Camp PEACEPRINTS was held July 25-August 8, 2011

Recipe for Camp Peaceprints 2011
“Justice and Peace in Space and Time”

View camp photos!

Assemble:          

• SSJ Sr. Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence Director, Rev. Vivian Waltz
• Interfaith Peace Network’s Peaceful Conflict Resolution Consultant, Victoria Ross, QCSW, MALD
• Resources from generous individuals (you know who you are!) and compassionate groups such as the Network of Religious Communities Riefler Ministry Enablement Fund; Presbytery of Western New York; North Presbyterian Church, Williamsville; Buffalo Teachers Federation; University Presbyterian Church, Buffalo; First Presbyterian Church, East Aurora; and Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, Clarence

Plan and Collaborate with:

• Jan Burns, artist and teacher, to facilitate the Art-Making portion, and
• Mary Carroll, sage and counselor, to meet, greet, and check in (both of the Strengthening Families Program, Erie County  Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse)
• Ellen Moomaw, nutritional and environmental activist, hardworking cook and volunteer, to create our tasty meals and snacks

Arrange:

• To meet at St. Margaret’s School on Hertel Avenue, July 25-August 5 .
• To use the Teach and Restore Youth (T.R.Y.) and the St. Columba Brigid RC Church’s vans to transport campers
• Dedicated drivers Cowboy Charlie Bowman (WNY Peace Center director), Amazing Ann Marie Bowman, Fun Frank Gage, Raring-to-go Russell Brown, and Valiant Valerie Niederhoffer

Add the Main Ingredients:

• 34 campers from 8-13 years old, from all over the city and county, as well as from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan; 22 of which were at Camp Peaceprints for the first time
• 13 Youth Assistants from 14-18, four of whom were from the Young Neighbors in Action program of the Catholic Center for Ministry Development, hailing from Massachusetts
• Kind, caring, and dedicated volunteers from the community

Share Together:

• Peaceful Conflict Resolution skills, including making a Peace Agreement and discovering and practicing using Peace Tools
• Cooperative games and exercises in communication, dealing with feelings, and exploring different points of view, largely from the Alternatives to Violence Program
• Exciting art projects – creating ideal neighborhoods, social justice posters and poems
  

• Perspectives in Justice and Peace in Space and Time from community activists:
• Civil Rights with Rachel Henderson of the NOW Generation
• Nonviolent Direct Action and the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers with PeaceJam Buffalo
• Standing up for Compassion and an end to violence with Women in Black, Buffalo
• Islam and How to Deal with Prejudice, by Akram Shibley, Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier, Masjid An-Noor Mosque
• Patience and Perseverance, with Santiago Masferrer of El Buen Amigo
• How to Live Well, with Jill Hambee and Youth of the Tuscarora Nation

Go on Field Trips to:

• Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, including
• the Native American experience via the Red Jacket exhibit
• the Underground Railroad and the inspiration of Civil Rights activists
• Buffalo’s immigrants and refugees over the years
• Broderick Park, historic last stop on the Underground Railroad where slaves crossed the Niagara River into freedom, with guest Karima Amin--storyteller, drummer and justice advocate
• The Buffalo Central Public Library, with the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS, learning about how we are all differently-abled
• Mayor Byron Brown’s office in City Hall presenting Pinwheels for Peace and Artists’ Trading Cards, sharing campers views of our neighborhoods and society, and a Q&A session

Fold in:

• Our own unique perspectives, truly listening to each other
• Our own authentic selves, loving and learning together
• And last but not least plenty of sunshine, walks to the park and FUN, FUN, FUN!!

Mix carefully together; stir thoroughly over a two-week period; and let it flow back into our communities, leaving a multitude of peaceprints. Warm your heart with the memories, continue the friendships, and reap the benefits of justice and peace in our space and time, spreading out from Camp Peaceprints 2011 for years to come.

See just how much fun kids have at Camp Peaceprints! Check out the slideshow and activities from the 2010 Camp!

Photos from previous camp