The first week was a huge success at our summer camp. The curriculum was jam packed and
the kids and teachers were equally excited and eager to get started.
Some things at camp are constants:
We start every morning with an assembly to get everyone prepared for the day. Then we break into our classes for Islamic Studies and Science in Islam. After a 10 min break we get right into Quran and work on Quran recitation and memorization.
In addition to Science and Islamic studies, every week we do an hour of community serive, go shopping at the farmers market and go on a field trip. Some of the major events of this week were:
Library
We brought the students to the Alameda West End Library and signed everyone up for the summer reading program. The goal of the program is to have the students reading for 20 mins a day.
They will receive prizes ranging from ice cream, free museum admission, and free pool entry depending on how much they read throughout the summer.
We visit the library on both Monday and Wednesday to give the students a chance to read or check out library books.
Food Bank
For our community service this week we went to the Alameda Food Bank. We sorted food donations and made sure products were clean and undamaged so they can be given to those who need them.
Bowling
On Thursday we went Bowling at Alameda Southshore Lane. Everyone was excited and anxious to get started. For many of the students this was their first time bowling!
Everyone was a pro, especially the younger ones! (they had a little extra guidance)
Even though bowling is an individual sport, we saw a lot of teamwork and positive support. Older kids were helping the younger ones with their bowling form and everyone was cheering for their colleagues for strikes and gutter balls alike.
Projects
On Friday Sister Ameena Jandali gave a presentation on Islam and the Environment. She quoted parts of the Quran and explained that we, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, are responsible for taking care of the Earth. She used additional hadiths to explain issues like the treatment of animals, use of natural resources, and over consumption and wasting.
Sister Ameena explained that many human actions have detrimental effects on the earth and that some of those actions have led to climate change.
To encourage us to help make positive environmental changes in our lives, she left us with some tools of what we can do at home, at the Masjid, and at school to preserve our environment :
*Special thanks to Sister Ameena for allowing us to use some of her slides
