Camp Staff, Board Members, and CILTs - Check this out!
I have taken one of these courses and can personally recommend it. I met people from other Camp Cheriths, got great ideas for camp, and enjoyed it thoroughly. - Water Pipit (Anne Mitchell)
We have the opportunity to become better prepared for serving at camp through our Association of Cherith Camps Distance Education program. Those of you who have already participated in this program by taking one or more modules will know their value, not only in providing training and ideas that have very practical application at camp, but as a way of helping to meet the American Camping Association (ACA) minimum required hours of training outside the pre and in-camp instruction you receive.
For those of you who have not yet experienced this method of receiving camp training, the program consists of short online courses called modules with 8 to 10 participants. Each module has an average of 8 projects that take between 30 and 90 minutes and are completed over a range of 18 to 25 days, depending on the module. After completing each project and posting it for the other learners to read, a learner provides written comments on a minimum of three of the posted projects and dialogues with any or all of the other learners in the module. Not only is there a learning process which takes place, but through the comments and dialogue each learner gets to know the other learners who are often from camps right across the USA and Canada. All first-time learners take a fun orientation project called "Mary Had a..." that takes less than a hour to do and starts one week prior to the regular modules.
Different modules are offered during each series. These are open to all camp staff and board members. A Module Schedule indicating the modules that are currently available and a short summary of each module, can be found at http://edifyed.org/campresource/ACCModuleInfo/DESchedule.htm
If you are interested in taking any one of the modules, please contact Harvey Burian, hburian@telus.net, the Module Administrator, to be registered. First-time learners, please also sign-up for the orientation, "Mary Had a..." Registration is limited to one module at a time for each offering and will be on a first-come, first served basis. Therefore, you should contact Harvey as soon as possible. Please indicate a 1st and 2nd choice of module so that, if your 1st choice cannot run due to insufficient numbers, you can be placed in your 2nd choice and still receive training.
For those of you who may be interested, a more detailed description of each module (including the pilot) can be viewed at http://edifyed.org/campresource/ACCModuleInfo/ModDesc.htm
If you would like to have some additional information about distance education, there is also a document entitled "Introduction to Distance Education" at http://edifyed.org/CampResource/ACCModuleInfo/IntroDE.htm.
Regardless of whether a person has taken a module or not, there is a "Cherith Commons" which has been created to be a gathering place. It contains areas for chit chat, asking for prayer, responding to "food for thought" questions, etc. There are discussion areas that relate to camp board issues also.
Should you not feel comfortable with taking a module at this time, may I suggest that you do the orientation project, "Mary Had a..." and gain access to the Cherith Commons. That way you will find out how much fun you can have, and hopefully will soon become comfortable with this style of communicating. You may do so by contacting Harvey by e-mail and indicating that you want to access the Cherith Commons.
This is an excellent opportunity for all staff, baord members, and CILTs to experience the fun of learning and to improve skills through participation in the ACC Distance Education program. Please contact Harvey Burian, hburian@telus.net, for more information.