Newsletter for Volunteer Work at Camp Ta Kum Ta on July 31, 2013

July 31, 2013 Newsletter

By John Hammer

Charlotte Shelburne Rotary

Wednesday, July 31, 2013, 6:30 a.m.

Camp Ta Kum Ta, South Hero, Vermont

Present for this activity were: Terrill Titus and her husband, Steve; Tod Whitaker, Bill Root, George and Linda Schiavonne, John Hammer, Michael Clapp and Denny Bowen,

Word for the Day: Look for the * and definition at end.

Upcoming:

August 7 – Member Chris Davis  - Meach Cove Farm

Today was a volunteer day at Camp Ta Kum Ta*, a camp which serves youth who have not yet graduated from high school and who have undergone cancer treatment during their lives.  The volunteer activity is to cook and serve breakfast to up to 200 campers, staff and counselors.

Work began at 6:30 under the tutelage of Head Cook, Nate.  Today’s meal consisted of Bacon, lots of it, scrambled eggs, Tater-tots, oatmeal, sliced strawberries, and various other specialties for those with limited diets.  Cooking and pot walloping took until about 8 after which volunteers took turns helping with the distribution and clearing.  Part of the “work” is to attend the flag raising and pledge out at the flag circle.  Breakfast was served family style at the tables which had been set outside as the result of a prank which replaced all the tables in the dining tent with staffs’ cars over the night.  All the cars were made out as if being at an auction.  As the camp director began to speak, someone hit the panic button for many of the car, drowning out all speech such that all directions ended up being given by signal.  The kids were in an uproar.  Apparently pranks are a common affair. Also in that last night, half of the camps paper cups ended up stuffed in the mesh of the tennis court fencing.  The volunteers’ tasking ended after a breakfast with the campers around 9AM.

For further information visit http://www.takumta.org/

Definition – Ta Kum Ta, N. – Name of Camp at whichone of the children still too young to attend exclaimed in frustration "but I want a camp to come ta!"