Create a Camp @ GA'13

By Ted Resnikoff

Covenant Children’s Camp @ GA'13: RFP

To create an integrated religious experience for our children at our largest gathering as a faith community, the General Assembly Planning Committee seeks applications to provide the content and implementation of a day camp that engages children in actively deepening and developing their faith formation around covenant and how we gather, the two areas of focus for GA 2013.

Logistics:

Camp: Located at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Louisville (within walking distance of many activities and museums). Kiddie Corps, the national child care company that UUA contacts with for childcare will: provide staff for the check-in and pick-up, provide two staff members, provide snacks and beverages, process criminal history/felony background checks on all caregivers.

Campers: Maximum number of campers: 24 Ages: Completed grade 4 – 8.

Times: Wed. June 19, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thurs June 20, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fri June 21, 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sat June 22, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sun June 23, 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The role: The Camp Director will be responsible for both creating the curriculum and implementing that curriculum during the hours listed above. In addition, the Director will recruit, hire and supervise up to two additional volunteer assistants and will supervise the two Kiddie Corp staff. After the camp, a summary report will be provided to the GAPC and the GA Office no later than July 15.

The curriculum: The curriculum should actively engage the children in exploring issues of covenant and how we gather as a religious people. These are the issues being explored by the youth and adult attendees at GA 2013. In addition, the children should investigate how covenant and gathering intersect issues of environmental justice. Currently the large public witness will address fracking, mountain top removal, and potable water. This curriculum should be grounded in our faith tradition and fun for our children.

The curriculum should include plans to share and expose the activities and learnings of the children to the youth, young adult and larger GA community. Specific plans for displays, public performances, interactions with GA attendees via songs or games or other ways to educate and inform the larger community of the camp’s activities should be included in your proposal. This is intended to be an opportunity to make the children's presence known, but should not constitute the majority of the curriculum. Think about options such as creating and displaying their art work, impromptu activities that they can engage other attendees with in the hallway, videos that can be put on the UUA website, petitioning attendees to take action on what they have learned, making signs for the public witness, etc. You will be able to display things in the exhibit hall and engage others UUs in the hallways and might choose to ask the campers to attend the public witness as a group. At this point, no accommodation has been made for time in plenary hall or at any of the full assembly gatherings (but you can always ask). Your curriculum will be the property of UUA and may be distributed free of charge to Unitarian Universalist congregations.

The resources: You are welcome to use any of the existing UU curriculum resources and any of the local Louisville resources. You may want to consider the Children’s Museum, the Muhammad Ali Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Glass Museum, and many other options in downtown Louisville. There is a local trolley that moves through the middle of downtown. The total for any materials that you purchase and/or any admittance fees for all attendees and all staff must be less than $1,800 for the entire week of camp.

Desired skills, experience and background of Director: We are seeking a Unitarian Universalist who has previous experience providing day camp experiences in multi-age environments. The Director will be familiar with and be responsible for implementing any and all safe congregation recommendations for children’s programming. The Director will be well versed in Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multicultural work. Preference will be given to professional religious educators. Individuals of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, orientations, preferences, classes, gender, sex, and theological orientation are encouraged to apply.

Compensation: Director honorarium of $750, six nights housing (one room at a hotel determined by UUA near the convention center) and GA registration for the director. GA registration for up to two additional volunteers. All staff will also be fed with the children. How to apply: All applications must include:

• a letter indicating why you are seeking this opportunity,

• general description of learning objectives for the camp,

• a letter of recommendation from a congregation or UU camp where you crafted and delivered week-long curriculum,

• a sample of a week-long curriculum that you have created for this age group, and

• a general letter of recommendation addressing how you manage children and volunteers.

All applications must be submitted no later than February 15 at 5pm EST to Jan Sneegas, Director of General Assembly and Conference Services via email. jsneegas@uua.org Questions regarding curriculum can be address to: Debra Gray Boyd, 614-353-0505, debra.gapc@gmail.com Questions regarding compensation & funds can be address to: Jan Sneegas, 617-948-4207, jsneegas@uua.org

GA_13_logo_generic_4_BB
Youth_YA_camp_GA_iStock_000017115853XSmall