RECA Recent Events

RECENT EVENTS

RECA CHILDREN'S CULTURE CAMP

From July 21-25, 23 campers, led by five staff and many volunteers, had a week of fun and learning at our annual Children’s Chinese Culture Camp. Staff included Nancy Wang, Judy Cheung, Cathy Ringstad, Nancy Loui and Ann Schleeter. We had many members, mothers and a grandmother who volunteered on different days. Justin Eggert of Wu Academy, led us in Tai Chi each morning. In addition to language classes, we also had cooking, arts and crafts, calligraphy, horseback riding, and put on a performance for our parents with what we had learned.

2014 RECA campers, staff and Wednesday’s volunteers

Each morning began with SiFu Justin Eggert (a graduate of our RECA Language School) leading everyone in Tai Chi. Justin owns and operates Wu Martial Arts Academy in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.

On some mornings, Junior Counselors Maddi Walker (L) and Derek Baldi (LC) led campers and families in warm-up exercises before SiFu Justin arrived.

Our day continued with language classes. Cathy Ringstad taught the younger children. Maddi Walker was her assistant.

Nancy Loui, long-time RECA member and recently retired teacher, taught the older kids. Derek Baldi was her assistant.

Recess is always great fun with our play yard, wide lawns, flower filled field, and various other outside attractions such as butterflies and bugs.

Another recess activity was learning to play the lion drums. This was our most talented group of kids ever.

One morning, while the older kids helped in other places, the younger campers had fun on the lawn.

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Cooking is always one of the favorite activities. Campers have to make lunch every day.

M: fried rice, T: chow mein, W: wontons, Th: pot stickers, F: green onion pancakes, Yum!

We learned how to do Chinese brush paintings with ink,
then made our masterpiece to take home and hang on the wall.

On Thursday we got to ride a horse. We also liked to feed the horses grass during recess.
Thank you to Gerardo Sanchez from across the street for letting us ride the horse we saw every day.

Each of us got to feed the horse a carrot when we finished
our ride.

Best quote of the week came from Nicky,
“I’ve never ridden a horse before. I’ve only ridden an elephant.”

On Friday, our families came to watch us as we performed what we learned.
Each class stood to give individual introductions of ourselves.
The advanced class also recited a poem.

All together, including little brother Charlie (R), under the direction of Junior Counselor Derek
and Assistant Junior Counselor Greg, we all sang our song with Kung Fu moves.

The younger girls performed a ribbon dance with ribbons they made in arts and craft class.

Nathan did a fantastic job on the drums after learning the rhythms in only five days. Sammie was excellent on the gong.
Sophie was great on the tambourine. All played for our dragon dance.

The boys and older girls gave an awesome performance of the dragon dance for our grand finale. Everyone was thrilled.

What a way to end our camp!