“Repeat after me!
“I’m in the Oak Tree family!
I help to keep it safe.
I’m strong and smart,
Brave and kind,
And loved by God!
“You’re in the Oak Tree family!
You help to keep it safe.
You’re strong and smart,
Brave and kind,
And I love you!”
Every time our elementary kids meet at Oak Tree, we repeat this little mantra. It helps to unify us and remind the kids of their identity as part of the Oak Tree family. This summer, the youngest members of Oak Tree family got extra reminders of this identity at our very first Early Childhood Summer Camp!
Each year, we have parents ask if we are doing a summer camp and this year God provided the resources and capacity to make it possible! For six weeks this summer, we hosted summer camp three days a week for nine kids ages three to six years old. Each day was filled with fun and opportunities for learning and growth.
We learned Bible stories about how God made the world and how much Jesus loves us.
We read books, practiced our letters, and told stories.
We counted, added, built towers, cars, trains, and more.
We rode bikes, skateboards, and scooters.
We practiced sharing, taking turns, sitting in chairs, patience, listening and sticking together.
We had the privilege of celebrating some big wins and grieving some huge losses.
We worked on using our words to express our emotions and using tools to regulate them.
One of the most amazing things about camp was that the benefits reached far beyond just the things we were able to do during the 5 hours each day at camp.
One mom was able to get a temporary summer job because her son was at our camp during the week.
Two moms were able to have extra time with their new babies because their older children were getting time at Oak Tree.
Because of your support, we were able to hire one of our teen girls as a summer intern and she was such a blessing and is so gifted at caring for children!
We were able to walk with one of our families when they experienced an unexpected and heartbreaking loss halfway through the summer.
We were blessed to partner with Reading Wednesdays and have Kiersten come read to our kids each week and send them home with free books!
These are just a few of the amazing things we were able to be a part of because of Early Childhood Camp this summer!
My (Megan’s) favorite moments were those when I saw our kids putting into practice the things we taught them. Each morning our family meetings would start with the same phrase, “Repeat after me!” And there were so many “repeat after me” moments.
When a parent told me her daughter had come home and taught her our Oak Tree family mantra. “Mama, repeat after me! I’m in the Oak Tree family…”
When one little boy reminded me in a moment of frustration, “Ms. Megan, take a deep breath.”
And the countless times I watched children come around and comfort a friend when they were hurt or sad.
We praise God for these “repeat after me” moments and the many other ways He provided this summer! And we pray that each young member of the Oak Tree family will take the things they learned and practiced at camp and continue to repeat them to each other for years to come.