Group Blog Post 6: Virginia

Students from the Virginia homeroom shared some interesting information about the state of Virginia and about their classroom activities.

Anja, Alisa, Julia, Raimond and Darina created a Virginia-and-American-camp-themed crossword puzzle.

                                                      

Group Blog Post 5: California

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Group Blog Post 4: Wisconsin

The Last Day

Today is the last day of camp and it hardly seems possible that it is over for another year. We ended today with a rousing Sing-a-Long in the morning, led by Arizona. This afternoon we came together for the camp-wide talent show. Campers, Latvian and American helpers shared their talents in song, dance, rhythm, English and Russian. Tomorrow campers will graduate and say farewell to their American friends until next year.

 
 

 

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday afternoon we celebrated Christmas at camp! Campers made Christmas tree ornaments and received their present, the t-shirt they helped the American high school students to tie dye. Campers also received permanent markers, and spent the rest of the Christmas party creating memories.

 

Sunshine Day

On Sunshine Day, campers spent the afternoon  learning about and discussing positive character traits with the American teachers. We talked about the meanings of the words determination, enthusiasm, attitude, loyalty, humility, responsibility, self-image, and choices. Campers learned how these words can be transferred into actions and how these actions impact their goals. With their homeroom classes, campers thought about which traits are most important for him or her.

Russian-Latvian Day

On Friday, July 6, our Russian and Latvian hosts took the reins to teach their American guests about Russian and Latvian culture. They dressed in traditional Latvian clothing. We were treated to a delicious Latvian lunch, and for dessert, Nika taught us how to make thin waffles with caramelized milk. 

Each homeroom prepared a presentation with their Latvian helper to teach the Americans about Latvian and Daugavpils history, Gzhel painting, Ligo flower wreaths and Latvian dance.                 

                                          Later, we came together to learn Russian games. At the close of Russian-Latvian day, we danced our new dance in unison. Thank you again to our Latvian and Russian hosts for a beautiful experience.

Halloween

On Thursday, July 5, we celebrated Halloween at American camp. 

Campers made Halloween cookies and paper jack-o-lanterns. Everyone wore costumes or painted their faces. 

 

In the afternoon we held a Grand March where campers could show off their costumes, and prizes were awarded for the prettiest, scariest, most unique, most convincing and most original costumes, as well as the best wig, mask and face paint. 

Sasha won the prize for the prettiest costume.

A Halloween dance completed the day.

 

The "hip-hop girls" won the prize for most original costume.

States Day

Thursday, June 28,  we had the State Day where student groups went "visiting” all of the states. Each of us, like in real life traveling, got a passport, which we decorated. In every state there was something we would write on the state’s page, getting special traveling stamps or stickers in return. The event was really interesting, and we got to know a lot of new things about the states. It was a pity we only could stay for 10 minutes in each state, but all of the teachers managed to make those 10 minutes both fun and educational.

Wisconsin

Kathy told us different facts about cows, because there are a lot of them in Wisconsin – for example, her neighbor has 250! We wrote the most interesting ones down and were free to go.

Virginia

Maggie showed us a video about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We wrote down one fact each about VA and got our stickers.

Hawaii

Nancy told us about Hawaii Islands. The biggest one is Hawaii, where an active volcano is located.

South Dakota

Tim told us about Mount Rushmore, and about the presidents whose faces are carved in this mountain. 

Wyoming

Erick’s theme was nature. He showed us a video about Yellowstone National Park, and the supervolcano beneath it.

California

To get in the Joan’s class we had to go through the passport control. She asked us about why we were visiting, and whether we had anything in our luggage that was not allowed to take over the border. 

-Laura (MN)

Artyom (AZ)

US Nationals

Friday, June 29 was the US Nationals competition at camp. Homeroom classes competed against one another in eight events described here.


Now we’ll tell you about some activities from US Nationals.

