Breaking barriers

A growing number of international community members in Tuscaloosa combined with a need for English education formed the backdrop for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Summer Fun Camp. The camp, hosted by Northwood Hills Baptist Church and sponsored by Tuscaloosa Baptist Association, met June 12 through July 7, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In only its second year, the camp tripled its number of participants this summer. The camp was promoted through information distributed to ESL students during the school year and at an open house at Alberta Elementary School. The camp was free to participants, and transportation was provided.

The need for this type of camp is based on the growing population of international students at The University of Alabama, who often bring their families to the United States with them, and international businesses in Tuscaloosa such as Mercedes and JVC, said Northwood Hills Baptist Church Pastor George Shaddix.

One goal of the camp is to provide opportunities for children who use English as their second language to use and expand their English skills during summer vacation.

Spreading gospel

 “The ESL Summer Fun Camp gives us an opportunity to help these children strengthen and maintain their English skills during the summer when they are not in school. The camp also gives us the opportunity to reach out to them in the name of Jesus Christ, say to them we care and to plant the seed of the gospel in their lives,” Shaddix said. Shaddix told Bible stories to the children each morning during assembly.

The camp had 45 enrolled and averaged 40 children each day. The children, whose primary languages included Spanish, German, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Arabic, enjoyed a morning assembly of music and Bible stories followed by a day filled with activities ranging from recreation to crafts to ESL classes.

“We used vocabulary, games, activities, stories, books and music. It was a fun camp, and we tried not to be so much like school,” said Judy Watkins, liaison between Tuscaloosa Association and the ESL camp.

Rebecca Hargrove, an ESL teacher for Tuscaloosa city schools, coordinated the educational materials used in the camp.

Hargrove used materials from the school program coupled with supplemental materials to go along with the camp’s theme, Under the Sea, Watkins said. Hargrove served as the camp’s director and ESL coordinator.

Many of the workers at the camp were educators. Members of the community provided funds, supplies and their time to make the camp a success. The University of Alabama Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM), several churches, a women’s ministry group, a youth group and other volunteers all provided for the needs of the camp. The Tuscaloosa Association funded the camp as part of its literacy program. Overall, more than 25 people volunteered at the camp.

‘God at work’

“The Lord always provides, and He certainly provided for all our needs in this camp. There are so many rewards and blessings in being a part of this camp. One of the rewards to me is just seeing God at work,” Watkins said.

The camp offered the children varied experiences as they traveled to The University of Alabama Arboretum, hiked at Camp Tuscoba, played during Water Game Day and watched an underwater video presented by a scuba diver.

Children enjoyed the camp, and parents appreciated the efforts of the camp workers, said Watkins, who was also the camp’s music leader. She noted one parent’s expression of gratitude: “It is a wonderful thing you do for our children.”

The camp ended July 7 with a family night at Camp Tuscoba. The children performed skits and sampled dishes from the various countries. Each child and worker received a certificate.

As a way to keep in contact with the children after the camp, Northwood Hills invites the children to attend local churches and provides them with information about church services in their primary language and other services provided by the Tuscaloosa Association.

Camp organizers are anticipating an even larger group of children for next year’s camp. They hope to add an English class for interested parents.