August 9. This way, children who are attending the Unified program will have the opportunity to participate in camp the first two weeks of August.

Our themes this year are:

  • Investigating Icky Insects
  • Funky Junk – Earth Art
  • Deep Sea Creatures
  • Root River Rap
  • Space Is the Place



Thank You to Our After School Volunteers

Emmaus After School for Youth (EASY) has drawn to a close with another school year. Thank you to Linda Clinton, Missy Porcaro and Diane Melander, who graciously volunteered their time on Thursday afternoons. The kids were excited to see them each week. As they worked with the kids on homework, read a book or played a game, you couldn’t miss the quiet conversation and encouragement that took place. Kids thrive when they have some quality one on one time with an adult. Bears, bears and more bears: The women of Knit One, Purl One caught the spirit and made bears of all different colors and faces and outfits which were given to the kids. The extra bears are going to be given to Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization.

Campers and Staff Thank Emmaus

Neighborhood Camp at Emmaus is as good as the support it gets from you the people of the congregation. You are awesome! Over and over again it was said, "Wow, what appetites the campers have!" And that is most certainly true. Nancy Smith went to the counter one day to get some lunch, and it was gone! Someone may even have been heard to say, "That’s what you get for being late!"

The breakfast crew was supported by Missy Porcaro, Marge Zielke, Kathy Denneau and Denise Keller. The lunch bunch was headed up by Celia Bagley and Co. There were so many helpers who served over 65 meals a day. And then there are all the folks who contributed time and goodies by baking cookies and brownies and preparing all kinds of gelatin. Thanks too to those who contributed snacks. The campers and staff were very appreciative of all you did. It seemed like someone was working in the kitchen most of the day. What a family! What a team! Thanks Miquel for making sure our dishes were sparkling!

Special thanks to: Dennis Eschmann heard Nancy Smith’s plea and made three pairs of stilts. The campers spent a lot of time honing their stilt skills by wandering around the field. Mark Falaschi created unique game boards out of wood and masonite board. The campers now can play a new game called Five in a Row by using golf tees. Paul Velasquez accompanied Neighborhood Camp on our fishing excursion. It was no small task to outfit over thirty rods, repair tangled lines and bait hooks. The campers had a wonderful time as most everyone caught a fish.

St. Monica's Enjoyed Neighborhood Campers' Visit

Dear Nancy:

To you, the camp counselors and the campers, thank you once again for making our summer perfect. The residents have come to think of your visit as a summertime event. We hope you don’t mind!

We find the campers very sweet and so enjoy their energy and enthusiasm. We all know a child’s smile lights up a room, so you can imagine how we feel when all the campers visit us. We are glowing with happiness. We were also impressed with the counselors who interacted with and guided the campers. Great job!

The variety of the day’s events, the games, the songs, the skits, and the positive interaction between the campers and seniors added up to a day of blessings.

We are very grateful for your friendship, and are thankful to be able to experience the ministry of the Emmaus congregation through the Neighborhood Camp program.

Thank you again for the summertime treat! We look forward to seeing you next July.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Schoeffel
Director of Activities

Children's Hospital Thanks Neighborhood Campers

by Linda Schieble,
Director, Special Events, Children's Hospital

Dear Nancy:

The smiles of the faces of kids when they start feeling better. The relief on the faces of parents when their child turns the corner on a serious illness. These are some of the rewards that those of us who work at Milwaukee Children's Hospital receive every day. For you, please accept our thanks on their behalf for the part you played in creating these wonders.

Thank you for choosing to involve the children of Emmaus Neighborhood Camp through the donation of $345.66 collected during the five-week camp session benefiting Milwaukee Children's Hospital because this kind of support is what makes this all happen. The patient care, education, advocacy and research that you help create bring smiles to more faces that you can ever know. The Milwaukee Children's Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

Best wishes,
Linda Schieble

Ed. Note: The kids of Emmaus Neighborhood Camp presented a check for $345 to David Matson, a former camper who has had several surgeries at the hospital.

See more photos from Neighborhood Camp on our Flickr page.

Pastor Walter as the prophet Isaiah: the serpent shall lie with the bunny.

Check out photos of this year's Wednesday Camp activities here. Click here for Neighborhood Camp pictures from previous years.

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Emmaus Lutheran is an ELCA Church