wfn.org | Lutherans Offer Camp Noah, Not An Ordinary Kids Summer Camp

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 30, 2005

Lutherans Offer Camp Noah, Not An Ordinary Kids Summer Camp
05-110-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Among the millions of children in the
United States attending camp this summer, about 2,000 of them are
doing more than toasting the perfect marshmallow or successfully
paddling a canoe across water.	At Camp Noah children are not
only engaged in summer fun, they're learning emotionally and
spiritually to steer through storms of grief, loss and fear that
can follow a natural disaster.
     Supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), Camp Noah is a week-long day camp for children recovering
from natural disasters.  This summer 40 camps will serve 2,000
children in ELCA congregations and other church denominations
across the country and Puerto Rico.
     Camp Noah was created by Lutheran Social Services of
Minnesota (LSSM) in 1997 when heavy winter storms produced floods
in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.  Leaders from
Lutheran Disaster Response -- a ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod -- and LSSM recognized that the emotional
needs of children were not being addressed.  The camp is named
after Noah, who built an ark in which he, his family and animals
survived a worldwide flood.  Noah's story is found in the Old
Testament of the Christian Bible.
     "At Camp Noah we examine the story of Noah and his family's
journey of disaster and recovery," said Melanie Josephson Davis,
a founder of Camp Noah and LSSM director of disaster services.
"Children learn to express themselves in comparing their stories
of disaster survival to that of Noah's.  Metaphors are powerful
for children.  It provides children the language and modes of
expression for sharing what they're feeling inside," she said.
     "As children get to tell their stories, it tends to reduce
symptoms of fear, grief and loss because they're able to express
what they're feeling inside.  They also learn about God's love
for them and the support systems around them, which helps build
resiliency in children.  After camp children come out feeling
much more confident with an ability to cope when storms may come
again in the future," Davis said.
     "In Florida, recovery from the 2004 hurricanes is still
taking place, and many children continue to live in FEMA trailers
and other temporary housing.  Children are still living with
signs of disaster and its impact," said Davis.
     According to Disaster News Network, more than 250,000
children experienced the impact of three hurricanes that struck
Florida this past fall.  Seven months later, thousands of
families are still not in their homes and many more live in
disrepair.
     "What makes it even more difficult is that hurricane season
is here again, and children still have not completely recovered,"
Davis said.
     Each day of Camp Noah opens with worship and includes theme-
centered skits and activities, arts and crafts, games and
conversations.
     "On Monday we have a meteorologist meet with children.  They
talk about weather systems, what causes a disaster, some warning
systems like knowing the difference between 'good clouds' and
'bad clouds', and trigger events like sights, sounds and smells.
Sometimes the senses can bring children right back to their
experience of the disaster.  If dark clouds roll in, for example,
it can take children right back to that trauma.  So the
meteorologist helps explain when conditions are and are not
threatening," Davis said.  The first day also focuses on
preparation for a disaster, and activities for that day include
building an emergency preparedness kit for themselves and their
families, she said.
     The second day focuses on disaster impact, evacuation and
change.  On day three, children experience "life on the ark" and
"living in transition," according to Davis.  "We remind children
that God loves them and is not punishing them by the disaster.
Children also realize that it's okay to be sad or mad about
changes, and we remind children that Jesus went through a variety
of emotions and that's okay."
     On the fourth day children recognize "signs of new life" and
"looking at the vision for the future.	On this day we might
invite people from the community where disaster struck to talk
about the recovery and rebuilding taking place in their
community.  Day five brings about 'new settlements' and 'hope for
the future,' because of God's love for us," Davis said.
     "Camp Noah is meant to be a week of fun.  For some kids,
families are stressed financially and vacation may not be an
option.  Children learn what it means to be a child of God, and,
like Noah, children learn that they have unique gifts and
talents," she said.
     "Camp Noah helps by giving children the opportunity to come
together and intentionally to think about all the changes that
have happened in their lives, and to express their thoughts and
feelings that seem appropriate and comfortable to the child.
They do so with a group of peers that may be having similar
experiences, and they find comfort and support knowing they are
not alone," said Davis.
     Lutheran Disaster Response supports Camp Noah with its
partner Lutheran social ministry organizations in communities
impacted by disaster, according to Heather L. Feltman, director,
Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.
This year Camp Noah is being organized primarily in communities
impacted by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, which
struck eastern and southern parts of the United States, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands in 2004.
- - -
DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid
survivors of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto
Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764,
     Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via Internet:
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/ddrgive

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news