FFIC Heritage Camp

2010 Heritage Camp - Become a Fan

2010-02-03T14:49:00.000-05:00

We have a new way to keep everyone in the loop for 2010. We have a facebook page. Please become a fan. By doing so, any updates, volunteer needs and news will be posted on our fan page.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED!!!!

2009-05-30T16:35:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Camp is only two weeks away and we are in need of one volunteer. Is there anyone out in camp land that can start the grills for the picnic on Tuesday evening June 16th? The picnic starts at 5:30 so the coals should be ready for the hotdogs by that time. If anyone out there is available, please let us know at fficheritagecamp@gmail.com

Thanks in advance!!

Looking for a place to stay during camp?

2009-03-30T19:20:00.004-04:00

Our hotel coordinator, Teri, has reserved a block of rooms for out-of-town attendees.
The details are as follows:

30 Rooms have been reserved for the week of camp-June 16-19

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
3251 Deposit Drive (E. Beltline @I-96)
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Room Rates are as follows:
$79 for a standard king room
$79 for a standard room with 2 queen size beds
$89 for the studio suites
$99 for the one bedroom suite

As anyone that stayed there last year knows, the hotel is new, clean and very welcoming for our group. It is a non-smoking facility and a deluxe breakfast (including 2 hot entrees) is included as well as warm cookies throughout the day.

Rooms may be reserved by either calling the hetel directly at 626-942-7000 or the national reservations line at 1-800-456-4000 under the group name of "Heritage FFIC".

Calling all Parents - New Volunteer Positions Available

2009-03-22T13:40:00.003-04:00

We have a couple of volunteer positions available prior to camp. If you are interested, please let us know.

1. Last year, we had a group of parents and children design a wonderful logo. We would like to offer this on t-shirts and bags at camp this summer for purchase. If you are interested in coordinating this project, please let us know.

2. Our supply coordinator, Cheryl Wyma, is looking for a few Grand Rapids area volunteers that would be willing to help sort and inventory our supplies beginning in May. Again, let us know if you are interested.

See you all in just a few months!!!!

Assemblies for 2009 Camp

2009-03-11T08:36:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Another update from Beth Anne and Amy.

We are in need of someone to coordinate assemblies for camp this summer.

We would like to offer an assembly each day (4) that highlight each of the cultures represented at camp.

This is a great opportunity for someone that is available to make phone calls and e-mails prior to the start of camp.

Please contact Amy and Beth Anne at fficheritagecamp@gmail.com with your interest.

Also, if you know of a group that is available to perform, please let us know that as well.

See you in June!

Happy New Year

2009-01-13T09:54:00.003-05:00

Happy 2009!!!!

Camp is coming - June 16th - 19th @ Knapp Forest Elementary School.

Registration packets will be mailed in mid-February and will be due no later than April 15th. Class sizes are limited and a waiting list may be maintained if numbers are high.

Teen Camp Needs a Leader. We are in need of 1-3 Teen Directors for 2009 Camp. The foundation is there, we need several adults to make it happen. Please contact Beth Anne or Amy if you are interested or have questions.

2008Montage

2008-06-25T01:46:00.004-04:00

Here is the 2008 Heritage Camp photo/music montage. I keep having technical difficulties getting it posted, so, hopefully, it will work this time. Look for an updated one with more photos soon!

A Wonderful Camp Week!

2008-06-20T17:03:00.004-04:00

Could the weather have been any more perfect this week? With sun and 60-70 degree temperatures,, everyone was able to get outside and we didn't have exhausted, cranky, hot kids (and parents). Well, maybe you had exhausted, cranky kids falling asleep as soon as they got in the car!

Knapp Forest now really feels like "home" as it's our third year there. Everyone is familiar with the lay-out and is using the space effectively, which is good as we had about 380 campers this year!

Tuesday's picnic was again well attended, providing a chance to meet new friends and connect with old friends. It is especially nice for the many out-of-town families. The number of out-of-town campers has been increasing and this year, for the first time, we had an "official" Heritage Camp hotel, the Country Inn and Suites.

The assemblies featured Korean dancers and drummers and Chinese Lion Dancers so they were colorful, loud, and exciting! The Korean group spent extra time visiting and were very impressed with camp and the dedication of everyone who makes it such an important part of our children's lives.

In our quest to shorten the Parade of Nations, thanks to co-director Amy Turner's idea to put everyone on risers, it was only 48 minutes long and went very smoothly. The audience was treated to a photo/music montage, songs from every camp, a tae kwan do demonstration, and a lion dance.

It was a very successful, fun, memorable camp, thanks to hours and hours of work by many volunteers who know how important it is for our children to experience their birth cultures in a variety of ways.

Help Build The Wall (of Juice Boxes)!

2008-05-30T23:31:00.002-04:00

Teen campers this year will be volunteering at Kids Food Basket, a Grand Rapids organization that provides 1400 sack meals per day for children who may otherwise not have a meal. Each camper is asked to bring one package of 100% fruit juice to help build a "wall of juice" at camp. When a package of juice boxes is donated, the camper will receive a magnetic frame PERFECT for your class picture and suitable for any refrigerator door! These will be one-of-a-kind handcrafted works of art made by our preschoolers (with a little help from their Teen "buddies.")

