Macon's High Street UU Church Pioneers Peacemakers Camp

A group of folks at High Street UU Church in Macon, GA. planned the first Peacemakers program in the summer of 1998, hoping only to further acceptance of one another, regardless of ethnic, religious, racial, economic or cultural background. In the four years of Peacemakers' existence, 90 children between the ages of 8 and 13 have participated in camp or quarterly activities. Sixty percent of this year's campers had attended Peacemakers camp previously. Parents tell us that their children love Peacemakers; parents also tell us that THEY love it and ask us what we did. They say we need Peacemakers for Parents. Each day at Peacemakers Camp includes: [list] [*]Quiet time -- learning to become calm and keeping a journal. [*]Story Time -- reading and discussing stories in small groups. [*]Physical Activities -- supervised hiking, swimming, youth ropes course. [*]Creative Activities -- role playing, art. [*]Songfests -- sitting in a circle and singing. [*]Cultural Exchange -- dancing, singing, storytelling by guests from everywhere. [/list]One great side benefit of Peacemakers activity is its appeal within our High Street congregation. Forty-to-fifty percent of the church population volunteer in some way during a year's time. We leaders of Peacemakers Camp write our own curriculum each year based on our observations of need at camp. For example, the fire year we explored feelings and how we respond to them. In 2001 we dealt with bullying: defined it, analyzed it, explored ways to change our own bullying ways and ways to deflect bullies' unwanted attention. The first five-day program was exhilarating and instructive. We learned that children really want to find that place where peace lives inside themselves. We led our campers in guided meditations were their favorite part of camp. This discovery changed the thrust of future camps slightly from furthering acceptance of one another to finding ways to access the peace inside us. That first camp taught us that we need space around us for physical activity. The next year we applied for a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program and received funds that allowed us to transport fifty children to Rock Eagle 4-H Camp for five days and four nights. There we lived together, ate all our meals together, took a low ropes course, and were able to swim, hike and convene in both large and small groups. In 2000 we received a second UUFP grant and returned to Rock Eagle. The camp and quarterly activities are free to participants. (A $10 registration fee is requested, but not required.) In summer 2001, the camp location changed to Calvin Center where all campers were housed in one large lodge and we gained canoeing and a high ropes course for the 12+ age group as well as counselors-in-training. Our 2002 camp is scheduled at Calvin Center again. Major funding for 2001-2002 has come from Arriscraft Corporation, LLC a Canadian organization headed by a Unitarian Universalist and operating in central Georgia. Peacemakers is an evolving process and probably always be. When we opened our doors in 1998, we had planned no further than the week-long 1/2-- day camp in the church basement. Who knows? In four more years, we may have Peacemakers for Parents.