Dear Parents,
The goal of the Stewards of the Environment camp was to bring together children & junior youth and to keep them together by then beginning ongoing classes & groups in Acadia Park. After a successful Eco camp, children’s classes and the community-building process will continue, with your help!
Starting this Friday, there will be Children’s Classes meeting weekly in Acadia* (with lessons, stories, art and games). There is no fee for the classes; they are a community-based initiative.
You are invited to the Commonsblock this Friday (3rd of September) to learn more about the classes & ongoing activities in Acadia. There will be an information session for the parents, and a program beginning for children (ages 5-10) & junior youth (ages 11-14).
Please feel free to invite friends and neighbours, all programs are open, free of charge, and the more people involved, the better! For this week’s meeting, the details are:
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 pm, Friday September 3, 2010
Place: Acadia Commonsblock, Fireside Lounge
Should a day be better for you besides Fridays for ongoing classes, please let me know.
Looking forward to seeing you soon, and to remaining in touch!
Anisa Newman-Azar,
on behalf of the Acadia Park Children’s Class Committee
* Emphasis on moral and spiritual education, with a focus on developing a sense of world citizenship and a lifelong commitment to serve humanity. Bahá'í communities sponsor moral education classes for children and youth of all backgrounds. The classes seek to develop essential virtues such as the knowledge of God, trustworthiness, honesty, and justice. They aim to build a strong moral framework that will assist children to achieve excellence in material, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of life.
For more information about the Baha'i children's class, please click here and here
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Welcome to Acadia Summer Camp 2010
Stewards of the Environment
Ecological Day Camp
for children and junior youth
This program allows young people to learn about the environment around them and its importance, while engaging in moral and spiritual dynamics of learning and community building. It encourages a sense of community and collaboration in the neighborhood. Children learn about the importance of a united neighborhood and junior youth undertake their own community service projects. On the last day of the camp, the older group will go on an outing and guided tour of the Aboriginal Garden at UBC farm.
To register on-line, Click here
Children’s Program:
Ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 10
These classes provide children with a spiritual education, allowing them to discover and develop qualities such as love, truthfulness and generosity. The theme of the camp is 'Stewards of the Environment' and topics of responsibility and caring will be explored with reference to the environment.
The day camp at Acadia will be held from August 23 to 25, 9 am to 12 pm. Time is extended until 3pm on August 25 for an outing to UBC farm. Daily activities include songs, stories, games and art.
We will be offering a weekly Baha'i children's class after August 25th, and are holding the camp in order to initiate such a class. Depending on registration for the camp and the class, there will be one class for older children (8 - 10) and one for younger children (5 - 7). The types of activities that will be done during the class will be similar to those of the camp.
For more information: http://acadiasummercamp.blogspot.com/2010/08/welcome-to-acadia-summer-camp-2010.html
Junior Youth Program:
Ages 11 to 14
This program assists 11 - 14 year olds to take steps to discover their talents, positively express themselves, and to become empowered to transform their community. The theme of the camp is 'Stewards of the Environment' and topics of service to the community and unity will be explored with reference to the environment.
The day camp at Acadia will be held on August 23-24, from 9 am to 3 pm, as well as August 25 from 9 am to 4 pm. Daily activities include music, group discussions, sports, arts and service projects.
We will be offering a bi-weekly junior youth group in UBC after the 25th of August, and are holding the camp in order to initiate such a group. The Junior Youth Empowerment Program is a spiritually-based three-year educational program that assists youth ages 11 - 14 in transforming their communities. The group will perform activities similar to those done during the day camp.
For more information: http://acadiasummercamp.blogspot.com/2010/08/junior.html
Initiated by the Baha’i community of UBC
Register by midnight August 16 to receive a t-shirt
Fill out consent forms on August 23, Cost: $10, or by donation
For more information or to register, you can either leave a message or contact
community.eco.camp@gmail.com or 778 999 0311
Registration on line: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHMzdmRLZklOTmZFLUxWcnFSN1JFWWc6MQ
Commons Block: 2707 Tennis Cres. Acadia Park, UBC
Junior Youth
Junior Youth Program
Ages 11 to 14
This age group is between youth and childhood, but are often treated as children. They are seen as problematic, and self-consumed. The image the media gives of this age group can often be quite negative. But in reality, these young people are at a very important stage in their lives and have great potential. Junior youth think more deeply about what they are learning than children do, they may start to question authority and notice hypocrisy. They are beginning to gain a sense of self-identity and have a very strong sense of justice, as well as an excitement to learn about the universe. We have seen that these junior youth have a desire for a better world, and should be empowered to contribute to the betterment of our world.
