Restorative Justice Task Force
of the Wisconsin Conference
of The United Methodist Church
The Restorative Justice Task Force of the Conference considers ministries
that are helpful for all society, especially the victims of crime and
those in prisons and jails and the families of all.
Rising Sun Camps – 2005
A poem written during a poetry session, by one of the senior Rising Sun Campers
God, I miss my Dad.
Inside my heart, I feel so sad.
He went to prison when I was 3,
I've seen him once, when I was 10.
I never realized how life could be,
Without him right here next to me.
He doesn't get to see the tears I cry.
It's like darkness taking over the pretty blue sky.
When I listen to “Dance with my Father,”
By Luther Vandeross, I start to cry, and I feel so lost.
So you see, I miss my Dad.
If he was here with me, I would be so glad.
So please God, grant my wish.
Can he get out in a month or two?
Please God, I don't want to wish,
It would be so cool.
Thanks God.
The 2005 Rising Sun camps were both held at Byron Center . Junior camp, ages 8 through 10 years, was held from Sunday July 24 th until Thursday noon on July 28 th . There were 10 campers and 6 counselors, two of whom were high school students; one high school student was a returning counselor. Senior camp, ages 10 through 14, was Sunday, August 7 th through Friday noon on the 12 th . There were 20 campers and 13 counselors. Of those counselors, four were high school students.
Both camps had their challenges and provided learning for other years. Junior camp had one camper who was 12; the other campers were 8 to 10 years. This provided a dynamic of having to be more aware of sexual issues than is usually a problem in the junior camp.
His parent had indicated that he was 10. When talking about camp with him, he said that he would be in school during senior camp. Milwaukee has several year-round schools which begin at the beginning of August. Presumably his parent wanted him to have the camping experience even though he was older than the other campers.
Counselors besides the high school students were Pastor Dale and Nancy Hanaman, an African-American man, Allan Lindsay, from Milwaukee , who uses a week of his vacation time for camp and me. We were privileged to have Karen Robotko from the Westfield church visit the camp one morning. She provided an excellent nature program that included a nature scavenger hunt as well as raised awareness and sensitivity to caring for the gift of nature. Allan led the campers in photography experiences and provided the campers with both cameras and photo processing. The campers learned some of the elementary steps of juggling from Dale. Nancy provided numerous craft and group experiences for the campers.
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We had one of the best groups of senior campers we have ever had at senior camp. There was a talented group of female counselors. These included Pastor Meg Lybeck-Smoak, two teachers from the Milwaukee Public School system, a retired psychiatric social worker and a returning college student. Although we had two men in their 20's and two African American male college students, we lacked enough male counseling support. In the future, if we do not have more experienced male counselors, we will have to run the senior camp for girls only. I hope that in future years more male clergy will be willing to spend a week at camp.
A drama therapist provided much of the programming for the week. She worked with the campers on conflict resolution exercises, trust building and cooperation games. During the course of the week the campers put together skits that they performed on the last evening of camp. These dealt with some of the conflict issues we experienced during the week and some constructive ways to deal with conflict.
Each afternoon was “choice time” when campers could select from various activities. These activities included “blood and gore” make-up, cooking, karate, making friendship bracelets, writing poetry and manicures. Swimming continues to be a favorite activity of all the campers at both camps. We have been fortunate the last two summers to have a high school counselor who is a life guard which allows us to have swimming twice a day. At both camps, campers enjoyed the evening swims, camp fires and videos. The senior campers were given a tour of the Marion College campus, assisted by Pastor Mary Council-Austin. This gives the students a look at a college campus and provides information for them about the importance of staying in school and getting good grades.
The campers were aware of the increasing violence in the cities this summer, particularly in Milwaukee . One of our campers from 2003, Ricky Scott, was shot and killed in June in Milwaukee . Ricky had been in a verbal dispute with his killer that was not resolved. That person went home, got a gun and killed him. Ricky was an out-going, energetic young person who had much leadership potential. Pastor Lybeck-Smoak led a memorial service at senior camp one evening to honor the life of Ricky Scott. We were saddened by his loss. We talked often at camp about finding positive ways to express anger and resolve conflict.
Here are some of the camper stories that we heard this year. T'Kayahia and her brother came to camp this year. Her brother had been living with a sibling in California and had recently returned to Wisconsin because he got “kicked out.” He would not come home and it was too difficult for his brother and his wife to keep track of him. T'Kayahia made the comment at one meal that her mother tells her to “get out of my living room.” When asked where her (T'Kayahia's) living room is, she said it was in the basement. Her mother had recently had surgery and “was looking for places for us to stay so we won't bother her.”
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