In Nancy’s room the competition was “Bubble Gum." We had to blow bubbles. We had a lot of fun. We think it was too difficult for Nancy because she had to count all of our bubbles. In Carrie’s room everyone showed their talents at spelling. Carrie said the word, but we had to name the letters of the word. It was difficult for people who don’t know the English alphabet well. In the gym there was a basketball station. Everyone threw a ball into the basket. We think it wasn’t hard for tall human beings. In Erik's room we made planes and then threw them. With Maggie, we jumped rope. In Kathy's room we bounced a ball with a paddle. On the stairs of the fourth floor students tried to make slinky go down the stairs one step at a time. We considered that it was the most difficult exercise this day. Every group tried to win and tried to beat all the high scores. Minnesota and California won US Nationals. Maybe they tried the hardest and believed in winning. 

-Diana, Rita, Karina and Ann

Relays

Last Friday we had Relays. First all states made lines of 14 people. Tim said what we needed to do. Secondly everyone got ready to start.

Tim said “1… 2… 3…go!!!” Everyone ran with basketball balls very fast. Every time another state won. The last quest was to run with a spoon and a ball on it. It was very hard and funny too. So after Relays all were happy.

…My favorite was running with a spoon and a ball on it, because I did it better than others.

 -Vlad (Wyoming)

Julia (Arizona)

Group Blog Post 3: Hawaii

Independence Day

This morning our Latvian hosts helped start American Independence day off right. They arrived at breakfast to help us put together a patriotic puzzle. Olga and Lera sang an amazing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The Latvian helpers even prepared a New York cheesecake for us! Thank you so much to our Latvian friends for making our Independence day so special.

Or watch our Independence Day celebration here!

Group Blog Post 2: South Dakota

Group Blog Post 1: Arizona

Each homeroom created blog posts describing their English Camp experience or something they have learned about their "home state." Here, Arizona shares artwork and a few facts about the southwestern state.

Camp Schedule

Week one is complete, but two very full weeks of English camp still remain. Check out the schedule of special events and activities still to come:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Week 2	•Sing-a-Long •Clubs	•Valentines Day •Birthday Celebration	•Reading •Independence Day	•Games •Halloween	•Sing-a-Long •Russian-Latvian Day
Week 3	•Games •Sunshine Day	•Reading •Christmas Celebration	•Relays •Clubs	•Sing-a-Long •Talent Show	•Commencement

Clubs

Clubs meet three times during camp. Campers can learn a new skill, sport or craft from one of the American teachers.
Flowers

Today I went to different clubs. Two other people and I went to Wisconsin’s room to help Maggie take some photos. In this room I saw a lot of kids. There were a lot of boys and girls. They made great flowers. The flowers were beautiful. I was surprised when I knew that flowers are very easy to make. Kids did the flowers from colorful paper and duct tapes. I think making flowers is very interesting work. I enjoyed seeing that making of flowers in Wisconsin’s room.  I want to try to make flowers in clubs next week.   -Darina, VA

American Football
I, Chris, will write about American football. There are 3 teams, 2 teams play football, and the other team does exercises. -Chris, WI

Jewelry
 In Hawaii (Nancy's club), girls did different jewelries. The took colorful strings and made bracelets, Bracelets are very easy to do, and they look beautiful. I saw that it is very interesting and doesn't take a lot of time. If someone has a birthday, you could make this jewelry. -Lisa, VA

Yoga
In our camp we have many clubs and activities. One of them is yoga. Yoga is very hard because for yoga, you need balance. I think yoga is a very interesting and hard activity. -Dainis, WI













Poker
In Tom's club, campers learned to play poker. They played in groups using real poker chips.
















Percussion and Concussions

Campers learned rudimentary drum theory with Erik. They learned drum beats and practiced their new skills by drumming on their desks.
















Blog
Campers wrote short stories about activities they had already experienced at camp. Some visited the other clubs to observe and take photos, and then wrote about what they saw.