Daily activities during the camp:
Monday, August 23: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The diversity of nature and its fundamental unity.
Activities: Singing, introductory games, study and group discussion, photography, outdoor recreation*, and a science workshop.
Tuesday, August 24: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The beauty in the diversity of nature.
Activities: Singing, group games, study and group discussion, painting and poetry, outdoor recreation* and a service project.
Wednesday, August 25: 9am - 4 pm.
Theme: The relationships between parts of nature, and human relations with nature.
Activities: Singing, study and group discussion, outdoor recreation, preparing and performing a dramatic presentation for the children and an outing to the Aboriginal Gardens at UBC Farm with a guided tour.
After the camp, a bi-weekly group will continue to meet in Acadia, as a part of Vancouver's Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. This program provides a place for young people ages 11 to 14 to explore reality and develop the ability to speak with ease about the problems and solutions they see. They are given a space to analyze the different positive and negative forces operating in our society, such as materialism and the media. In addition, the junior youth are encouraged to look into how these forces influence their own thoughts and actions.
In practice, what a junior youth group looks like is a group of young people who study and do service projects together with the help of an older youth or adult, which is called their 'animator'. The animator’s role is that of a mentor, wise advisor and true friend who guides the junior youth through the study of certain books and helps them plan and carry out acts of service. The books that the junior youth study with the help of the animator allow them to develop their language skills by learning new vocabulary words, reading and summarizing stories and practicing writing in complete sentences. Developing the junior youth’s powers of expression allows them to be better able to describe injustice and problems in our society, so as to be able to analyze and understand issues. The books also present many useful spiritual concepts, such as making an effort to ensure a better future, having hope in times of trouble, striving for excellence in all we do and preferring others before ourselves. In this context, junior youth from different backgrounds can come together to talk about what spirituality is, and work together for the betterment of the world.
A junior youth group carries out service projects, which can be simple or complex, but always are extremely empowering. This service component is a strong community-building aspect of the program. It is intended that the junior youth come up with their own ideas for service, so that they experience taking initiative and develop a sense of responsibility in a positive way. Some projects that groups have done in Vancouver include picking up trash in the park, creating informative brochures for neighbors as well as fundraising for various causes. Around the world, junior youth groups’ service projects serve to bring communities closer together and bring awareness to adults about certain issues of their society. It is quite inspiring for members of a community to see the young people striving to improve the lives of all.
Ages 11 to 14
This age group is between youth and childhood, but are often treated as children. They are seen as problematic, and self-consumed. The image the media gives of this age group can often be quite negative. But in reality, these young people are at a very important stage in their lives and have great potential. Junior youth think more deeply about what they are learning than children do, they may start to question authority and notice hypocrisy. They are beginning to gain a sense of self-identity and have a very strong sense of justice, as well as an excitement to learn about the universe. We have seen that these junior youth have a desire for a better world, and should be empowered to contribute to the betterment of our world.
Daily activities during the camp:
Monday, August 23: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The diversity of nature and its fundamental unity.
Activities: Singing, introductory games, study and group discussion, photography, outdoor recreation*, and a science workshop.
Tuesday, August 24: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The beauty in the diversity of nature.
Activities: Singing, group games, study and group discussion, painting and poetry, outdoor recreation* and a service project.
Wednesday, August 25: 9am - 4 pm.
Theme: The relationships between parts of nature, and human relations with nature.
Activities: Singing, study and group discussion, outdoor recreation, preparing and performing a dramatic presentation for the children and an outing to the Aboriginal Gardens at UBC Farm with a guided tour.
After the camp, a bi-weekly group will continue to meet in Acadia, as a part of Vancouver's Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. This program provides a place for young people ages 11 to 14 to explore reality and develop the ability to speak with ease about the problems and solutions they see. They are given a space to analyze the different positive and negative forces operating in our society, such as materialism and the media. In addition, the junior youth are encouraged to look into how these forces influence their own thoughts and actions.