Hotel for Heritage Camp

2008-05-30T23:25:00.003-04:00

Camp is just over 2 weeks away! If you haven't already, you'll soon be receiving a "welcome packet" from your camper's classroom teacher and/or camp coordinator. If you are coming from outside the GR area, there is a block of rooms available at the new Country Inn and Suites. It's much closer than any other hotel in the area and the rate is $79 per night. That includes breakfast, a 10% discount coupon for the Pizzeria Uno, which is adjacent, and complimentary cookies. The hotel is completely non-smoking and has a large indoor pool. To make a reservation, call 616-942-7000 and mention the FFIC group rate. It's suggested to make your reservations as soon as possible. Here's a link to the hotel.

Poster-Maker Needed

2008-05-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

Here's a chance to volunteer right NOW for Heritage Camp 2008, which starts in 3 weeks! We need someone to take the photos from last year and make them into posters to display. Everyone enjoys seeing Heritage Camp from past years. If you would like to be creative and help make memories, please contact Susan McCaffrey at susanmccaffrey@gmail.com and the pictures will get to you!

Bring A Flag to Camp!

2008-05-27T23:57:00.002-04:00

On the first day of camp, we have an opening ceremony to welcome campers and volunteers, learn the two "official" camp songs, and to celebrate everyone's heritage. Campers are encouraged to bring a flag from their birth countries (purchased or homemade).

Calling All Musicians in Latin America/Eastern Europe Camp!

2008-03-15T19:20:00.002-04:00

Are you coming to Latin America or Eastern Europe Camp this summer? Do you play an instrument? If you do, please bring your instrument to camp (no, not your piano....there is already one!) this summer! Mrs. B.G. would like you to play along with the songs your classes will be learning. It will be "music to our ears" to hear what she has in store for you!

T-Shirts Available to Purchase!

2008-03-15T19:15:00.002-04:00

For the first time, you'll be able to buy t-shirts this year! You'll receive one t-shirt with your registration fee (and volunteers get t-shirts, too), but you may want to buy an extra t-shirt or purchase them for family members who are not attending or volunteering at camp this year. If you're a member of FFIC, you should receive a t-shirt purchase form. You can also email us at fficheritagecamp@gmail.com for more information.

T-shirts will be available to pick up on Friday, June 20, 2008 AFTER lunch.

Teen Camper Get-Together

2008-03-15T19:00:00.002-04:00

Calling all campers going into 7th-9th grades! Teen Camp will have some exciting new features this year! Learn all about it, give your input, and meet with your friends on Sunday, April 20 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Township Park. Pizza and pop will be provided. If you were a teen camper last summer or are going to be one this summer, you'll receive more information from your coordinators, Mrs. O. and Mrs. P.

We have a Preschool Coordinator!

2008-03-15T18:46:00.002-04:00

Our youngest campers will be under the competent and enthusiastic leadership of Tamara M., who graciously volunteered to follow in the footsteps of Beth Anne F. and Amy T., who are now the new camp Co-Directors. 13 preschoolers have already signed up for camp, so get those registrations in as soon as possible to ensure a spot in Heritage Camp!

Kitchen Coordinator Found!

2008-03-06T08:46:00.003-05:00

Great news - we can eat! We have a new Kitchen Coordinator! Cindy S. has volunteered to take over. The kitchen always seems to be a fun, enthusiastic place filled with dedicated volunteers, so we're sure Cindy will feel welcome. We're still looking for a Preschool Coordinator and also a Games Coordinator. Please email us at fficheritagecamp@gmail.com if you're interested in either of these positions or if you know someone who would be great for the jobs!

Heritage Camp Email Address Change!

2008-03-04T14:49:00.002-05:00

Due to "technical difficulties," the "official" heritage camp email address has changed to:

fficheritagecamp@gmail.com

Please make a note of this and address all heritage camp-related emails to that address.

Kitchen, Preschool Coordinators Needed

2008-02-23T11:45:00.008-05:00

Heritage Camp 2008 has immediate openings for a Kitchen Coordinator and Preschool Coordinator. The Kitchen Coordinator will plan meals (there is a set menu, which has proven to be popular each year), purchase supplies, and coordinate the many enthusiastic kitchen volunteers.

The Preschool Coordinator will plan for 4 days of day camp for approximately 15-18 preschoolers (ages 4 and up), work with classroom volunteers, teach, and communicate with parents. There is a well-established curriculum to follow, but it certainly can be changed if desired.
Please email the Heritage Camp 2008 Directors at fficheritagecamp@gmail.com if you are interested in either of the two positions or any other position. Heritage Camp is entirely organized by volunteers, who work magic to provide a meaningful, fun, creative, and memorable experience for approximately 350 internationally adopted children ages 4 through 9th grade.

Meeting for Camp Staff on March 15

2008-02-23T11:44:00.003-05:00

The first 2008 Heritage Camp planning meeting will be on March 15, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m. All camp staff, coordinators, and volunteers are invited to attend. Look for directions to the meeting place in your email as the date gets closer.

2007 Heritage Camp Photo Montage

2007-12-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

Here is the 2007 Heritage Camp photo montage, which was shown at the Parade of Nations. You an really see the joy and sense of belonging the campers feel!

Heritage Camp goes high tech!

2007-08-15T15:58:00.000-04:00

Heritage Camp now has a blog to keep everyone up to date on camp planning, needs, and announcements! Check here regularly to get the latest news or to add your two cents' worth.

We've already had several inquiries about next year's camp dates. Camp will take place from June 17 - 20, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Set up day will be Monday, June 16, 2008 at the same time. We're looking forward to another exciting camp.

Please check back for more information soon!