Submitted Photos
Children on are on a field trip at Reynolda Gardens.
Churches unite to
help students with
STEM Camp
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Six-year old Hansumm McCcoy was clearly over
joyed when he succeeded in building a robotic truck.
Using the computer, he demonstrated his ability to control
its movements, the wheels and bed for hauling.
Hansumm is one of several children who participated
in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Camp housed at Saints Home United Methodist Church
this summer.
The program, funded with a special grant from the
Western North Carolina conference of the United
Methodist Church, targeted children in grades 1-5. Saints
Home church is at 1390 Thurmond Street near Cook
Elementary School. The church was delighted to open its
doors and to oversee operation of the program. United
Methodist volunteers from area churches and others,
? t i * irrrTi t
including vism workers,
banned together to offer
various educational services
to participating youth and
their parents/guardians.
Services offered includ
ed instruction and tutoring
in reading and math.
Learning experiences were
also provided in gardening,
science and robotics. Ola
Murrell, a local teacher,
drove the church van each
day to ensure that trans
portation was not an obsta
cle in getting to and from
the camp. Then she would
switch hats and teach read
ing. Many of the children
participating in the program
reside in the Cleveland
Avenue Homes neighbor
hood and expressed the
delight in having access to
the program because of the
available transportation
services.
Joyce Irby.^a local sci
ence teacher with the
Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County Schools system,
worked with the youth in
science, technology and
robotics. Under her guid
ance, children were elated
to launch rocket balloons,
get a feel for aero-dynamics
by flying paper airplanes,
observe seeds grow and
explore the field of robotics.
The science component of
the program emphasized
hands-on-experience cou
pled with meaningful
instructions.
D. Renee Wilkins, who
enjoys working with young
people and others, joined
the team of volunteers to
assist in math, while Jessica
Harris a reading specialist,
oversaw assessments for the
youth.
Sessions on healthy eat
ing habits were provided to
participating youth and
their parents/guardians.
Bridget Hochwalt. a VISTA
volunteer and nutritionist,
spoke on healthy eating
while sharing samples of
various foods during special
activities.
Also, field trips that
introduced a variety of
plants to the students were
provided. These trips
included time at Reynolda
Gardens' and the Paul J.
Ciener Botanical Gardens
in Kemersville. Saint Paul
and Saints Home United
Methodist churches provid
ed their vans to carry out
this aspect of the program.
Phyliss Hartell Vaughn, a
volunteer from St. Paul United Methodist Church,
expressed her delight in helping the program by driving
one of two vans used to transport the youth.
The participating youth were provided two meals and
a healthy snack during their participation in the program.
Dianne McThompson Coleman, another volunteer, talked
about her role in assuring that the children received their
food in a timely and loving manner. Just as God has
blessed us, we need to bless others. She added that it was
most rewarding to assist in carrying out the program.
Other volunteers who helped to ensure the success of
this endeavor included lyier Gaither, Linda Richardson,
Martha Jo Campbell, Albertia Williford, Barbara Cuthrell,
Jacqueline January, Maijorie Arnold^ Carolyn Payne,
Yvonne Wingfield and David Wilson. Mary Catherine
Willis was joined by Jeannene Caesar to assist in program
monitoring and/or program evaluation.
When asked what he would say about the program,
Pastor Ronnie Roseboro of Saints Home Church replied,
"One word says it all: amazing."
Pastor Roseboro further stated that he was blessed by
interacting with the youth each day in a morning devotion
session. By the end of the third and last week of the pro
gram, a group of young people was able to recite the
Lord's Prayer on their own.
Although the camp came to a close on Friday, July 17,
follow-up services will be available to the youth through
out the up-coming school year.
This mission initiative was undertaken with input
and/or involvement of four area United Methodist church
es involved in a missional network. These churches are
Saint Home, Saint Paul, St. Andrews and Green Street.
Hansumm McCoy is at work.
Teacher Joyce Irby works with a participant who is
examining a seed.
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THE GREENSBORO TIMES