I bring things to fruition.
This summer I got the opportunity to bring one of my passions to life. I am an ideator. I create events, gatherings projects that inspire.
A workshop camp for middle and high schoolers. A camp full of choice. Full of different activities to keep kids interested and off the streets during the dangerous hot summer months of Philly. A camp to spark joy.
I taught a balloon class. The purpose of the class was less about perfectly aesthetically pleasing designs and more about giving the kids something new to do. A new skill to learn. Something that wouldn't otherwise be fun but took up the time in summer. They got to build a relationship with an adult and learn how to manage themselves in tense situations (handling balloons with them popping is a skill in patience!)
Kids like to participate. Kids like being given praise. Kids like to feel helpful, seen and valued. They want to be paid attention to. The camp offered so many different ways in which our students could embrace their inner child while having fun!
If you show up with purpose to teach them, if you speak to them like young people, if you come prepared with a plan and show them an end product they will feel the value. Kids can see bull__ clearer than most adults. They know when something is off or someone is just doing it to get paid.
In addition to the camp participants, we hired older students and alumni at a competitive rate! They got the opportunity to be apart of our working family and earn their way towards their goals. And the work they did was meaningful. They mentored younger students, did administrative work, engaged with the community and just conducted themselves like young people with a purpose.
Our camp this summer brought joy to the lives of so many kids just by giving them something meaningful to do each day. We all show up better when what we have to look forward to is more meaningful. We do better at work, in class, and in life. When we feel like we are learning something or are valued it goes a long way in how we show up.
This camp kept kids safe. It kept them motivated and it reminded them that Lenfest is a safe space that they can return to.
Our job, though not finished was done well and it will be beneficial in the long run.
Thank you to all who helped bring this vision to life. Our kids are better for it. Our school is better for it.
This summer I got the opportunity to bring one of my passions to life. I am an ideator. I create events, gatherings projects that inspire.
A workshop camp for middle and high schoolers. A camp full of choice. Full of different activities to keep kids interested and off the streets during the dangerous hot summer months of Philly. A camp to spark joy.
I taught a balloon class. The purpose of the class was less about perfectly aesthetically pleasing designs and more about giving the kids something new to do. A new skill to learn. Something that wouldn't otherwise be fun but took up the time in summer. They got to build a relationship with an adult and learn how to manage themselves in tense situations (handling balloons with them popping is a skill in patience!)
Kids like to participate. Kids like being given praise. Kids like to feel helpful, seen and valued. They want to be paid attention to. The camp offered so many different ways in which our students could embrace their inner child while having fun!
If you show up with purpose to teach them, if you speak to them like young people, if you come prepared with a plan and show them an end product they will feel the value. Kids can see bull__ clearer than most adults. They know when something is off or someone is just doing it to get paid.
In addition to the camp participants, we hired older students and alumni at a competitive rate! They got the opportunity to be apart of our working family and earn their way towards their goals. And the work they did was meaningful. They mentored younger students, did administrative work, engaged with the community and just conducted themselves like young people with a purpose.
Our camp this summer brought joy to the lives of so many kids just by giving them something meaningful to do each day. We all show up better when what we have to look forward to is more meaningful. We do better at work, in class, and in life. When we feel like we are learning something or are valued it goes a long way in how we show up.
This camp kept kids safe. It kept them motivated and it reminded them that Lenfest is a safe space that they can return to.
Our job, though not finished was done well and it will be beneficial in the long run.
Thank you to all who helped bring this vision to life. Our kids are better for it. Our school is better for it.
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