In practice, what a junior youth group looks like is a group of young people who study and do service projects together with the help of an older youth or adult, which is called their 'animator'. The animator’s role is that of a mentor, wise advisor and true friend who guides the junior youth through the study of certain books and helps them plan and carry out acts of service. The books that the junior youth study with the help of the animator allow them to develop their language skills by learning new vocabulary words, reading and summarizing stories and practicing writing in complete sentences. Developing the junior youth’s powers of expression allows them to be better able to describe injustice and problems in our society, so as to be able to analyze and understand issues. The books also present many useful spiritual concepts, such as making an effort to ensure a better future, having hope in times of trouble, striving for excellence in all we do and preferring others before ourselves. In this context, junior youth from different backgrounds can come together to talk about what spirituality is, and work together for the betterment of the world.
A junior youth group carries out service projects, which can be simple or complex, but always are extremely empowering. This service component is a strong community-building aspect of the program. It is intended that the junior youth come up with their own ideas for service, so that they experience taking initiative and develop a sense of responsibility in a positive way. Some projects that groups have done in Vancouver include picking up trash in the park, creating informative brochures for neighbors as well as fundraising for various causes. Around the world, junior youth groups’ service projects serve to bring communities closer together and bring awareness to adults about certain issues of their society. It is quite inspiring for members of a community to see the young people striving to improve the lives of all.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Children
Children’s Program:
August 23-25: 9am - 12pm
Ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 10
Daily activities include songs, stories, games and art.
Time is extended until 3pm on August 25 for an outing.
DAY 1: Nature
8:30 - 9:30 Registration
9:30 - 10:00 Orientation and Songs
10:00 - 10:20 Prayer and Memorizing Quotation
10:20- 10:30 Story
10:30 - 10:45 Snack
10:45 - 11:00 Games
11:00 -11:15 Colouring
11:15 - 12:00 Scavenger Hunt
DAY 2: Caring and Respect
9:00 - 9:30 Prayer, Songs and Memorization
9:30 - 9:45 Games
9:45 - 10:15 Story and Song
10:30 - 10:45 Snack
10:45 - 11:30 Outing to the woods near the Commonsblock
11:30 - 11:45 Review Quotations
11:45 - 12:00 Interactive Songs
DAY 3: Humility and Responsibility
9:00 - 9:30 Prayer, Songs and Memorization
9:45 -10:00 Games
10:00 - 10:15 Snack
10:15 - 10:45 Story and Song
10:45 - 11:30 Creating a mural (a large poster to be put on display)
11:30 - 12:00 Junior youth tell a story to the children
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch together with parents; Show and tell and Invitation to ongoing Children’s Classes
12:30 - 2:00 Outing & guided tour with parents & junior youth - to Aboriginal Gardens, UBC Farm
August 23-25: 9am - 12pm
Ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 10
Daily activities include songs, stories, games and art.
Time is extended until 3pm on August 25 for an outing.
DAY 1: Nature
8:30 - 9:30 Registration
9:30 - 10:00 Orientation and Songs
10:00 - 10:20 Prayer and Memorizing Quotation
10:20- 10:30 Story
10:30 - 10:45 Snack
10:45 - 11:00 Games
11:00 -11:15 Colouring
11:15 - 12:00 Scavenger Hunt
DAY 2: Caring and Respect
9:00 - 9:30 Prayer, Songs and Memorization
9:30 - 9:45 Games
9:45 - 10:15 Story and Song
10:30 - 10:45 Snack
10:45 - 11:30 Outing to the woods near the Commonsblock
11:30 - 11:45 Review Quotations
11:45 - 12:00 Interactive Songs
DAY 3: Humility and Responsibility
9:00 - 9:30 Prayer, Songs and Memorization
9:45 -10:00 Games
10:00 - 10:15 Snack
10:15 - 10:45 Story and Song
10:45 - 11:30 Creating a mural (a large poster to be put on display)
11:30 - 12:00 Junior youth tell a story to the children
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch together with parents; Show and tell and Invitation to ongoing Children’s Classes
12:30 - 2:00 Outing & guided tour with parents & junior youth - to Aboriginal Gardens, UBC Farm
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